Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-30
WHERE THE HOGS COME FROM.


In considering the country living imme-
diately around Chattanooga, more hogs
come from Sequatchie Valley than from any
other source. From the immemorial the
farmers of Sequatchie have been famous rs
heg rsisers, and besides filling up their own
larders with specimen grunters, they have
always had 8 large surplus which finds its
way into the Southern market. OF late
years, it is estimated that the averge an
nual export will reach twenty thousand
head.
And, il We are to trust 8 traditionary
etymology OF its name, this curious little
valley scooped out from between the
mountains has not been prolific of its long
backed swine only since its settlement by
the pale face. 1t was inhabited by
the Cherokees, one of the most powerful
and most wsrhke of the Southern Indian
tribes. From them it received its name,
which tradition says should be spelled 'se-
qus-chee" instead Of Sequatehie, as the
present orthography usually makes it. The
three syllables of this Cherokee word are
said, each to have Specification which on
being combined TO form the name of the
vail y, very appropriately indicate its staple
product. The Interpretation is Sc, hog;
qua, trough and chez, vslley-meaning,
therefore, in plain English, hog trough-Vsl
ley. This, ut least, is the translation given
rs by an old farmer of the valley, who
brought over his hundred head to market
the other day. On the other hand it might
be maintained with an equal show of rea-
son that the name comes from the peculiar
physical formation of the valley, in which it
may be said 10 resemble a og-trough,
which in the early settlement of the country
was followed out from the trunk Of tree
in much the same manner as Seqnatchie
valley is followed out of the top of the
mountain.
The farmers of Sequatehie Valley raise
hogs because this is the cheapest mode
they have of getting their corn to market.
As they have no railroad or river traHspor-
tation, their most accommodating way is
to feed 1t to hogs and drive it out on foot.
Railroads are death on hog raising. II the
Cincinnati Southern road should happen to
be located on the Se4uatchie Valley route,
the farmers Of that region would, In q man.
ner, quit fattenning hogs, and ship their
corn South OJ rail. The hogs are not gen.
orally bred in the valley, but are bought in
Middle Tennessee, west of the mountains,
and brought over when about half grown.
II it is the intention to Craze them on the
rich mountain grass, they are driven over in
the spring-say April. But il it is proposed
to feed them, only, the purchases are not
made until after harvest. The number of
hogs prepared for market depends very
much upon the success of the corn CROP
This year, the corn crop was rather short,
and hence fewer hogs have been fattened
than usual. Some years, when there is a
good mast, considerable number of hogs
come out to market later in the season.
These are fattened in the woods at very
little expense, subsisting almost entirely
upon cbestnuts, scorns and nuts. Their
flesh, however, is not considered so delici-
Gus as those which are corn fed.
The country north of, and along the
Tennessee river, also exports respectable
number of hogs, but the southern counties
next to the Georgia line, we believe, make
little or no pretentions in this line.-ChGt-
tdnooga Herald.