Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-17

this last method, pronounce it a. success,
and think they can destroy MOI worms
by an ounce of cobalt that with q dozen
good lsborers.
ESSEX HOGS AND BEIss1SHIRE
At no previous time in the history of
our State has so much attention. been Civ
en- TO the improvement of the breed of
hogs. Hundreds of dollars are sent
abroad every year for thefnes specimens
Of each variety. We have re Gently had
the pleasure of comparing be relative
merits of the Berkshire and Z sex. 1t il
claimed by the breeders of the Berkshire
that their form is more perfect, that they
fatten easily and are more prolific. They
are hardy, good feeders, gentie and in
dustrious. On the other hand, it is said
that theEssex excel any other.br eed lin flesh
producing qualities that with an equal
quantity of feed they will raake more
pounds of pork; that the fes h is more
compact, of g finer texture, mUch sweeter
and will weigh more TO the cubic inch
than the flesh of any other hog, just
as thoroughbred horse or apiece of bone
OF thoroughbred horse, will weigh more
than the same sized horse or blne of au
ordinary horse. The Essex also is of a
quiet temperament and will fatteu at sa.
early age. They have but little Offal
their food is readily assimilated and they
can be made to weigh from $50 to 400
pounds at from ten to eighteen nlol this
old. the greatest objection to tlleJn is
that they are not good breeders. Their
disposition to take on fat impsirs their
provocative qualities. They have but
few pigs and go q long time betw, en lit
tiers. They are usually good mothers and
supply an abundance of rich lnilk for
their offspring. Many persons object to
both the Berkshire and Essex on account
of their color, but experience has demons
trated the fact that black hog is, other
things being equal, more hardy and thrifty
in our climate than a white one Both
the Essex and Berkshire are favOrites,
because they fatten at any age, and this
is very important consideration, when
we remember the ravages of the hog
cholera in cur State during the past de
cade. The problem in hOg-raising to be
solved, is to produce, at the least possible
risk, the largest quantity of pork on the
smallest quantity of feed, in the shortest
possible time. Their color is really no
objection, for If care is taken in scalding,
says the Rur0I NeaO Yorker, all black |
hogs can be dressed as white as any white
hog. 1t is q well established principle
that all black substances absorb heat;
hence, in scalding black hogs, the water
should not be so hot as in scalding white
ones. If this simple rule was observed,
there would be less objection to black
hogs. In fact, their color is rather an
advantage, Tor they are not subject to
cutaneous diseases; and it is often seid.
"a black hog is always clean"
We are glad to see so much attention
paid By our farmers in the Improvement |
Of their stock Of hogs. In almost all the
counties of Middle Tennessee. we have
seen fine specimens imported directly |
from England, some Of them from the |
royal farms. Tennessee, at one time,
produced more corn than any State in the
Union except Illinois; and it is well
known that com and hogs before the adj
vent of hog cholera were synonymous
terms. We hope this interest will con-
.inue 10 increase until our farmers will be
able 10 meet the entire Southern demand
for pork. In the meantime we wish it to
be known that as pure breeds of the
Berkshire aud Essex can be found in this
State as can be found in Europe.