104 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



distinctly its own, the neck being short, the back wide and 

 frequently strongly arched, and the hams highly devel- 

 oped. These features of head, arch of back, and thickness 

 of hams are Poland-China characteristics. The legs are 

 often fine of bone, and incline to be moderately short, the 

 pigs standing just fairly well on their feet. Mature boars 

 often weigh around 500 pounds, and sows 400 pounds. A 

 boar weighing 700 pounds is of large size. 



The Poland-China is distinctly of the lard type, and as 

 it puts on fat easily, is noted as a feeder's hog. When well 

 fattened the carcass dresses out well, and is popular 

 with butchers. The pigs often mature too rapidly, not 

 getting as much growth as they should have for their age. 

 Poland-China sows average smaller litters than any of the 

 other common breeds. This has caused considerable 

 unfavorable comment among farmers. It is an excellent 

 grazing breed and will do well on clover or other succulent 

 green pasture. At the present time there is much discussion 

 among Poland-China breeders regarding type, one group 

 preferring a medium-sized, rather fine-boned, tidy type; 

 while another set of men demand what they call "big 

 Polands," which mature into large animals having strong, 

 heavy bone, and make good feeders. .The Poland-China 

 has been one of America's most popular breeds, but at the 

 present day it is not in such universal favor. This is due to 

 lack of size or growthfulness, and to the small size of litter. 

 Where well developed, it is one of our most important breeds 

 for the corn belt. 



The Duroc- Jersey is a red or sandy-colored breed of 

 swine that no doubt obtained its special color markings from 

 the coarse red hog brought from Africa, and from sandy or 

 reddish English hogs, such as the Tamworth and sandy 

 Berkshire. Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, the famous 



