New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1859-09-03
Agricultural.
MORGAN, Winneshiek Co.. Iowa, !
August 18th, 1859. I
. Oreron Plain}ealer..

Editor New Oregon Plaindealer:--
/ notice in your first issue a column devoted
to the interest of the agricultural community
expressly. This, in my opinion, is as it should
be. In all probability, four-ifths of those who
will p~atronize your paper are farmers. We
need counsel, encouragement, commentator and
reproof from those who conduct the preserve
need an organ through which we can inter-
change our ideas, make suggestions and be mu-
tnally pro6ted by each others experience. |
sincerely hope the Plaindealer may prove itself
true to the interests Of the farming fraternity
and receive at their hands a hearty and liberal
support.--But I took my pen to speak more
particularly of what innovation might be made
in the line of raising hogs and making pork.
This is a subject of vital Importance to the farm
ers Of Iowa, as undoubtedly the only way by
which we can at present dispose of our coarse
prices, is to convert it into marketable pork and
send it to some eastern market.
This question is pretty well settled, I think, in
the minds Of all who have given the subject any
thought. Now the question naturally ~arises,i is
there any economy to be used in the matter? Is
there any choice in the breed Of hogs to be cho-
sen for this purpose, by which we may realize a
greater profit than if some other breed had been
selected? This view of this most important
branch Of business IS, was impressed very forcibly
upon a recent visit at the premises of Gates NJ.
Fobes, who resides at the center of Orleans town.
ship, Winneheik county. He, in connection with
his brother Frank Fobes, who by the way are
energetic, wide-awake, enterprising men, and
who are striving to become public benafactors,
sent last fall to the State of New York, and
through the agency Of a brother, bought of a
reliable dealer two thorough bred Suffolk hogs
a male and female. The SOW has now by her
side a few Stockings; and finer sucklings are sell
dom seen. If any man is in the least incredu-
lous and wants evidence of the superiority of
this we'll tried and very popular breed, over the
common native stock, all l have to say to them
is, go to the pen of Mr.. Fobcs and there see for
yourselves the contrast between the two-the
feed and treatment being every way alike. 1t
is my opinion land this opinion is predicated
upon the actual experience Of competent men,,
that corn Or other grain fed to some of the ia
vorite imported breed Of hogs, will make from
twenty-five to thirty-three per cent more pork
than if fed to some of our very degenerate races
of native hogs that have for a number of gener-
ations been kept in a famishel condition.-Ia am
happy to learn that many farmers in this vicin-
iy have availed themselves Of this favorable OPP
pertunity of improving their stock. There are
already in this section, l presume, at least one
hundred half breed pigs from Mr.. Fobes' hog.
.All, or nearly all Of which are a decided I'M
provement upon the native stock. Hope to see
an interest among farmers increasing in this di-
r~ection; and I hope also, that the example of
those worthy gentlemen may be cmulated, and
they generally remunerated for their liberal out
lay in this enterprising movement.
Truly yours, NJ. II. HOWARD.