ANGARIA BREEDING FARM 73 



to feed. At that time the hog offered the best solution of this situation. In 

 the absence of pure-bred hogs, or records, a body of farmers and feeders in 

 southwestern Ohio set about designing of a type of hog suited to American re- 

 quirements, selecting, modeling, developing and perfecting, from the various 

 sorts of animals obtainable and continuing until 1877, when a record was 

 established and the Poland-China became the acknowledged "corn-belt type." 



Discussions by the press and by individuals for nearly half a century, 

 have been the cause of searching and thorough investigation into the matters 

 connected with their early history, the time and manner in which the first 

 crosses were made, and upon what foundation, together with the later crosses 

 and manner of breeding, which combine to make them the leading and favorite 

 breed in many sections famous for the value, size and quality of their hogs. 

 On many points authorities agree, but despite the disputes, of perhaps minor 

 importance, between breeders, none dispute that the main crosses towards its 

 formation as a definite and distinct breed were made in that part of south- 

 western Ohio lying between the Big Miami and Little Miami rivers, ma,inly 

 the counties of Warren and Butler, during the years from 1835 to 1840. It is 

 also generally conceded that the groundwork was stock locally known as "War- 

 ren County Hogs," which were the result of crossing together the Berkshire. 

 "Byfield," the "Russia," the "Big China," and perhaps the "Bedford" breeds, 

 all large, coarse hogs, and slow to grow and fatten, except the "Big China," 

 which possessed the very opposite quaUties. 



Controversies as to the precise crosses, by whom and under what particular 

 circumstances they were made fifty years ago to form the breed now known as 

 the Poland-China, may interest a few, but what is vastly more important to 

 millions of people is the fact that this breed has been thoroughly established 

 for more than forty years, and there has been produced a race of swine, now 

 bearing that name, that very many very severely practical and intelligent men 

 consider the best pork-packing machines known. They have been contin- 

 uously improved without the introduction of any new blood. Their size, color, 

 hardiness, docility and good feeding qualities make them favorites when purely 

 bred, producing hogs of good length, with short legs, broad, straight backs, 

 great depth of body, flanking well down, very broad, full square hams and 



