Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-09
The HOg-His Faults, Virtues and
Claims

The cold weather is about setting in, and
bog.king time always comes before Christ
mas Farmers and houSekeepers are now pre-
n,rne for it. In Virginuia We have not. since
me war, raised as many as We were accustomed
n raise before the war, but heiS poor farmer
and a bad provider who has not some to kill.
In the next fortnight many thousands will be
killed, scalded, scraped, cut up, salted, and
hing up in the well locked smoke houses to be
mred. Virginia cured bacon is famed for its
Incompatible excellence. Our only fear Is
that there will not be enough OF it.
May we not be allowed, in view OF the ap-
rrOaching season, to say something in favor OF
that much abused, but useful and valuable
animal, the hog
The hog plays an important part in COM
meree, agriculture and domestic economy. lie
sa sort of citizen of the world, He thrives
and multiplies 10 every part of the globe eX
cent the Polar regions. The familiar burleSGue
of the ''hog on ice, =" is enough of Itself to de-
monstrate the unsuitabloneSs of those regions
to the hog. With this exception he can pros
per everywhere He is in his ubiQuity like the
herring, which is found in all waters. lie
does not rank high in the social scale, being
considered, indeed, less OF q gentleman IN his
habits than any Of the animals. Like the ele-
phant, the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus
he is addicted to wallowing in the mire. Nat
uralists tell us that he does this to destroy
yermin, and to protect himself from the bites
and stings of insects This has been his habit
from the earliest times, and will remain such
as long as he continues on earth. The SOW
that was washed returned to her wallowing In
the mire" There is no reformation for him
in this particular Anothero Of his peculiarltles
10 hot hn
in his mouth, when it is about to rain. The
hog has played an important part in religion,
having been placed under the ban of two great
religious sects-the Jews and Moslems. Their
hweivers and priests prohibited his flesh as an
article of food. These two religions had their
origin in the hot climates of the East where
sgne's flesh was found to be unwholesome,
and its prohibition was sanitary measure.
We read that Mr. Hog was introduced from
Spain into Hispanioa By Columbus, In l493;
into Florida by De Soto. in 1888; into Nova
Scotia and New Foundland III 1903; into
Canada in 1908, and into Virginia IN 1909: 1t
is related that here they multiplied so rapidly,
that the cOoniSts were compelled to pahsade
Jamestown to keep them out. Different breeds
are preferred in different localities, according
the fancy of the farmer facilities for raising,
or the particular object OF the raiser. The
by turns been in most favor the Chinese, the
Neapolitan, 1.-THE most celebrated OF the Italian
breeds, the Irish grazier, the Berkshire, the
Cheshire the Essex, the Woburn or Bedford
breed sent to General Washington by the
Duke of Bedford, (being a cross between the
Chinese boar and the large English hog,) the
Mddesex, the Chester the Hampshire and
the Suffolk, which last originated from the old
Suffolk crossed with the Chinese aud Berk-
& shire. Without entering at length into the
DISCUSSION as to the best breeds, we may say
that there are hogs that seem to be capable or
taking on more fat than others. After all said,
written and done, the corn.bred hog that IS
supplied from the time he can crack corn
to the time he falls under the knife, with as
= much corn as he can consume, IS the best OF
all. There is wonderful correlation between
the hog and Indian corn. We shall not under
take to describe the oh}-fashioned, unlmproVed
Virginia porker which, having been lett TO
rOam at large and scuff1e for itself, contracted
ashape so strangely ludicrous and habits SO
Wild, queer and perverse, as to be a notable
curiosity. If we remember Alright, this eccen-
tc variety has been described at length BY
Noses Addums, in his learned lecture on
d Bacon and Greens" We take occasion here
SAY, that if in aught we have said, or further
Say, We should trespasS upon the demesnes OF
mat lay0rte author, It will be unWlttlngy
done.
The fecundity of the hog family is one OF
Tie marvels of nature That animal is capable
dpTOcreation at the early age OF one year, an
geat which the human infant can scarcely
crawl, is without teeth, and is unable to cx-
peSss itself, and when the calf and the colt are
9dI sustained by the mother Mrs Hog pro-
llceS eight to twelve, and even more at a
! birth, and that twice year Vauban eSti-
mates the product of single SOW with only
4x young at a time, in ten generations, to be
ABOUT six millions five hundred thousand, from
Snleh he deducts five hundred thousand on ac-
N0nt OF accidental death. The ease with
ssllch the hog is raised, his 0mnivorOus appe
t9e and his industry and Self-reliance make
Im the cheapest of all animals to keep. 10
que poor, he is, indeed, precious boon. 10
increase and multiply" seems to be regarded
y Tue hog as his first duty.
O Ihe whole number of hogs in the United
.a'es In 1856 was put at forty millions, about
I,9iog and half for every man, woman and
~nq OF the then population. Valued at 81
Sr head, the aggregate value would be $3.50,
/ 4OOO What country this for hogs and
uulan eornl With them it will be easy to
"aId T Oft starvation.
nj. mere is no part Of the hog that cannot be
a1lzed %lized His flesh, fat, bristles. hair, hOOis
ua bones are all turned to account His very
E'Tals are eaten. The divisions into which
So ~ oody are cut are as we'll known as the divi-
iOaS ooI OF the earth-hams, shoulders, ,middliOgs,
AVIS! ,r%. Ills ears and feet are made into SouSe,
~.. pa Ills brains make choice dish for the cpl
m'S Ills tail has for ages been claimed by
@I.Ss IeSslVe generations OF children as their pc
s%a % property. Tradition points out the
e.,; cay oi cooking it-roasting on the coal-and of
SN.ug Sag 1t without salt, and held in the fingers
6ssa' 6a'er RIBS and chine! Is there man with
loaa laa' In his bosom and teeth in his head who
'ISs not delight in them
HSCme call the hog stupid. Stupid JUDGED!
st;s %s intelligence is Of high order, and his in.
'Ua''s are as sharp as-welI, razor or briar,