24 



DISEASES OF SWINE 



to-day. Pure Poland-Chinas, and the various grade hogs derived 

 by crossing the Poland with other types, forms by far the bulk of 

 receipts at the great packing centers. This great popularity of 

 the breed is, in large measure, due to the rapid maturity and 

 excellent fattening qualities, which give favor in the eyes of the 

 American farmer and stockman. Hog raising is a money-making 

 business with the men who produce hogs in the Corn Belt, and a 

 hog that has the rapid money-producing possibilities of the 

 Poland-China is always bound to be popular. 



Fig. 2. — Rood's giant: Weighed 1020 pounds. An excellent example of the big 

 type of Poland-China. Owned by J. F. Cox & Sons, Keithsburg, 111. 



History. — There is no more interesting fact connected with the 

 Poland-China breed than their early history. They had their 

 origin in the United States, being developed by the Shakers in 

 southwestern Ohio in the early part of the past century. The 

 first reliable history of the breed dates back around 1812 or 1814. 

 About this time the development of the breed that was to later 

 become famous began in Warren and Butler counties, Ohio, and 

 in Union and Wayne counties, Indiana. About this time there 

 was a large colony of Shakers located in and around Union Village, 

 Warren County, Ohio. These Shakers had at this time a large 

 number of nondescript hogs, which were probably mostly of the 



