Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-09
What nrthe Hog Crop

Messrs. Henry Milward q Co, in pre-
senting report of the information obtain
ed from some of thecountry packing points
regarding the incoming crop OF hogs, say:
II appears that in illinois u points re-
mort the crop as larger, 5 about the same
and 8 smaller than last year. In Indiana,
10 larger, 10 about the same, 8 smaller In
Iowa. is larger, about the same, small
ler. In Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska,
larger. 9 about the same and smaller.
Il is not surprising that almost uniformly
the reports predict very considerable IN
crease in the supply OF hogs now feeding
for the winter market, as the prospects Tor
bounteous corn crop have all along been
80 promising that the farmers have hus-
banded their stock hogs to enable them to
take advantage of the probable surplus OF
the cereal. Their hopes have not been
disappointed; the corn crop is ont OF dan
ger OF frost, and will certainly be one OF
the largest and best secured We have ever
had. The farmers have lately cared but
little to market their hogs, confident that
much more money could be realized for
them later in the season, when fattened
fully Oh tho new crop of corn; and stock
hogs have been much sought after and have
commanded very high prices. The ex-
perience of the packing business the past
season has demonstrated the fact that even
with the most flattering prospects high
prices can not safely be paid for hogs. The
farmers last year secured the whole benefit
of the trade. The most conservative pack
or could not possibly save himself from
loss, while the speculative operators during
the early part of the season were all buried
later in one common ruin. The result OF
last seasons operations were not partlcu-
larly gratifying TO any concerned, except
the farmers. The English markets tor ba-
con were sustained solely by the sudden
decline of gold in the spring, thus shutting
off all shipments and preventing any &C
cumulatiOn of stock, but still considerable
difficulty has been experienced in working
off evon tho limited supplies they had.
Although our receipts Of summer hogshave
been smaller than last years, and though
our packing throughout the country has
been much less than usual, the supply has
been constantly more than equal to the de-
mand, and, contrary to general anticipation
the markets have been, for the last two
months, gradually declining The cons
sumption has, however, been largely sti-
INFLATED under the influence of low prices,
and it is probable that before any new meat
can be brought to market the stock of old
will be entirely exhausted. Still, the de-,
mand at best will be merely temporary, aud
with the recollection of last years misfor-
tunes, prices must decline largely as soon
as any surplus of new meat becomes avail
able.
Under such circumstances low prices for
hogs must be insisted on, or the packers
had better close their houses and allow the
crop to be monopolized by few of tho
most adventurous.
The receipts of live hogs for nine months
during the three past years sum up as fol-
lows, viz In 1868, 888, 720; in 1869, l.
O45, 1884, and 1870, 991, 453; while the ship
ments for the corresponding periods were:
In 1868, 684, All; in 1868, 1869, $50, sos,
and in 1870, go, 2S8.
The return of the Registrar General for
Ireland shows an increase this year of ST.
los hogs, and GO, 705 horned cattle as COM
pared with last, SO that in all probability
American bacon and beef can not be used
in Great Britain the coming season, except
at very low prices Our adYices from Vir-
ginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, disclose
the fact that the negroes, for some time
back, have been putting up pig sites, and
are fattening one or more hogs to family,
which will furnish them with early meat,
and seriously reduce the quantity of bacon
heretofore required for those States, and
cannot but exercise an immense influence
and prove an important item In determin-
ing the result of next years business.