The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-01-16
Interesting to Farmers.
Inducements fer Rearing and Fsiten
ing Swine.

L
time when beef and pork brought SO
high prices, in proportion to the price OF
Indian corn, as since the crop. Of 1865
was gathered 1t is but few days since
/ paid 1S cents per pound for fresh pork,
and 90 cents for leaf lard, when on the
same day I could have bought good
corn at so cents per bushel. Dressed
hogs were then selling, in bulk, at 13
cents per pound. Corn is q little higher
now and pork little lower. But over
q large portion Of the country, the
prices of corn and pork would probably
Stand in nearly the same proportions l
have given. Hence the inducements to
produce pork are unusually great. The
very high price of the article is attribu-
table chiefly to the scarcity of hogs. 1t
is unnecessary to 60 into particulars in
regard to the causes of this scarcity.
The object, ofcourse, should be to multi.
ply hogs as fast as possible II atten
tion is Immediately turned to this mat
ter, the quantity of pork which may be
produced in the fall of 1866, can be great
iy increased, provided the mysterious
disease, known as hog cholera is kept
in allegiance The period of CESSATION in
swine is usually reckoned at four months,
but 16 weeks and three days is the av-
erage of many cases II sows are i'm
in January they will tarrow
in May and, if the pigs are well cared
for, they will do to kill at six or seven
months old. 1t is true that, as hogs are
generally kept in the Western States,
they would hardly reach the common
market weights at that age But with
proper attention their growth might be
much fastened ABy keeping ithe sows
on nourishing food-cooked, If practica-
BILE, or in warm weather slightly fer
pigs would grow fast while
by their dams, aud when
weaned would. by continuing the same
food i'll as great quantities as they would
eat, reach as great size at seven months
old as Western hogs commonly attain 1T
twice that age. -uu
To do this would doubtless require
more attention than is usually given by
western farmers TO growing swine; but
the present prices, and those likely to
rule next fall, would justify it. Much
food might be saved, aud the gain OF
hogs much increased, by more attention
to their comfort. The principle that
Iea,T.h is equivalent to food, is too little
regarded ia inclement weather. Give
animals a warm, dry shelter and less
food is required TO support the lamp of
life, and the guletude which the sense of
comfort induces, tends 10 the secretion
of fat
Many good farmers believe that the
most economical way Of making pork is
to kill pigs at six or eight months old.
1t would be better to have them drop.
ped in April, and full-te all the time
till slaughtered. New England, New
York and Pennsylvania farmers frequent
ly kill shoats ut the age mentioned,
which dress 200 to $50 50pounds. 1t might
not be easy to make those reared in the
western fashion reach these weights,
but they might at least reach size that
would answer very well under the unu-
sual demand for pork and lard.
THE SEVERAL IMPROVED BREEDS.
Connected with this subject is the
important question, What kind OF
swine will be found most profitable e. A
tendency to fatten at an early age, is
the first point to be observed in refer
ence to those to be killed at six and
eight months old. Where they are to
be kept till a year and a-half or two
years old, early maturity is Of less con-
sequence The breeds in which the fat
tening tendency is earliest developed,
are the following:
The EssEx.-This is a fay orite breed
in England and in this country, for the
production Of nice pork for family use,
and for consumption as fresh pork. The
fat is firm, the proportion of lean rather
large, fne-grained, light-colored, and
well favored. The hams and shoulders,
properly cured, are very delicate. The
color of this breed is black, but it ID not
even "skin-deep,' being confined to the
outer or scarf-skin, so that the carcass,
when dressed, is about as white as that
of white hog After long experience,
and trials of many popular breeds. give
this the preference for pork for home
use, Spring pigs will readily dress 200
pounds at : months old, and 800 to 400
pounds at ls months old, if we'll cared
for. Extra specimens much exceed these
weights An objection has been made
to the breed on account of its slight
coating of bIistles. But the skin is al
most always healthy, smooth, and elias
tic and under the same exposure that is
given to white hogs no thicker coated,
the Essex do not get rough and scabby,
though the white hogs often will. But
if more coating is wanted than the Essex
pigs formerly had, a cross with the stock
of Mr. Crisp, Of Buttley Abbey. Suffolk,
which has been introduced into this
country, will impart it, with, probably,
more additional strength of constitu-
ton.
THE SUFFoLK.-This is also a popular
breed for pork for family use. The ami
mails fatten easily. The fat is generally
not so firm as that of the Essex pigs, but
is in greater proportion to the lean in the
carcass. The lean is good, and the hams
and shoulders fine. Some Suffolk pigs
have sometimes been too fine drdun they
were too lightly coated, and were def
cient in muscular strength and hardness
of constitution. These defects have been
in a good degree remedied by English
breeders, and by some in this country
There is now no difficulty in obtaining
those that are sufficiently coated, and
which are of good size and vigor, reach
ing about the same weights as those CIV
en- for the Essex. The Suffolks are of
white color
The BERKsHIRE.-The old Berkshire
hogs belonged to the largest class. The
modern breed is the result Of cross with
the Siamese, and probably with other
breeds They have always, however,
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