Connecticut western news., 1872-12-20
The Hog Crop.

From actual and estimated returns of the hog crop In the Western States, aR inGa0aSe In the supply may be expected this year, and probably for many years to come. In Iowa the number according to an advance sheet of the State Auditors abstract of assessment for this year is, ,244, ,169 head against ,0O8, ,971 head for 1871, and their total valuation was $2, ,52l ,24O, or $2, O2 per head, while last year their valuation was $2, ,682 ,68l, or $2 56 per head This comparatively low average indi- catcs that the mature hogs have been nearly all sold of, and that the stock now chiefly consists of young animals. But this differ ence will soon be made up by the bountiful corn crop, which is freely fed out to them. The crop in Missouri is also in 0 similar con- dition, the stock consisting mostly of hogs, which, however, will be fully matured by the commencement of the packing season. From Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and in fact, nearly all the Western and Southwestern States we have accounts of a marked increase this year, and the approaching season promises to be one of unusual activity. This increase in the hog crop is natural result Of the abundant corn harvest this year and last. The corn product of last year was exceedingly large-so large in fact that the new harvest, which is even still more productive than the last finds a considerable proportion of last years sur plus in stock, owing to the want of adequate facilities for transporting 1t to market. The West has heretofore relied on the Southern States to take q considerable quantity of their corn surplus. But this outlay has been cut of, for the last two years for the very excel lent reason that the South now not only pro- duces enough corn to meet the demands of home consumption, but has surplus for ex- portation. The foreign demand is limited partly by the high cost and scarcity of trans portation, and partly by the fact that there Is still considerable prejudice in Europe against the consumption of American corn
 But the comparative deficiency in the wheat crop nevertheless afforded an outlet for corn that probably would not have occurred under q more bountiful yield of wheat, and the corn exports this year were on 6 more extensive sale than usual. As an evidence of the large l yield of corn, it may be noted that the total visible supply, including stocks in this city and the lake ports and in transit September 28, amounted to 1S;690,78 bushels against | 7,O54, ,OOO bushels at the corresponding period last year. The exports of corn from the 1st of January to the first of October, 1872, were 20, 722, 245 bushels, an increase of II ,000, GOO bushels over the corresponding year.
 | At present prices and with the large SUD- plies on hand, farmers can not find more profitable investment for their corn than to convert it into pork. In that form 1t Is near | ly always sure of market, and in more available and less bulky form. The foreign demand for pork is almost certain to be stim- ulated blythe growning necessities of European consumers. In England there is 6 slow but certain decline In home growth of cattle and live stock, which has already advanced the price of meat to an unusually high figure. AS this increase is more like to increase than diminish, q demand will almost necessarily spring up for all kinds of American produce, that is likely to grow to very large proportion at no distant date. The recent formation oi the National Pork Packers Association, and the establishment of new and accurate grad. ing system, is calculated to exercise timely and favorable influence on the export demand l Thus with an almost unlimited capacity in the West. for the manufacture of pork, and with the probability of a constantly increas. ing and proportionate foreign demand, there is every reason to anticipate that the hog crop of the future is destined to assume i'm. mense proportion. The indications of an ex. tensive business during the approaching pack. ing season are favorable. Farmers are gen. erally feeding their hogs at an earlier date than usual, and owing to the abundance anC cheapness of food, the average weight is likely to be heavier than in former years, while there win be a gain in numbers At present the pork-packers manifest tendency to dis continue their purchases among farmers, anc compel the latter to send the hogs to market The result of this movement depends largely on prices, and on the rivalry that may exis
 between the various pork packing centers.- | !New York Bulletin.