Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-05-21
REAL R~AZORBACKs.
. HoMElv AND FERocloUs HOG ON
HIS NATIVE HEATH.

ne DOCS Nos Rssemb,e Hi, ranpsrsd
Brother q she Berhshirs Breed-Hia Ez-
I.tenos Measured by tho Rule Of "Root.
Hoa. or Die--Hoa KniInE Parties.
There Is q great difference In hoea
The form. contour and faco Of the
r0undcd. sleek sided, short legged
Berkshire and other hogs Of high degree
do not much resemble the angular. IA.
zor backed hog common throughout the
south. Tho c0untenanco Of che we'll
bred, we'll cared for species Is chubby
and contented looking. the ears small,
the snout inclined to turn up rather
than down. His less fortunate cousin
has a long. narrow face, immense, flop
ping ears that hang disconsolately over
his eyes. and an elongated, pointed
ancut that seems pro~videntially formed
10 aid his earthy explorations. Root.
beg. OF die. " Is q common saying in
tho country Of which this hog is a ma
tive, and the swine scom to realize the
situation. They have long legs and al
ways rcn with their suouts close 4 the
ground. convenient for u%nearthing any
thing eatable which may come In their
way They diligently root up the prom
Using morsel Of food and gulp IL down,
without stopping 10 enjoy il, and run
ON apparently faster than ever, grunt-
ing rs they 60. In search Of something
more-some favorite acorn or juicy bit
Of grass OK berry root, upon which they
largely depend for subsistence.
Naturally tho vast amount Of imper-
alive exercise they take ranging through
the woods e~Ioctually prevents their TAX
ing ON much superfinous flesh. and the
hair on their narrow backs is as rough
and coarse as that Of the we'll bred hog
lie smooth and glossy. The majority Of
them are of a dingy white color, per-
haps spotted with black, and when a
white coated one, scantily covered with
hair. has pale eyes, bound around with
pink, and very light ~eyelashes, protrud-
ing beneath his dropping ears, he Is az
ugly a living object as can DO imagined.
The little pigs are moderately pretty
when young. but not in the least like
the plump, little, chubby faced baby
Berkshire, and long before they have
arrived at the age when they arc called
''shotes' they have become ungainly
and common looking. The negroes have
great faith in the ability Of the hog to
survive any amount OF neglect and still
live 70 provide sausages and pork stew
for the winter season. At certain sea-
sons when the "Ehotes" can do no dam
age to the maturing crops. 1t Is neoes-
sary to confne them until the fields are
bare opoe more and will admit Of their
ranging at will.
In the course Of a walk once, a small
negro boy and girl were found seated
on top Of the fence which surrounded q
pen, hinging corn to two hogs within
the Enclosure. The rude feeding trough
was as dry as II no liquid had ever
dampened IL, and this ON a hot summer
afternoon. Inquiry as to when the pris-
0nefB bad last had water given them
elected no response from the shy little
''shote minders." After some inquiry
and explanation that the pigs would
like water the boy consented to go to
the honse, some distance of, for n buck
ct after bringing which the children
went TO the spring, in a little hollow in
the woods behind the pen, and procured
water for the thirsty creatures It 10
needless to say that they drank IL with
avidity. This pen was in an open field,
with not a single bit Of shade near. 1t
had belonged to an humble establish
menk the house and bArn of which had
been moved to some other tract Of land,
and the owner Of the hogs had utilized
the pen Just where it was, the distance
from his dwelling, which was plenti-
fully supplied with we'll water, render
ing it most ~inoonvenient to attend to
the wants Of the animals.
The pen could easily have been moved,
rs the fence around it was made Of
movable rails placed zigzag fashion Oh
purpose that it might DO changed from
place to place, but evidently the com
fort Of the ''shotes" was not regarded as
Of much importance, Later, a small,
slim figure, in scant, homespun dress,
faded and torn, suddenly emerged from
a narrow path which opened upon the
road, and a childish voice said timidly,
"Do you want some headache blossom,
ma'amG' a little black hand holding
out a bunch Of delicate pink flowers,
with perfume more powerful than sweet
The acceptance Of this Offering seemed
70 thaw out her reserve, and the little
girl volunteered the information that
she and Yankee. her brother, ''aimed
70 dash water 70 de hog cherry ebenin. I"
In the days Of the old regime the
crops were all fenced In, and the hogs,
and cattle as we'll. were allowed TO roam
at will through the Businesses Of the
sWamps and timbered tracts Often.
times the animals were not seen foi
months. When the time drew near fol
hog killing. parties were made up L
''drive" the swamp and capture the
half wild creatures. as IL was desired Il
fattsn them In pens before killing. II
was not infrequently tho case that the
swine became quite f%erooious. having
bean left 50 long at large, and the hunt
ers found themselves IN the midst OF a
wild boar hunt Ia earnest which
they hugely enjoyed Most Of the farm
oFs Of the southern states now leave their
crops unfenoed, and tho stock has to be
pastured or looked after, which practice
has put an end TO such pursuits New
York Tribune
Hard Wood.
According 10 a rooaut looal dacigfon