Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/775

 HOG 757 canines, even the upper, curve upward. The feet are four-toed, the two anterior or in- termediate toes being the largest, and the two lateral or posterior scarcely if at all touching the ground. The utility of the hog as an arti- cle of food is in great measure owing to the remarkable fecundity of the animal ; it being capable of reproduction at about a year old, and producing from 8 to 12 and even more at a birth twice every year, the supply will al- ways be equal to the demand. Vauban has estimated the product of a single sow, with only six young at a time, in 10 generations to be about 6,500,000, of which 500,000 may be deducted on account of accidental death. The hog was highly esteemed by the ancients, and was the animal sacrificed to Ceres, the goddess of the harvest. In hot climates, as in Egypt, pork is not considered wholesome, and accord- ingly the ancient legislators and priests of that country for sanitary reasons forbade its con- sumption ; the Hebrew and Moslem lawgivers also prohibited it, and these sects abstain from its flesh even in cold climates, where it might be used with safety. The filthy habits of the hog are in great measure due to its do- mestication; the wild hog is cleanly, and se- lects its food chiefly from vegetable substances. The hog has the propensity to wallow in the mire common to all pachyderms, and gener- ally for the purpose of ridding itself of vermin, or of protecting its thinly covered skin from the attacks of insects ; the wild boar in this respect is no more dirty than the elephant, the rhinoceros, and the hippopotamus. The hog occupies so prominent a place in domestic economy, commerce, and the arts, that it may be well to mention those generally considered the best varieties. If this animal, whose flesh, Chinese Hog. fat, hair, and bones are so valuable, can be improved even to the amount of $1 for every animal, an immense sum will be realized to the farmer. Different breeds are prized in different districts, according to the fancy of producers, the facility of raising them, and the particular object of the farmer. The Chinese hogs, both the white and black varieties, are easily fattened, and have small bones ; indeed they are generally too fat to be esteemed as pork, and are considered to make poor bacon ; bred carefully, and mixed with other stocks, Original Old English Hog. they are valuable animals. The Neapolitan is the most celebrated of the Italian breeds, and the stock of most of the English breeds ; though not very hardy, the flesh is of superior quality; it is small, black, with few bristles, short snout, erect ears, and small bones ; crossed with the Berkshire breed, the form is improved and the constitution hardened, with a remarkable tendency to fatten easily. The Berkshire, an English breed, black or white, is larger than the Neapolitan, with more bristles, and less fat to the meat, which is well suited for bacon and hams ; this was formerly pre- ferred above all others in many parts of New Improved Berkshire Hog. England, but its cross with the Chinese is more profitable, as the weight is heavier with light feeding, and the disposition milder. The Essex, crossed with the Neapolitan, is one of the most valuable, and has taken more prizes in England than any other breed ; it is black, of good size