The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-11-20
Ece-Curets Pc IA Revolution In
PacHtnE and Curing-Tne Hog Crop
nc Eayu-.-o a.s.r~

Packing and CuftnG-Tne Hog Crop
OF Is7I-'72. ~
The Cincinnati Price Current, under the
heading of /" Provision Trade RevolutioD,"
gives some interesting information concern
ing the growth Of new industry-the Ice
curing OF pork in summer-which IL says is
making "great breaches" In the old pack
ing trade. According to this trade journal
it may almost be said that it is not longer
necessary to salt and lay aside NEST in
winter at all any more than any other
season; there being, however, a few
weeks in the heated term OF summer
when 1t Is not necessary nor desirable
to handle or use much meat. Swine
are fatteued more conveniently and more
economically in fail weather, and then
transportation can be done twenty per cent.
cheaper. Fresh ica-cured meat is brighter,
sweeter, and sells higher for several OF the
leading qualities than the dry, highly-salted
winter-cured. Ice-houses have been con-
structed at many western points, where
packing continues constantly and safely oil
summer. The extra cost Of cold air from
ice is being rapidly reduced, and is already.
counting less than the expense Of holding
meat over from winter to summer. This
state Of affairs has completely upset the old
business, by which the wealth of the pork
packing business has been acquired. And
the article concludes with the remark that
"tse last winters packing stock has lately
been selling at loss OF some forty per
cent"
Whether the indifferent success which,
according to this authority, has lately at
tended what was once the greatest single
interest in Cincinnati is wholly due to ice.
packing may be questioned. The Cincin-
nati Enquirer contains a copy Of an agrea-
ment entered into by the packers there,
dated November 1st, in Which they for
mally covenant with each other - that they
will !, in the purchase of gross hogs, during
the packing season Of 1871, only weigh as
merchantable hogs such as will walk with.
out assistance to the SCALE" 1t is comfort
ing to the general consumer to know that
her packers have "slruck hands" over q
bargain not to salt away any more ''broken
down or diseased" piss. ..lE
From the Louisville Courier-Journ,l.
Statistics show that there are over thirty
millions OF hogs in the United States. The
market draws from this stock annually ac-
cording to the demand at home and abroad
and the prospects of the trade. 1t is sup
piled in proportion to the yield Of mast and
maize, and according to the contingencies
Of the market itself. Usually, we believe,
about four or five millions Of these hogs are
slaughtered annually; but of course tEc
contingencies mentioned more or less RtfecS
the dritt upon the main stock.
The crop Of hogs OF 1870 and 1SilT;ts
much the largest crop we have ever nae 10
the West, say nearly q million more than
ever before, and during last summer Chi
caco received from two TO ten thousand
every Gay during the warm weather, and
all the other cities in the same proportion.
Notwithstanding the extra large crop and
tI1H -tS IL hna Hnp
sInncd. In 1SG3-'10 the prices were very
hirn, say from eight to ten dollars. The
high prices Of that year, together with the
extremely fine crop of corn, produced this
large supply, all other products being COM
paratively much lower and at those prices
it was the best thing that farmer could
turn his attention to. A large corn crop
always adds to the crop of hogs, as farmers
can, in August, September, October, and
November, put on about two hundred
pounds to each hog, when they are of good
quality; SO that pigs and shoats can be
III de into large hogs very soon when we
have plenty Of corn.
This yelr there was no ipducement like
that that existed last year. Last seasons
prices being so low, and it being the gene
raj expectation to get low prices this sea-
son, the same attention was not paid TO
hogs, and the farmers turned their atten-
ton to other products, such as hemp, to-
bacco. etc. Besides, there has been short
crop of corn made in the West this year,
owing to the great drought. AS evidence
of this, you haze no June rise in the Ohio
river, and you have had no cOal-boat
rise since last spring, and it bas been so
cry in the Northwest that the country
has been on fire, and great losses have
occurred, all owing the excessive dry
weather. The corn crop is said to be
fine in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, &C.. but
short IN the South and in Kentucky, Ohio.
&c. Owing to the extremely short crop OF
corn farmers cannot feed, and are pushing
their hogs on the market. Where they have
corn to Iced with, water is so scarce that
they could not feed their hogs, and have
driven them to market, that being the best
they can do. This Will account for so early
receiving so large number, and by being
sent in 50 soon they will be much lighter
than usual.
So conclude that we are not to have SO
many hogs this year as last, the reasons to
Inc being conclusive on that point.