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 
Fia. 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 
