Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-03
ABOUT HOGS.

most important branches OF western III
dusiry. He conveys 10 market more
corn than all our vast network OF rail
roads. This being the fact, would 1t mol
be well to inquire which family Of hog
will shin that corn TO the greatest advan'
tage, giving US the best returns therefor
know that most Of us have our ia.
yorite breeds, that we consider better
suited to our wants than any other, and
perhaps the same hog could not suit al
classes. Fer instance, some want hog
that will consume the most corn with the
least trouble land OF course the lea,
proft) while others who are not 80 stin-
nv of their care and attention to Mr.
Hog, prefer one that will give the mos
pork for a bushel of corn. But would
caution the reader against being led away
by the mere names, or the putting OF some
INSCRIPTIONS or ignorant yender, in bis
selection Of breed Of hogs.
The hog may be called Berkshire,
Suffolk, or any other name most esteem
ed, and yet may in reality possess none
Of the true blood. The only sure mode
by which the buyer will be able TO avoid
imposition is to make name always sec
ondary TO points.
If you fnd hog possessed of such
points as ars calculated TO insure early
maturity, aud facility Of making flesh,
Won need care little what it has seemed
good to the seller to call him and re-
member that no name can bestow value
upon an animal deficient in the qualities
TO which have alluded. The true Berk-
shire, that possesses a dash of the Nea'
poli.au and Chinese varieties, comes per-
hans nearer to the desired standard than
any pure breed though prefer giving
him a cross with the Suffolk.
The chief points which characterize
such hogs are the following In the first
place, fine smooth hair, not too thick, and
and for the prairie mud, a; least, partly
black, a smooth, soft skin, a deep carcass
and sufficient length Of body. Let the
loin and breast be broad-the breadth Of
the latter denotes good room for the play
of the lungs and consequently free and
healthy circulation, essential TO the thri'
wing or fattening Of any animal The
bone should be small, and the joints fine
(uolhing is more indicative Of high breed
ing) and tho legs should be no longer
than when fully fat will just prevent the
animals belly from trailing upon tue
ground. The Les is the least profitable
portion of the hog, and we require no
more of il than is absolutely essential for
the support Of the rest. See that the
feet be firm and sound, that the toes lie
Nch AorcAhCi, ahu IiNoo 'a'S"''g wv"
the ground, that the claws are even, up
right, and healthy. Many say that the
head is of little or no consequence, and
that hog may have an ugly head; but
/ regard tue head of any animal as one
of the principal points in which pure OF
impure breeding will be most obviously
indicated. A high bred animal will be
found invariably TO arrive more speedily
at maturity, 10 take flesh earlier and with
greater facility, and altogether to turn out
more proftably than one Of questionable
or impure stock; and such being the
case / consider that the head of hog is
by no means point to be overlooked by
the purchaser The description of a
head that consider most likely TO indi-
cate high breeding is one of small bone,
not too flat on the forehead, the snout
short and couyNxed or curving upward,
thin, cree, ear, heavy JAN, and clear,
bright eye.
And, in the selection of a hog, the
buyer should notice the carriage. II thi,
be dull. heavy or sluggish, reject him "A,
unfit for breeder. Such log as the
above will not only live, but keep fat OF
grass alone. while the common, long.
legged slab-sided land pixies would
starve. have been for several year,
feeding hogs, and have had almost al
kinds common to this part of the country
and have come TO the conclusion from
my observation, that it takes no more
feed to pot 100 lbs. on a hishhred hog.
than it does TO pat from 80 10 Is lbs. on
the common scrubs Of the country, and
/ am satisfied that the meat Of the for.
mer is far superior to that Of the latte,
and that man had better always sci
his corn for what he can get than to feec
il TO scrub hog. But some men can :
bear the idea of paying 10 or Is dollar,
for good pig; but suppose by doing Sc
you increase the amount of pork yot
have for sale 25 per cent. without an,
increase of feed--a very low estimate o
the difference between good and bat