722 SWINE 



stood well on their feet, were quiet of temperament, and were 

 regarded with favor. These pigs sometimes reached large size. 



The Byfield pig was of two types, both being white in color. One 

 was very large, with long, flat sides and heavy, lopped ears ; the other 

 was more refined, with small ears pointing noseward, with broad 

 back, deep chest, large jowl, short nose, dish face, and thin hair. 



Previous to 1816 the Russian and Byfield breeds were very 

 generally bred, and their blood mingled with the common pigs 

 of the community. 



The Big China breed of pigs was introduced into the Miami 

 valley in 1816, one boar and three sows having been brought 

 from Philadelphia by John Wallace, a trustee of the Shakers' 

 Society of Union Village, Warren County, whose members had 

 much to do with the development of the Poland-China breed. 

 The boar and two sows were white, while one sow had some 

 sandy spots in which were small black spots. This was a medium- 

 sized breed of unknown ancestry, of fine form, small head and 

 ears, short legs and fine bone, and superior feeding qualities. 

 Shepard thinks this may have been the Grass breed known in 

 Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania as the Bedford or Parkinson 

 hog. The spotted China referred to by Dawson is said to have 

 been introduced into Union County, Indiana, in 1836 and was 

 probably a variety of the China breed. Used on the Russian and 

 Byfield crosses the Big China produced very superior feeders 

 and much improved the character of Miami valley pigs, resulting 

 in what became widely and favorably known in the middle of 

 the. last century as the Warren County hog. Between 1816 and 

 1835 the swine industry of southwestern Ohio had a great 

 impetus, due to the beneficial effects of this cross. 



The Berkshire as an element in Poland-China evolution first 

 attracted attention in 1835, when Munson Beach of Lebanon, 

 Warren County, introduced some pigs of this breed from New 

 York State. These Berkshires had erect ears, were stylish in 

 appearance, and at once met with much favor. Others soon 

 introduced Berkshires, and up to 1842 they were extensively 

 used on the Miami valley pigs'. The Berkshire gave more sym- 

 metry, greater activity, more quality, and the black color to the 

 Warren County hog. 



