The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-07-15
!Mhe Eatms
For The Cecil Wing.
THE PIG.

the ready sale InaC pacou meetS Will,
it would we'll repay farmers, and all
who own or rent few acres, to raise
hogs. The first requisite to assure
success and high profits, is to commence
with some improved breeds. The COM
mon hog will cost more than it will
ever return in flesh. Early maturity
and aptitude to fatten are essential
,oualities to be looked to in selecting the
breeding stock. One cannot go amiss
in choosing either the Berkshire,
Chester, Poland China or Essex; the
latter is thought by some to have too
little hair to withstand our climate, but
they stand northern Winters as well as
other breeds-al! kinds of the porcine
tribe should be kept dry and warm in
Winter.
Unlike other domestic animals, the
hog will accommodate itself to almost
any circumstances. 1t eats many things
other animals will not, if they starved
through their fastidiousness. 1t does
we'll on extensive ranges of woodland,
or pasture fields, in pens or very limited
lots, if cleanliness be strictly observed,
and they are properly protected from
heat and extreme cold. On farm Of
100 acres, from twenty to thirty hogs
would cheaply be raised per annum.
Kept in small lot communicating with
their pens they could be fed by cutting
grass, the extra vegetables, offal of the
kitchen, sour milk and little grain, or
they could run in the pasture or wood
lot until harvest, and they could CLEAN
the fields of grain after this, peas,
pumpkins, potatoes and new corn would
fatten them for the shambles. One lot
would be about fourteen months old
and the other eight months when killed.
Their rapid increase is wonderful.
Take given number of old sows, and
it is best to breed only from sows
eighteen months old and upwards-if
they have ltters before that age, sell
the pigs as roasters-it is safe to calcu
late on an average of six pigs to sow,
twice year. Twelve pigs to each
sow per annum, or, allowing an aver
age of 200 lbs. to each pig, 2,400 lbs. Of
pork at $40 per 100, equals $40, the
product of each sow. Suppose we take
off $40 for the cost of feeding and at
tention to the twelve pigs, and yet
there is left the handsome profit Of 800.
What other farm stock can compare
with this in natural increase? A mare
will produce colt not much oltener
than once in two years, and to make
that colt worth, at one year old, hun
dred dollars, it must have at least $50
expense bestowed on it, so if the mare
even had colt every year, she would
net her owner only $50 A COW with
her milk and calf each year, might APP
proximate the value of the sow's pro-
duct, but the COW must needs have pas
ture in open air-she could not be all
the time confined in her stall or her
keep would take away hugely from her
profits.
The steady annual increase of the
consumption of pork, incident to our
increasing population and national taste;
the rapid advance that has been made
in the trade in American meats, espe-
cially in cured and picked pork, hams
and other smoked bacon, to Europe,
and the China demand, all show beyond
q doubt that the demand will at high
prices keep pace with the supply If
these things be true, and each farmer
can judge for himself, then would it not
be advisable to raise more hog meat,
at least, each one for himself, raise his
own pork with enough over to pay him
for the expense of his entire hog crop
It is no inconsiderable item of ex-
pense to buy all the bacon and pork
consumed in ones family and by his
laborers. 1t is indispensable, or made
so by custom and the settled habits of
our people; nobody thinks they live at
all unless they have, at least once a
day, meal of bacon or pork in some
form or other.
Ye who love a juicy, sweet ham, a
slice of family breakfast midling, a
jowl with sprouts in Spring, or a rich
sausage, will, or ought not, neglect to
raise your own pork, and cure it your
selves You are then independent with
your "hog and hominy."
CHARCOAL FOR SICK ANNALS
Nearly all sick animals become SO by
improper feeding in the first place
Nine cases out of ten the digestion is
wrong. Charcoal is the most efficient
and rapid corrective. 1t will cure a
majority of cases, if properly admins
tered. An example of its uses The
hired man came in with the intelligence
that one of the finest cows was very
sick, and kind neighbor proposed the
usual drugs and poisons. The owner
being i'll and unable to examine the cow,
concluded that the trouble came from
overheating, and ordeaed teaspoonful
of pulverized charcoal to be given in
water. 1t was mixed, placed in junk
bottle, the head turned upward, and the
water turned downward In five min
utes improvement was visible, and in
few hours the animal was in the pas
ture quietly grazing Another instance
Of equal success occurred with young
heifer which had become badly bloated
by eating green apples after hard
wind. The bloat was so severe that
the sides were as hard as a barrel.
The old remedy, saleratus, was tried
for correcting the acidity. But the at
tempt to put it down always caused
= coughing, and it did little good Half
a teacupf'- rof fresh powdered charcoal
was p a. In six hours all appear