The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-11
FARM NOTES.

This column is edited by Mr.. John G.
Edgar of Duval, to whom all communlca'
tons should be addressed.l
The existence of many a fat porker
now depends upon the weather. He
has been fed so long upon costly corn
that he is in fit condition for slaugh-
ter; but in the absence of refrigerating
appliances his owner must await a
natural reduction Of the temperature
before killing.
The saving OF pork is very I'M
portant part OF the farmers business,
as upon its success or failure depends
his supply of meat for another year.
Now, am not going to give instruct
ions as to the best and only way tC
kill hogs and cure them, as nearly
every body mas some plan of their own
that never failed with them, though
Hundreds of others have tried it and
lGll bhOlU vi ouNNNpo'
wish merely to point out few
things in connection with hog killing
that must be observed or meat cannot
be cured.
First, it is important that the ami
nal should be thoroughly bled. The
presence OF blood in the veins and
arteries is one OF the chief causes of
pork not curing. Next, it is essential
that the natural heat should
be expelled before sailing or picking
many people wait till hard frost be-
fore killing, but this is neither neces-
sary nor agreeable. Frozen meat will
not so readily absorb salt as that or
10 degrees above freezing point.
When the thermometer falls to sc
or 40 degrees and stays there for some
time, that is the best and most agree
able time to kill hogs.
The quality of salt used is perhaps
of next Importance. 1t should be
moderately fine and strong in quality.
Liverpool salt is generally good for
the purpose and Louisiana bad I; but l
am strong advocate for home indus
tries, and think that every loyal citi-
zen should help home enterprise when
that can be done without great per-
sonal inconvenience or loss. Acting
on this principle tried Texas solar
salt for curing meat and found it
costly experiment. 1t was too coarse
and unsoluble.
was afraid that l should have to
fall back on the imported article till |
met Mr.. w. S. Marshall, of Fort
Worth, who is president of salt
mine at Colorado City, Tex. He
showed me three samples of salt made
at his works-a coarse stock salt,
medium grain and a very fine dairy
quality. They were all of great
strength and purity, and equal to any
Liverpool salt. Patriotic farmers
should ask for this medium grade and
if not more costly than the imported
article-and it should cost less it
should be used.
Another important point in pork
saving is to completely cover the meat
with salt and see that each piece is
separated by a layer of salt, as when
the meat comes in contact it is liable
to sour and spoil.
By observing the foregoing hints it
will not matter much about minor de-
tails; the meat will be saved.
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
The National congress of the
Farmers alliance convened in regular
annual session at Ocala, Fla, on the
4th, and was attended by representa-
tives from every state alliance.
Many matters virtually affecting the
farmers interest and touching the pc
litical progress OF the nation, came up
fer discussion, and there can be no
doubt this congress will have the eff
feet of influencing the history of the
future to a degree not suspected three
months ago.
The startling changes developed in
the recent elections through the con-
certed action of the Farmers Alliance,
the Grange, the Patrons Of Industry,
the Farmers Mutual Benefit assOcia-
ton and other kindred organiza-
tons, will stimulate these agen-
cies to further effort and produce
effects that caunot now be calculated.
All these organizations claim to be
non-political and non-partisan, and
have for their avowed object only the
farmers social, financial and educa-
tional advancement. Their field of
operation is large one, but there APP.
pears to be tendency to increase
the area by taking in a slice OF the
political prairie.
Upon the wisdom of the present
leaders of the various farmers organi
cations depends the future usefulness
and permanency of these institutions.
There il strong temptation to leave
the narrow footpaths of social and
educational progress and take to the
wide highway of political action.
Such departure would be fraught
with danger to the original purposes
of the different orders. Once en-
barked on the stormy sea of politics