Poland-China sow. a wincer of many prizes at state fairs, ownca cy 

 Messrs. Risk & Gabbert. Weston, Missouri. This sow shows very smooth and 

 is especially thickly fleshed over shoulder, baek and ham, the valuable cuts 

 of the fat hog type. Though heavy, note how erect she stands on her pas- 

 terns. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE POLAND-CHINA SWINE 



VHIS AMERICAN breed of swine originated in the Miami Valley of the Ohio dur- 

 ing the years intervening between 1835 to 1840. It had for Hs ancestry a large, 

 coarse hog that was broken in color, being mostly white and black. The improve- 

 ment of the lust 40 years has resulted in producing an exceedingly symmetrical hog 

 with early maturing qualities which has been added to further by disposition very 

 favorable to quick fattening. The modern type shows unusual fullness which 

 makes the width of the body remarkable though giving the appearanceof undue short- 

 ness. With it all there is a quality of hair, bone and skin which contributes in a great 

 degree to the percentage of meat from the carcass. The color is black with a few 

 white markings, these consisting preferably of a splash on the face, four white feet 

 and white on tip of the tail. The coat of hair should be thick, fine and free from 

 swirls or spots around which the hair seems to twist. The head is small, slightly 

 dished and runs to a fine snout. The ear starts strong and straight from the head 

 but break and drops about one-third its length. The shoulder is well covered on 

 top. the girth full, ribs well sprung, deep; hind quarter very full with deep ban:* 

 The desirability of plumpness in all parts should not lead to undue shortness of 

 body nor lack of length in the hind quarters. Straightness in the latter is also 

 desirable as frequently the drop from the hip to the tail is quite marked. The legs 

 should be straight and strong and the pasterns set so as to make the hog appear to 

 he landing on the very tips of its t^es. See official scale of points, page 181. 



