THE POLAND-CHINA BREED 55 



have been put forth, and the following brief summary of 

 matters pertaining to the origin of the breed may be regarded 

 as reasonably accurate. 



Previous to 1816 the Russia and Byfield breeds were used 

 extensively for crossing upon the common hogs of the Miami 

 Valley. These were both white breeds possessing more or less 



FIG. 18. Champion Poland-China sow at the International Exposition. 



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 their descendants were crossed 



