426 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



essential portions, is liere presented. The breeds distinctively American 

 in their origin, (or perhaps the foundation of future breeds,) upon which 

 reports were made, were the Pohiud China, Chester White, Victoria, 

 Cheshire, Jersey Eed, and Duroc. Of these the favorite hog of th« 

 V/est is the Poland-China. A majority report, written by S. M. Shepard, 

 of Illinois, and Eankin Baklridge, of Indiana, was submitted, and a 

 minority report signed by Hon. John M.Milliken. The former maintains 

 that this breed was fully established in Butler and Warren Counties, 

 Ohio, as early as 1835 ; that, about 1820, farmers obtained improved 

 hogs bearing- the name of Poland, and crossed upon the native stock ; 

 that the Bylield was used to some extent, but proving unsatisfactory, a 

 large spotted hog, imported from England, and known as the Big Spot- 

 ted China, was employed to perfect the breed. It is described as "a 

 medium-sized hog, with short head, good back, full quarters, deep in 

 body, short in neck, fine bone, and possessed of admirable fattening 

 qualities." This infusion of new blood, as is claimed, while diminishing 

 size, increases the fattening tendency, giving symmetry of form and 

 refining the bones. About 1830, a white hog, imported from England as 

 an Irish Grazier, a good feeder, of fair size and great depth of body, 

 was satisfactorily employed in further improvement of this breed. Since 

 1835, the report claims, no new crosses have been attempted, breeding 

 having been continued by judicious selection of individuals, defects 

 having been eliminated by patient and skillful efibrt, until "this splen- 

 did breed became thoroughly and permanently established, noted for 

 its size, symmetry, docility, early maturity, aptitude to fatten at any 

 age." The characteristics of this Poland-China, or "Magie" hog, as it 

 is sometimes called, are thus stated : 



The best specimens have good leugth, short legs, broad, straight backs, deep sides, 

 flaukiug well down on the leg, very broad, full, square hams aud shoulders, drooping 

 ears, sliort heads, are wide between the eyes, of spotted or dark color; are hardy, vig- 

 orous, andprolilic, aud wheu fat are perfect models all over; pre-eminently combining 

 the excellences of both large and small breeds. 



For scale of points, we submit the following, making the standard of perfection 

 one hundred, divided as follows: 



Short uose, (dished not objectionable.) 4 ; small head, 4 ; width between eyes, 4 ; ear 

 fine, thin, drooping over face, 5; neck, short, thick, and well arched, 4; jowl, large, 3; 

 shoulders, broad and deep, 1); girth around heart, 9 ; back straight, 6; depth of body, 

 9 ; fib* well arched, 9 ; loin wide and strong, 7 ; width of body at belly, 5 ; hams, 

 broad, full, deep, 12 ; coating fine and thick, 4 ; legs short and of good strength, G — 

 100. 



Mr. Milliken deemed the scale of points an impracticable feature, in 

 the majority report, and considered the assumed history of the breed 

 erroneous in many particulars. He regarded the name, " PolaudChina," 

 a palpable misnomer, but thought a change would cause confusion and 

 disturbance in the relations of capital invested. He knew of no breed 

 called the Poland, and of no importations of Polish swine. He had lived 

 in Butler County, Ohio, since 1807, had an intimate knowledge of the 

 history of the Miami Valley, and had never heard of the Poland hog. 

 He also impugned the correctness of the dates mentioned. While it 

 was assumed that the Poland, Bylield, Big Spotted China, Irish Gra- 

 zier, and Berkshire, had been commingled in forming this breed, prior 

 to 1835, he stated as a fact that the Berkshire was not introduced until 

 1835, nor the Irish earlier than 1839, both of which had been crossed 

 and recrossed up to 1842, since which date no new blood had been in- 

 troduced. He read a statement signed by Cephas Holloway, a prom- 

 inent member of the Society of Shakers, who had resided in Warren 

 County since 1813, which was published in 1841 in the Western Farmer, 



