Imports of Bacon and Hams. 



7 



38,651,631, this total showing a decrease of about 1,100,000 

 head from the previous year, and being lower than in any 

 year since 1882. The decline has been continuous since 1892, 

 when the number of pigs was returned at over 52 millions. 

 With regard to their distribution in the various states at the 

 present time, Iowa has the largest number, viz., 3,408,000 

 head. Five other states have over two millions each : these 

 are Missouri, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and Illinois; while 11 

 states have over one million each. Out of the total of 38 J 

 millions, the twelve states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, 

 Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, 

 Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, w T hich are chiefly en- 

 gaged in the bacon curing or " packing " trade, account for 

 20,000,000 head, leaving for the remaining 36 states about 18J 

 millions. It may be noted that the decline above referred to 

 in the total number of swine in the county is almost confined 

 to the " packing " states. 



The breed which is stated to number as many individuals 

 as all other breeds combined in the United States is the 

 Poland-China, a pre-eminently American product, which 

 originated in Ohio between the years 1838 and 1840, in the 

 crossing of various families known there as Big China, 

 Byfield, Bedford and Irish Grazier, the offspring being a 

 large and somewhat coarse black and white spotted swine. 

 These have been crossed with Berkshires, and incidentally 

 they have acquired much of the Berkshire's conformation and 

 markings. The Berkshire pig is also a favourite in America, 

 and other popular types are Chester Whites and Duroc 

 Jerseys, both being large breeds produced in the country 

 from the blending of different races. The Yorkshire, Tam- 

 worth, Essex, and Suffolk breeds are also raised in the 

 United States ; but they are not an important factor in the 

 bacon trade of the country. 



Denmark, which ranks next to the United States as an 

 exporter of bacon to British markets, possessed 829,000 swine 

 in 1893, and of this number nearly 400,000 were owned by 

 farmers in Jutland. The popular breed of pig amongst Danish 

 farmers is descended from the Large and Medium White York- 

 shire breed. Formerly it was the practice in Denmark to 



