Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-01
Does Pork Pay in. New England.

After cyphering on the pork question for
the the last FIVE years, we have found so lit
tie profit in good years, and SO much loss in
bad, that we had pretty much settled upon
the policy of no pork at all upon New
England farm. We have no abhorance of
swine's flesh, aud shall probably continue to
favor the baked pork and beans, the boiled
dinner, the Goldfish cakes, the fried fish, the
spareribs, and other good dishes of which
pork is the glory, unto the end, whether the
pig is raised in Illinois or in our own sty.
Looking at the question in a purely oconom-
ical view we do not think it pays US to raise
pork to sell. As matter of private opin-
ion, which we should not like to have pub
lished outside of the Agriculturist family,
We think we have lost money on every
pound Of pork we have sold for the last five
years. 1t may possible pay to keep pig
or two TO utilize the wastes of the family
and as matter of esthetics to raise your
own pork for delicate white lard, aud pink
slices to boil and fry, and for ones own ham
and sausage, but not beyond. To raise for
the general market, brings us into competi-
tion with the prairies and Mississippi Valley
where corn is grown for twenty cents or less
bushel. Whole hogs are put down in our
village markets every winter for about six
or seven cents a pound in consequence Of
this competition of the west, aud this does
not give over City or sixty cents a bushel
for our corn, which is a good deal below
the market price. We have outgrown the
necessity of fattening pork, and relying up
on the sale to raise meney to meet farm ex-
penses. We can raise other things that pay
much better, because they are free, compare.
lively, from the competition of the great
west. Butter still pays fairly, and very
nice article pays still! better. 1t is not
difficult to make style Of butter that will
command fifty to sixty cents pound sold to
q regular customer every week, in the viii
lage or city market. The same roots and
meal that makes pork will make butter.
Milk pays better still, either sold wholesale
in the city, or peddled in the village. Rails
ing poultry pays better. Many Of our farm
ers raise large quantities Of turkeys, geese,
ducks, hens. and eggs, and the sales run
from three to six hundred dollars annually
Chickens and turkeys bring from two to three
times as much pound as pork, and it costs
but little more to make pound of poultry
than pound of pork. Sheep pay better
than pork. With good sheep pasture the
returns from flock of lambs, mutton, aud
wool, are very satisfactory, and the labor is
light. Raising bloodcd stock-herd. book
animals, horses, sheep, cattle-pays better
if one understands the business. Grazing
and fattening cattle is good business, aud
brings up a farm with very little labor. Wa
have class of farmers who make this q
speciality, buying three and four-year-old
steers in the spring and selling in the fall
Such farming pays well, and fruit farming
and these specialties sre growing every
year with an increasing town aud city pop
ulatiou. If we will study the home markets
that are springing up in the older states anc
aim to supply them, We shall make more
money and raise less pork.-[Agriculturist