The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-06-09

}, and demands!-or are the planters all a
sleep to their own interests! The fact is
our planters do not raise pork sufficient
J! for their own consumption, much less to
supply the small demands of our inland
markets; consequently thousands of dol
lars are carried out Of our State, annual
ly, large portion of it Silver taken from
the vaults Of our banks, not only for pork,
but for horses and mules; and still the
scarcity of money is the common com
plant: Inmy opinion this error might be
very easily corrected if we would all en-
gage heartily in the business. The plan
that would suggest, would be for each
farmer to plant less cotton, and increase
the grain crop; which grain being judi
ciously and Systematically consumed upon
our farms. in raising such domestic ami
mails, would ultimately result in increasing
the value of our lands and the quantity
Of our cotton crops.
=. In my opinion, in the slave holding
States, any other animal, with,th excep-
ton Of the horse, can be dispensed with
in preference to the hog; the reason is that
it affords for our negroes a more suitable,
a more substantial and cheaper food than
any other animal, and supplies our tables
with delicious ham, short of which our
southern epicures would not be satisfied.
The hog, then, being SO valuable, we.
Should study closely, and experiment par:
ticularly to find out the most economical
plan of feeding, and what species of hog
will remunerate us best for our attention.
That there is often great difference in
the value of. hogs Of the same weight is,
or ought to be, known to every breeder
and consumer; to the consumer, because
the flesh of some is teuderer and sweeter
than the flesh of others, and because the
most valuable parts. such as the ham, side:
shoulder and lard IN some, are heavier; in
proportion than in others; to the breeder,
because one hog yieldsa greater weight
of marketable pork, for the same amount
of food than another. A hog of large
head, ears and feet has commonly large
bones throughout, is slow grower, large
consumer, and unthrifiv. a..;..-r
There are various breeds or forms of
hogs, l consider the name and color,
whether white or black, without the form,
a perfect matter of moonshine; but adj
mire sameness in color, as the best stock
of our country, both cattle and hogs, DIFF
fer very little in their respective colors;
and the popularity of the color, proves
that they have not been crossed by spur
ious animals for several generations! For
the full color of the spurious blood would
occasionally show itself even after being
ibid for several generations. The hog
most commonly fed in this country tor
might have said starved) is the common
pine rooter, called BY some the scrub hog,
by some. the alligator, by others the land
pike. They tell for themselves wherever
seen; I can compare them to nothing more
appropriate than the bench of an old
woman's spinning wheel; it has four legs,
so have they. There are several other
species of hogs mterspersed- through the
country such as the Guinea, the China,
the Thin Rincd, few of the Berkshire,
and another hog called the Kentucky hog.
We read and hear of various other names
of hogs with which | am not familiar
They all have their favoIites and support
ers; and, in fact, any of them may. be
vastly improved in their form and propen-
sity to take on flesh, by a judicious course
of feeding and breeding particularly our
common breeds. | have been endeavor
ing for a great length of time to discard
ali hogs with great length of legs and
shortness of body, and TO- select those
with the shortest legs and the greatest
length and size Of body. The Guinea
and the China both have a great propen-
sity to take on flesh, and are very small
eaters, but do not acquire size; either
crossed with the large boncd breed makes
a very fine hog. The hog called the
Kentucky hog, from being purchased
from that Stale, in my opinion backed by
experience is not desirable hog on ac-
of the great size and lcnth of legs, with
the disadvantages attending such. The
Kentuckians breed them, not because
they are most economically fed but be-
cause they are better roadsters. In their
great size and length of legs, they COM
bine both the property of hog and horse.
inasmuch as they convey their own car