The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-10-09
Farm and Household Column.
Hogs and Hes Raising.

Pork will probably be scarce and
high in the West, from all accounts.
Notwithstanding the large corn crop
Of the Northwest, which is the pork
producing country, hogs are report
ed scarce there. The most powerful
ring. after the whisky ring, is the
pork ring Of the West, and they are
taking advantage of the reported
scarcity Of hogs to purchase all the
present and future pork, so as to SOL
IDLY clnsc the market until they gel
their own profits. It will be q fortu-
nate time for the Southern planter
when he makes himself independent
of the pork ring, and raises his own
meat. 1t is easily done when once it
is determined on by any farmer or
planter, but far easier when Il whole
neighborhood determine Oh it and 70
to work in earnest.
1t is a good time now to make tho
commencement, while the Southern
fields are filled with corn, peas and
potatoes. Let each farmer make ny
his mind to procure every hog he can
and f'tien it up to he killed tho first
cold spell.
We have had some experience in
hog raisius in the South, and we can
say, without fear Of contradiction,
that 10 country in tho world can
equal Louisiana, Mississippi, and
some parts Of Texas for hog raising.
They produce with such ,apidity rs
soon t" overstock any place. We
know Ola well authenticated instance
in Louisiana Of over 300 head having
come'i'rom Il single SOW in one year.
The sow. of an exceedingly prolific
breed, Uttered thirteen pigs the night
after She was purchased and carried
home, and eleven Of them were SOW
pigs, which went to the boar ut four
months age.
Three months, three weeks aud
three days is said to be the period of
CESSATION of SOW in Europe. Some
breeds, however, are more prolific
than others, and We have had Il breed,
mach crossed, but largely pattakiug
Of the qualities of the Guinea breed,
which brought forth yonng after lOl
to JOB days CESSATION. littering each
time ten to fourteen pigs. We lived
where wild cats, black bears aud CUT
fee Black, Esq, were all very plenty
add very fond Of pigs, 50 We were
compelled to take care of our hogs.
We had them watched all day by an
old, otherwise useless, negro, and at
night put into q tight Enclosure. 1T
this way We lost scarcely any, aud
found that it paid, and paid we'll, to
raise hogs and take care Of them.
The complaint now is that the ina
TONS wards' are too much given to
hog stealing to permit the profitable
raising of hogs in the cotton States.
This may bo true, as hogs are now
raised, but 10 one should undertake
to raise hogs without having inclosed
pa:tures for them, and having them
watched, counted and attended to
daily, and brought in and inclosed at
night in safe place. The easiest
method Of securing them at night is
to build Il strong stockade of upright
stakes 10 the ground; something like
those the whole country was dotted
with during the war. One of these
stockades can he made at odd times,
aud if cleaned out occasionally may
be used for several years.
In the Northwest they fatten hogs
;.''o"e'hcr on com. In the Eastern
States on corn, bailey aud squasl,es,
or pumpkins. In North Carolina aud
parts of Virginia and South Carolina,
but little corn is used aud peas are re-
lied on to fatten tho pork hogs. Here
in the Southwest we have the sweet
potato, which Is more easily raised,
and is more prolific, than any other
crop, and IS far superior to corn, peas
or barley for fattenins hogs. A bush
el of sweet potatoes will go nearly as
far rs a LusIIel Of corn in fattenins
hogs, aud they make whittier, tirmer,
sweeter meat. We have raised aud
measured up GEL bushels of sweet DO.
tatoes t" the acre; We have seen 700
raised, and last year, it is stated that
a new variety Of sweet potato protlu-
ced in Southwest Louisiana from 500
to 1860 bushels to the acre; 900 is q
common yield on poor ground. With
such metcrial, 50 easily raised, We
onght to sG;icr the cxactions of tho
pork ring if we do not raise our own
pork and bacon, and have plenty tn
supply our towns and cities.
There is no difficulty in curing the
meat when once VIC have it killed.
Field hands and lal,orers like mess
pork and everybody likes good hams,
middllngs and jowls, dry
sailed or smoked.
At the right season we will renem.
Der to furnish our readers with seve-
raj methods Of curing meats.
Bee Pasturase.--The right time to
sow bnckwlaat for bee i,asturage il
about the first of July. If sown then,
II not only forms the best pastarage
for the bees, but usually yields a good
crop of seed. 1t is one of our best
loncy.producing plants. The proper
quantity to SOW toan acre is one peek,
although some prefer to SOW two
pecks. raise it largely, and succeed
best by sowing only one peck to the
acre. The number Of acres required
for thirty colonies of bees will l~
about four, if it is good season for
secreting honey. l have known one
acre of bnckwhcat to furnish food
enough for bees SO that 600 pounds Of
honey and IS bushel of sraio were
made from it. This was, however,
an unusually favorable season. Five