Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-17
For the OXFORD DEMOCRAT
The Poland China Hogs.

According to nAturalists all the hogs OF
this world are descendants Of two distinct
species Of swine, one species being desig-
mated as the Sus Scrofs, which resembles
the common wild boar, and which still ex-
lists in various parts of Northern and
Central Europe. The other species Is
called the Sus Indicus, and has for Its
descendants the hogs Of Siam and China
The infusion Of blood Of this latter spe-
cies into the various breeds Of Europe has
given them a disposition to lay on fat
tina, they did not, and could not, possess
before this cross. To the black hog OF
Siam is given the most credit for improv-
ing the breeds Of English swine, and all
modern black and spotted hogs are color
ed by the Siamess To the white hog Of
China, also, many of the breeds OF the
present day are indebted for their fatten-
inc qualities. Prominent among the de-
scendaDts Of the hogs of China and Siam
are the Berkshires and Poland China.
But as propose to speak particularly
of the Poland China will merely say OF
the Berkshire that il is one of the oldest
aud most permanent of the English breeds
of hogs. Originally it was a very large
hog and was frequently brought to the
scales at half ton net, but the improved
Berkshire, 30 called, was produced by
crossing them with the Essex and then
again with the black hog Of Siam, which
gave them their remarkable aptitude to
lay on fat when young
The Poland China hog originated IN the
Miami valley, Ohio, and was the result
of crossing the big China and its descend
ants with the Berkshire and Irish Graz-
Ter. The big China was FIRST introduced
into Ohio IN 1916, and were mostly white
with q few black aud sandy spots. They
were large with good constitutions. These
hogs were extensively crossed with the
best breeds then existing, and the products
of these crosses we're known as the War
ren County hogs. | ought to add that at
a subsequent period to the first importa.
ton OF the big China, other China hogs
were brought into the Miami valley aud
were intermixed with the crosses Of the /
first named. They were smaller in SIZE
and bad exceedingly fine iattcning qual- /
ties The BeTkshlres were next introduced |
in 1885, and IN 1889 came the ltISh
Graziers, a large iop-earcd, white hos, .
which grew 10 so immense size II led t"l /
or three years. These two breeds haviu. |
been carefully bred and intermlxed with |
the descendants and crosses OF the big
China with other breeds produced stock /
which constituted the true and original
basis OF what Is now known as the Poland |
Chins hog; a breed Of hogs whose suPe- |
riority as pork producers Is acknowledged |
by all who know them There are some /
WHO turn up their noses at them on &C
count of the color, which is ToStly black,
but this Is the result Of foolish prejudice
A. sensible people keep hogs for proht,snd |
not for pets, and IN these times Of low /
prices and close margins, It takes but . !
very little variation 10 the quality OF stock |
fed TO tip the scale on the side Of loss in-
stead of profit. As a proof OF the suPe- |
riority Of the black over the white breeds |
| refer 10 the advertisements OF 10 swine |
breeders. which appear IN the National
Live Stock Journal, 100 Of which breed /
Poland Chinas and Berkshires. The PO-
land China hog think peculiarly adapt |
Cd 10 meet the wants Of the farmers Of
this county and state; first, because Of
their susceptibility Of being fattened at
any age; second, their capacity tor grow
ing very large If desired They vii |
produce more pork for the amount Of feed
than common swine; they are also hand |
some and good style, and Will dress on /
As white as the Chester Their quiet aud
gentle disposition Is another good quality
In closing, | will quote few lines from
m address read by DR.. stetsOn before the
Illinois Swine Breeders Association, IL
which he speaks as follows on the Poland
China hog: 80 iar as l am capable Of
judging,-and my education IN this line
has cost much money-the Poland China
hog possesses all the constituents Of hard
iness, with powers Of assimilation second
70 no breed They may be bred to any
size desired, and may be iattened al any
age. and are as prolific as any OF our mod |
ern breeds They are the only breed
known to me that will eat and be thank
ful, and il not fed will not squeal about
it." VI.