Hutchinson gazette., 1901-07-18


tlcally all Of our improved breeds OF
1.-Two stock TO foreign countries II is q
matter for satisfaction that vt least
one breed OF swine has originated In
America. We refer OF course to the
Poland-China breed OF hogs. Certain
ly, too, this Ia breed we'll worthy OF
the fame II has attained not only here
but abroad, for expectation OF live
animals for breeding purposes has
been carried on TO some extent Of lato
years, and II may be said that II for
eign consumers OF American pork and
pork products knew that tho Poland
China furnished most Of this product
they would more thoroughly appre-
cate tho breed as an American "in-
stltutlon." II is pre-emlnently lard
hog, but at the same time the staple
producer OF farm bacon and hams and
OF a great proportion Of all porlS prod
ucts In the market Yet while II Ia an
American breed pure and simple II 10
known by the complex, perplexing
name Poland Chlna"i What had
Poland TO do with Its formation' Not
thing that wo have been able to dis
cover and China had almost Us little.
When the breed found It's starting
place back In the rich Miami valley OF
Ohio II is said that In 1916 John Wal
lace introduced TO that county three
breeding hogs called big ChinaS."
They were bought In Philadelphia and
were said TO be from China or bred
from Chinese stock. This Is the only
trace OF China we can find In the
early history OF the breed and facts
regarding any Polish blood having
been used are entirely absent 30 that
It may bo taken for granted that no
such blood was utilized, II is evident
then that our native breed OF swine
Is poorly named for while It originated
In America neither tho Polaks nor the
Chinese contributed anything to itS
success or formation yet receive tho
credit In It's designation. The breed
should have been called the miami
County hog" or possibly the WAR
rem County hog" as II was once called,
or should have been given somo other
name more correct and American than
Poland-China, II IN now too late to
change the name and "P-C" will stick
to the breed In all probability through
out the future. Though the name VIII
remain the same and has since We can
remember IT, the breed itself has
changed and will continue to change
In some slight respects as the result
Of continued breeding towards a de-
sired standard. The frst specimens OF
the breed we can call to mind were
much coarser than those Of the pres
ent day and had more white spots up
on them, In fact some Of them showed
about as much white as black as may
easily be seen by referring to some OF
the old cuts OF Poland-China swine
such for instance as those published
by A. @. Moore OF Canton, ILL.,, and
other early and extensive breeders II
would seem to us too that the hogs
have grown shorter and blocker, q
fact that cannot altogether be consld'
cred an improvement except for lard
productions II certainly has not made
the breed more prolific In breeding
indeed II must we think be confessed
that the breed Ia less prolific now than
twenty years or more ago, 1t has
much improved In head and ear being
neater and iner and this may also be
said OF the bones which are less In
bulk and possibly stronger In texture
than when "all corn" was the prevail
ing method Of feeding, In capacity
for lard production this breed has
taken the lead OF all competitors and
as an all round farm hog, for feeding
and killing 1t has very evidently given
universal satisfaction 80 that along
with our breed Of trottlng horses, also
an American breed, we have at least
two examples Of successful breeding
which will successfully compare with
anything the foreign countries have
been able to contribute. American
corn made the Poland-Cbina, Amerl-
can corn Is fast becoming cosmopoli"
tan in. it's utilization as q food for
man and beast and may yet change
the type OF tho foreign breeds OF
swine should 1t come to be fed in
large quantities. Too much corn has
proved dangerous to our swine but the
increased foreign demand by increas-
Ing the value of corn will reduce tho
amount used for swine feeding in this
country and inevitably lead to i'm
provement Of our swine the first I'm
provement being increased prollfcacy
80 tho Dp1np1- -Nhinn