The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-11
Virginia Bacon


have never yet met with an article OF diet
which for excellence, and enduring excel.
lcnce, was its equal, and we don't want TO-.
Time but Increases our respect and devotion
fo- II. Talk about surloin Of beef! Ham
is King. 1t should be cherished by NlrSi'
nlans. They should as soon think OF giving
up the name Of their State as to permit Inc
fame of her bam TO die. We say time but
increases our desire to see it made an object
or devoted cultivation. The ncw-iangled
curings with your machinery, and your
sugar. and your various styles, and oh
those stumps ofjoints that seem to scandal
ize the board, drive us back again and again,
with renewed devotion, TO that cherished
onblem of the most refined and golden hos
pitality that the world has ever scen-the
Old Virginia ham.
The Dispatch appealed to the Virginia
farmer 10 renew his active cultivation OF the
ham, assuring him that it was an article ap-
preciated by the world, and, properly cul-
tivated, would be an important part OF the
resources of the farmer. The appeal was
received Fagorasy throughout the State, and
several experienced gentlemen communi-
cajed for The press their modes OF treating
hors aad Of killing and curing their bacon.
There vas very close Resemblance between
the different systems Of curing. Amongst
the most noted OF these gentlemen are
Mcssr-. SLAUGHTER FlcKLIS OF Aioemar'e'
and TnoMAs J. MASsIE, OF Nelson. Both
have gained distinction. Nr. MASSES
fa,1nr was renowned as clpilai farmer
As well as the maker of the very best
bacon OF the time. The recipes for curing
bican OF The two gentlemen arc nearly
sialifar. Mr.. MAssIE accounts Tor the search
t. oc Virginia bans bY the hog cholera, the
loss aud decay OF fences, and the rogucs that
hay. r,corle so numerous. II is not Won
dn.f,il that there should be a scarcity of hogs
in tsc face uf these perils but time has been
going on loeg enough for the hog epidemic
10 have passed away, and to have enabled
pcopla to systematiZe enclosures somewhat.
Surfaces shonld have been drawn liz, and
plan OF watchfulness inauguratcd that would
have KEEP ones own under better care and
driven rogues more s2,ioutly TO earn their
own bread and meat aud 20 live less on other
peoples.
Mr., MAssIE, in the Planter, advises that
the hog shall be from $50 TO 100 pounds;
that il shall be slaughtered ona cold dry, day
never damp-no matter how cold. After
the annknnl heat is exhausted cut out round
ing, AID clean free from gashcs, and salt.
Rub salt, finely beaten, on skiu.sidc and end
Of hook On flesh.side sprinkle over it a
dessert spoonful of saltpetre pulVeriZcd, and
then pu. as much salt on the llesh-side as 1t
will hold. Pack down, tlesh-sidc up, and let
il remain from four to six weeks, when hang
h0ak dozen and sm2ke-sCme prefer chips
(M-. MAsslz does)-some h!ckory-$ome
corn.cobs.
This il simple enough, and yet some OF
the best bacon cured in Virginia has no more
dore for it. 1t is our opinion that there is
much in the latitude and good deal in the
life and food of the hog that helps out the
excellence of the Virginia bacon. We do
not like the freezing of bacon-cerain!y not
before It has taken the salt. We do not be-
lieve it favorable to meat that has to be pre-
served a long time TO pass the ordeal OF
freezing and tAawing. But the Virginia hog
has been the object of dcrision for his ap-
pearance, which is the result Of his life. He
certainly, In the morning Of his being, is
familiar with the stern nurse of virtue, adj
yersity. His discipline makes him hardy,
brave, and intrepid. His master is taught
TO maintain close fields and TO keep good
look out for his family Of hogs. Let us he
strictly fair, for we could not be unjust TO
these good pcoplc-thc Virginia farmers.
The treatment of the hog is Jet by no means
cruel. All through spring and summer daily
allowance of corn pieces out their frugal
fare of native esculents and grasses Of wild
pasture, and they are the gayest and hcallhi-
est Of animals, having none OF that ab0mnablc
excess of fat, with scroluous outcropprgs
and as,hmatic whccz!ngs. This prospers our
gallant porker until the golden fall begins to
dawn, and then the earth is paradise TO him
The acorns, the hickory the beech and
h,zel.nuts, and that delight of the hogs, the per
simmons, are all one after another showered
upon him. The farms throw him out apple:
and other fruits fox variety, and soon tht
hardened corn gives him taste of the tlnish
ing diet which completes, fattens, and sodi
fies his flesh so that at killing-time he comes
to the block" ripe for the making of thu
healthiest and most toothsomc bacon to b.
found In the world.
This is the career OF the Virginia hog. FL
lives his life in Il golden latitude, and be
qucathes his body to the charming feast
When we see that hogs are killed and curct
by steam after being forced to monstrosit.
and fairness by disgusting arts, we desir
TO see our Virginia bacon multiplied ant
abundant, and when we see that added t
the red.lean, and translucent fat Of the dis
tilIery.fed pork we are now to have that hor
ror Of hogs fed upon boiled dogs, we say
"Oh give me back my" Virginia bacon.
As it is now about the time that the farme
was preparing for his hog crop be will par
don Us, we are sure, for calling bis attention
to these matters. Times are hard, and ever.
resource should be utilized BY US all; ant
beyond question, as we said above, the sup
ply Of good things is not such that we shoult
think for moment Of losing our bacon.
In our opinion the Essex and Berkshire
breeds are best for Virginia. They ant
their grades are the animals for Us. Grown
fn killing size in one yaar-so they arg mo-