THE FAT OR LARD BREEDS OF SWINE 421 



In England, Berkshires are recorded in the British 

 Berkshire Herd-book, controlled by the British Berkshire 

 Society. 



Literature. The Berkshire World is published in the interests 

 of this breed at Springfield, Illinois. 



POLAND-CHINA SWINE. Plate XV. Fig. 86. 

 By G. E. Day 



509. Poland-China swine are entirely the product and 

 development of American swine-breeders. They are of 

 the lard-hog type. 



510. History. The Poland-China originated in Butler 

 and Warren counties, Ohio. These two counties are 

 drained by the Great Miami and the Little Miami rivers. 

 The valley of the Miami is a very fertile district, and its 

 name is closely associated with the early history of this 

 breed. The history of the origin of Poland-China swine 

 is not altogether clear, and some points have been the 

 subject of lengthy controversies. From the varying 

 theories and claims put forward, we may accept the fol- 

 lowing statements as being reasonably accurate. Previous 

 to 1816, the Russia and Byfield breeds were largely used 

 for crossing on the common hogs of the Miami valley. 

 These were both white breeds, possessing more or less 

 merit as feeders. In 1816, the Society of Shakers, of 

 Union Village, Warren county, brought a boar and three 

 sows from Philadelphia. The pigs were represented to the 

 Shakers as being of pure Chinese blood, and they were 

 called Big Chinas. The boar and two of the sows are said 

 to have been pure white, and the other sow was white, 

 with some sandy and black spots. These Big Chinas and 



