SWINE GEORGE E. DAY. 39 



very well with the Yorkshire and Tamworth. They are 

 anything but "a bacon breed, however, though the better 

 class of them are rather lighter in the jowl and longer in 

 the side than the average American breed. They possess a 

 drooping ear, which, though of fair size, should not be 

 coarse. No black hair is admissable, but blue spots in the 

 skin are common. These blue spots constitute an objection, 

 but do not indicate impurity. 



POLAND-CHINA, 



The Poland-China originated in the State of Ohio. The 

 foundation stock consisted of pigs of mixed breeding com- 

 mon in the state, upon which were crossed the Big Chinas, 

 the Russia and the Byfield. Subsequently, Berkshire and 

 Irish Grazier blood was used, but it is claimed that no out- 

 crosses have been made since 1845. Poland-Chinas are 

 extremely popular in the United States, and are very 

 extensively fed in the corn belt. A few are bred in Canada, 

 but, if anything, the breed has lost ground in Canada of late 

 years, owing to its unsuitability for the Canadian export 

 trade. 



Characteristics. The best representatives of the Pol- 

 and-China breed may be classed as almost the ideal lard 

 type. They are rather short bodied, but very thick and 

 smooth. In the effort to secure quality, some breeders have 

 unduly reduced the bone and size of the breed. In some 

 cases, the effort to secure fineness has resulted not merely 

 in the loss of size, but also in reduced fecundity. It is 

 quite probable that the almost exclusive use of corn as a 

 ration has also had an influence in bringing about this result. 

 Fortunately, the best breeders realize the danger of going to 

 extremes in the matter of fineness, and there is little doubt 

 that the breed will continue to be one of the most popular 

 in the United States. A few years ago, it was quite common 

 to see animals of this breed freely spotted with white. At 

 the present, however, Berkshire markings are the most pop- 



