Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-09-01
For the True Democrat I'll E HOG OuES TION.


 till the soil, are more excited about rotation ID crops, as one of the means of producing the heaviest yield and perhaps of saving us from the injurious effects of rust in our cotton h. dulge me in few desultory remarks, in your truly interesting paper, upon a subject that should command the attention of every editor. and cannot be too frequently impressed upon the minds of your numerous readers. It is not the senatorial electioD-who should be our champion in the Senate upon the agitation of the slavery question, or in vindication of the rights of the south, but one of vital importance to every farmer or planter in pecuniary point of view. t is tte hog question. 1 know you feel deep sOicftude in every thing that affects the interest of the planter, or is conducive to the general prosperity of our beloved State.- Is 1t not time we were declaring our indepen- dence in the production of our own supplies. By raising our own meat alone, we would strike a heavy blow at the commercial interests of the commerce of our own State, enrich many with in our own borders, and save many of the t almighty dollars'' that sustain the pork es- tabishments of Cincinnati and Louisville. Can not similar establishments be sustained at home at Fort Smith, Van Buren, or on the waters of White river, and better and cheaper bacon furnished us? In 1850, with half of our pre- sent population, the number of swine in our State, according to returns of census, was 936, 727 With as rich soil as any in the valley of the Mississippi, admirably adapted to the cultivation of corn small grains and even grapes; with extensive ranges abounding in rich mast, and a climate that readily admits of the preservation of meat, why is 1t that we are so abundantly supplied with the article from abroad? Why should it not be raised at home?
 1st. Is t not practtcaJle2 The fact, that few of our Arkansas river planters do raise their own meat, proves that it is The cause that 1t is not more general thing, is the fault of the planters themselves The absorbing crop is cotton, and if they succeed in making good one are content that all others shall be indifferent If any hog crop is made, it makes itself. No food is regularly suppled-no strong or energetic hand required to take charge of the swine and watch over them and in the employment of manager the question is never asked" how much meat did you raise last year?" or how many bushels of corn to the acre?" but always how many bales 0f cotton to the hand or acre? There is no motive for the overseer to cultivate the hog crop, as he gets no credit or extra compensation for such duty. But when he devotcs all his time energy and talents to the production of the cotton crop and excels lis eighbcrs, his salary is at once in, creased, and brisk competition springs up among rival planters, who shall command the valuable services of such an excellent mana ger, who has not raised solitary pig. Is this .ot too true-a lamentable fact? Some, in tenuation of their own neglect or that of their overseer, attribute their failure to the bear, wild cat, and carrion crow, that do often destroy pigs, but if a faithful hand was constantly en- lloyed to attend them, few such depredatious would be committed. If all ample supply of corn is kept ill the crib and liberaIly used, there would be little disposition among hogs to roam abroad within the range of thelr enemies as they are naturally dociIe, social and lazy. But again. careless and indifferent mauasers, excuse themselves on the ground of the thieving pro- penSity of their hands in charge who are too fond of fresh meat This, by sad experiences we know to be the case with some, and we fear not to assert that the chief cause of this pro- Peusty Is with the planter himself, who from sordid motives, disgraceiul to humanity, ne- sIects from the high price to supply his hands | wih flW rati0as of meat. Ii he is not sup piled from the amoke-house he must suffer or steal of course, he will first take his supplies of fresh meat from home, if there be any, other wise after a day of hard toll, hungry and lean, and at the dead hour of night he s forced to take those of his distant nelshbors It might De humane in the overseer to furnish the hands with mules in such depredations to see that the meat is carefully weighed, salted and eaten in moderation, and the extet amount be return- t-'' S''oO , it's equivalent in money. Negroes that are not supplied with full ratlons of old bacon or mess pork by their owners will very naturally steal the pigs of their owners or neIghbors have been blessed with one or two such economical neighbora 0 and truly sympathzed with the honest and simple Dutchman, who, ill a little predcament, said: Shon, you may say what you please bout bad ncghbors had te worst neighbors never was Mine pigs and mine hens come home init der ears split and fodder day two of dem come home mIssngl'
 So the fault Is again with the planter, and nothing impractcable on the soil or climate for the production of pigs.
 1 2d. It Is very evident to any one who will for moment withdraw his attention from cot ton, that 1t is practicable to raise hogs, is 1t not equally clear, that there is no pursuit more p,oftaJle to the planter, to the extent of the supply required? He may not be able to buy annually as many negroes or as much land, but 1t Is plain he can make as much cotton as he can pick, and at the same time greatly diminish his expenses, by raising his own meat. The allowance to each field hand, on every well re- gulated plantation, is at least one barrel of mess pork or two hundred pounds of bacon pel year. To illustrate the importance of the sub ject, and same time profits, the planter who works fifty hands, must buy for them alone exclusive of children, etc., fifty barrels of mess pork, each of which is worth at this date twenty-tour dollars at New Orleans or Louis- vile, or in the aggregate twelve hundred dol lars. By the time each barrel reaches Pine Bluff or Little Rock, at this season. it may be safely put down at S27 per barrel At cost only of ;925 per barrel delivered at any point on our river, two barrels of meat cons tune the proceeds of one bale of cotton at 12la cents