40 SWINE IN Ai\I ERICA 



Controversies as to the precise crosses and by whom 

 and under what particular circumstances they may have 

 been made, prior to the middle of the last century, to 

 form the breed, may interest a few; but what is vastly 

 more important to the practical swine breeder is the fact 

 that there was produced a race of swine now bearing 

 the name of Poland-China that has been able to hold 

 its own for three-fifths of a century as the most popular 

 and most widely distributed pork-making machine in the 

 foremost pork-producing region of the world. 



It has been called by numerous different local names, 

 among these being "Butler County," Warren County," 

 "Miami Valley," "Poland," "Poland and China," "Great 

 Western," "Shaker," "Union Village," "Dick's Creek," 

 "Gregory's Creek," "Magie" and "Moore." "Big 

 Chinas" were brought to Ohio about 1816 by a member 

 of the Shaker society in Butler county. These were 

 white hogs, with some black or sandy spots. They were 

 of medium size and of excellent form and quality, and 

 were crossed by the Shakers on the Russian and Byfield 

 stock, with superior results. The Irish Grazier was 

 brought to Ohio about 22 or 2^ years later from 

 Ireland. Berkshires were brought alxnit the same 

 time from New York. The foreign blood, as pure- 

 bred, was soon extinct, and the hog that is now known 

 as the Poland-China was developed by combinations of 

 the various breeds or families mentioned. In 1872 the 

 name "Poland-China" was adopted at a National Swine 

 Breeders' convention in Indianapolis. 



