Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-01-31
The Smoke House.

AO 14AV1AS A4OooSi
This is not the least important among the
reqs of a farm-yard. a good supply of
gooG6acon is a primary consideration in
every Southern family Especially is it so
upon plantation where number of hear
ty negroes are to be fed. The white race
may get along reasonably we'll with beef,
mutton, turkeys, chickens and the like. But
the African wants bacon. In fact the field
laborer, black or white, requires for his pro.
per sustenance either this or something that
will answer the purpose as well. lfthere
be any thing else that will meet this necessi.
ty of the working man for strong food so
fully as does the old "streak Of lean and
streak Of tat," we have yet to learn its name.
Onions, salt.fsb, olives, irish potatoes and
other such substitutes may do for a season.
But for constancy, and for niggers, give
us Old Ned forever. We think our readers
will admit this first proposition. Now for
the second,
If it be true, that fat bacon is the very
thing with which to furnish a Southern
smoke house, is it not equally true that every
farmer should supply himself with hog meat
(ofhis own raising or from drovers) in abund.
ance, of the best quality, and in mid.pinter
If possible i? We hold it to be so for sever
al reasons, as follows: First, because it is
perfectly certain than we owe our negroes
the food best adapted 10 their sustenance
and health. Secondly, because home.cured
bacon is, nine times out of ten, sounder,
sweeter and more nutritious than that which
is brought here ria the Mississippi river and
otherwise. Thirdly, because, with full
smoke house to begin the years operations
on, every thing moves off as if it were grcas-
ed. Fourthly, because every thing land by
"every thing" we mean all the niggers, little
and big) will be more apt to be kept we'll
creased all the year through. Filthy, be-
cause it will prevent this living from hand
to mouth, which causes some right good
men to reason themselves into the belief that
9 lbs. of mean Cincinnati bacon are enough
per week for stout fellow. Sixthly, because
the custom of raising for buying) and killing
ones own hog meat (if a little dearer) is far
better for comfort and independence Of lv-
ing, and what is life without these.-There
are sundry other and perhaps better reasons
which we have not nov space to mention.
These however, we take it, are enough to
make good our second proposition. We
pass on to the third.
If bacon, in abundance and home.curcd,
be the true policy of Southern farmers, it
follows as carollary that every farm.yard
should have first rate smoke house mere
we mean the building itself:) And this, for
the manifest reason that the successful keep
ing of meat depends very much upon the
house it is kept in. Now, what we want to
draw forth from somebody for the general
good, is the best plan of smoke-house for
our Southern climate. Who will furnish itl
We hope for an ear y reply from some ex-
perienced quarter. In the mean time, the
reader must not think US architecturally vain
in putting forth a brief description of one we
have recently had built. Take it for what
it is worth-no more.
Our SMoKE.uousfs- is frame build
ing, with large sills, large corner.posts and
a, great many studs, some of them very large
too. Its dimentions are II feet wide, 20
feet long and l6 feet high. Beneath the
sills is foundation laid with brick, 7 inches
deep. 1t is shingled and ather.boarded
as every other house, except that the wea-
ther-boardng has considerable lap and is
put on with unusually large nails to prevent
light entering through cracks. The upper
joists rest upon the plates, secoud tier be-
ing securely attached about 81 feet lower
down. As yet, there is not hole for light,
and scarcely for air, in the building. Per-
haps we shall have some made before we
are done with it-perhaps not.-The floor
is laid thus: After filling in with dirt near
ly half way up the sills, we put down one
layer Of bricks; and this we covered with
heavy coat Of Roman.cement mortar. A
small basin as it were is raised in the middle
of the floor for smoking purposes. The door
is made to fit tight, and this with good
lock) finishes the job. We think the affair
has these merits: it is roomy-it is dark-it
is cool-it is cleanly y-and it is rat-proof. OF
it's dement's, which doubtless are very ap.
parent to others, we have nothing to say.
Wonderful Trees.
We clip from The Plo~, Loom and Anvil,