The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-14

The BEST BREED OF HoGs.-It is diff
cult to compute how much the farmers Of
Texas lose by breeding from swine that dc
not possess ell the desirable qualities com.
mon to the improved breeds. The pro-
rduction of pork constitutes one of the
leading interests of Southwestern farmers.
They raise pork, not only to provide food
for their families, but as the staple pro-
duct from which they realize in the aggre
gate vast sun of money. To raise pork
proftably they should have the best breeds,
such as are thoroughly established and OF
fixed character; such as are of neat and
compact form; sound and vigorous in con-
stitution; prolific breeders; medium size
quiet Temperament; such as are easily tat
tened at an early age; such as will give q
liberal and speedy return for the food con-
sumed. and when ready for market wall
yield liberal supply of lard and meat
of the most desirable qualities, either fol
hams, bacon or picked pork. The most
important point in making selection is
ito take such breed rs will combine the
greatest number of good points we have
indicated. The most desirable hog is the
one that is neither too large nor too small,
one that is noted for having due proper
ton of fat and of lean. In fact, quality
and quantity must be combined, aud the
quantity must be Obtained at the cheapest
possible rate. We believe the Berkshire
breed possesses more of the desirable
points, which we have enumerated, than
any other.
RAISING PIes.-In raising pigs, the first
and main object should be to procure
thoroug hbred stock, and next to keep
them healthy, for it is impossible to rear
fine, vigorous ofspriDgs from unhealthy
parents.
Breed the sows so as to farrow from the
tenth of March until about the fifteenth of
April. 1t will do TO have pigs come as
early as the first of March, provided you
have a good, warm shelter, but which
should not be close. Pigs will not do we'll
unless they have plenty of pure air.
The young pigs should be fed by them,
selves; that is, they should be. fed in a
small pen made of rails or Stats far enough
apart to admit only the pigs. la the pen
q small trough should be placed, IN which
they should be fed twice day; for few
days half pint of sweet milk, gradually
increasing the feed until the pigs are old
enough TO eat corn then they may be fed
soaked corn-thst Is, shelled corn soaked
in "a barrel or tub, letting it remain from
twenty to thirty-six hours. 1t is really
astonishing how much litter of six or
eight pigs will eat of this corn in day.
The pigs should remain with the sow
eight or ten weeks, when they may be per
mitted to run on good clover or blue grass
pasture, If at hand, and fed regularly at
least twice day. The blue grass Is pref
cradle 10 the clover.
Sows with pigs should be fed rich,
nourishing feed. Corn should not be fed
more than once q day, with an alternate
feed of ground oats, middling or ship
stuffs, moistened with water.
NAIL IN HoRsE's FooT.-A neighbor of
mine recently informed me that he lost 8
most valuable horse by casualty by no
means uncommon. A knowledge Of SIM
pie remedy would have prevented this loss.
The horse trod upon nail, which entered
his foot. Lsmeness followed, the nail was
extracted, but lockjaw supervened, result
ing in death. An unfailing remedy in such
cases is muriatic acid. II, when nail is
withdrawn from horses foot, the foot
should be held up and some muriatic acid
be poured into the wound, neither lameness
nor lock jaw need be feared. Why the iron
should have the effect it frequently has and
the rationale Of the above remedy, am I'M
able to explain; but of the certainty of
OF disease by this perfectly
safe applications / am well convinced.