The Red Cloud chief., 1875-11-18

There is naturally considerable ankle
~ to learn the probable number Of bogs
which will be marketed in the West this
season, and from several sources We have
received invitations TO furnish such in
formation - we can obtain ON tins sub
lect. Such information OF . definite and
reliable character il very meagre, and in
the nature Of the case any opinions on
this matter, ever from the VARIOUS pro-
ducing sections, are more . matter OF
conjecture than Of certainty, and the
most that eau lie done is TO give the
general indications aud the few facts
which according to natural laws conduce
to increase or reduce the production.
In the first place, II must he consid-
erea that the area Of the corn growing
and consequently the hog-raising section
Of the country 10 rapidly extending
westward, and that in the comparatively
new States west Of the Mississippi river
the new land brought under cultivation
annually makes q material addition to
the capacity Of the country. 1t is not
improbable that such States as Ohio,
Kentucky, and possibly Indiana, have
reached the maximum Of their corn
raising and hog-producing Interests, not
because they havo aot yet ample cspaci.
~, but because much Of the land can he
moro pro6tablv devoted 70 other pur.
poses, such as sheep-raising, dairy farm.
ing and vegetable gardening, while in
many sections OF Illinois, Iowa, Wiscon-
sin, Missouri, Kansas and Nebrssks, corn
is the most profitable crop. not only be-
u Of the large yield obtained, but
because il can lie turned into pork and
marketed with less expense than any
other crop.
The supply ci hogs depends largely
upon the quantity ana quality Of the
corn crop. That q larger area OF coun-
try was planted in : this year than
usual is generally conceded. 1t has met
some vicissitudes, but taking the country
together, the yield is doubtless fully up
to the average. and the quality some
what superior.
Now as to the basis for the production
Of fa. hogs. The reports Of the Auditors
Of State show that there were less hogs
in most Of the Western States which
were six months old or over on April /,
1875, than one year preceding, but this
is not conclusive a. TO the ability Of the
country to turn out fat hogs this winter.
for it is we'll known that spring pigs
constitute a large part Of the stock hogs
which are fattencd during the autumn
and winter for packing. This is o of
the modern improvements in pork, rails
ing, and n very important one, because
of its economical advantages.
1t will be remembered that at the close
of the winter packing season last spring,
there was q prevalent impression that
there were few hogs in the country
which could be made available for sum.
mer packing, but the result shows that
there was no great falling of from last
summer, and this illustrates how . de-
mand will be met with a corresponding
supply if the inducement in price Is suf.
ficient. Farmers have learned that il is
more profitable to fatten young hogs and
market them when ten to fifteen months
old than to keep them two years or more.
We think this is the true inwardnees Of
the condition shown by the Auditors
reports. If We are correct in this it fol-
lows thst there is no force in the argu-
ment that there are not enough hogs in
the country to furnish the usual number
for packing this season. There is a sui.
iCicnt inducement in the present and
prospective price Of hogs for farmers TO
utilize all of their feed other than cUrp, |
which has been unusually abundant this
autumn-in bringing their stock hogs
up to the point where they will fatten
rapidly On corn. The fact that many of
the hogs are young will doubtless lead
to late feeding if the weather proves
favorable; but we sec no more reason
TO suppose that there will he a scarcity
Of early hogs than there was last spring
to expect NO fat hogs during the summer.
think We have somewhere met with
the observation that this is a great coun.
try, and that the hog is a prolific animal,
but which some people seem to disbe-
lleve at this season Of the year.-Cincia.
natl Price Current, Oct. 81.
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