Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-05
Pindar, Potato. and Piedmont Hams


We printed a few days ago a description
OF a method OF curing hams which is in
general use in Virginia, and to which
much OF the excellent flavor Of the famous
mans OF that State is said to be due.
Now comes the Richmond Dispatch with
testimony confirmatory OF the superior
qualities OF the "old Virginia ham"-not
old ham of Virginia. II should be noted
perhaps-and with some particularly time
y and interesting Information for many
Of the farmers in this State--that Is 10
say. for progr, ssve and enterprisng farm
ers who have recently entered upon the
cultivation OF South Carolina hogs and
Spanish pindars.
The Dispatch has heard. II says. that
THE best OF the old Virginia hams. all
Of which are good and excel all others IN
the country come from the peanut sec
ton OF the State, where. just before hog
Killing time, the hogs are allowed 20 root
in the fields from which the peanut vines
nave been removed, and In the soil o.
which many Of the nuts have been drop
ped" The popular theory, II adds. is
mat these nuts give peculiarly agree
be flavor to the hogs OF our low couh-
lry."
The nopular theory Is probably cor
rect Every Virginan who has reachec
the age OF indiscretion IS valian
trencherman, and knows how everything
lu-ht 10 be C Oked, ana probably how Il
cook II on q pinch. and. as the concur
renee OF all Virgnians, or OF most o
them. on the question OF the relatiV'
merits OF Virginia and non-Virginia ham.
has settled the question for the rest
the country their like concurrence as L
the cause OF the peculiarly agreeable
flavor Of their GROWING porcine prouu'
must be accepted as final. The fine iiayo
is due to the peanuts. And why not
The peanut Is a fine food. II Is largely
used for the purposes OF feeding folks
both in this country and In Europe. al
In legislatures and conventions. Wheth'
4 improves the favor-however. that f.
irrelevant. The Vrginians say 1t In
proves the favor OF hogs. and that T.
rgh. The popular theory in the Sta
is a wholly reasonable one. II is the Gu
tom in some places to stun a turkc
with chestnuts to improve It's flavor. an
II one stuiiing OF an lnanimate fowl wit
hat kind If nut improves its flavor. VIII
should not the continued stuffing Of
i've pig for weeks with q better kind an
swer TIE same purpose even better?
The applica ion Of all this Is. OF course
simple and has been anticipated n has
been abundantly proved this year that
both pigs and pindars can be grown
easily and proftab,y in any part OF
South Carolina. 1t is stoutly main
aimed by one eminent authority that
the pindars are the cheapest food that
can be provided for hogs. and some OF
the reports we have printed Of the feed
ing of a score or more OF them for
weeks together on an acre OF pindars
go far to substantia'e the claim. II the
pindars will not only feed hogs cheap,y
but greatly improve the quality of their
meat. every hog grower In the Sta e
should certainly grow plrdars and pigs
together. II is likely indeed. tina, those
who have tried the Spanish pindars and
ties ed their value In the market will
agree that they are too valuable 10 feed
to hogs. and their contention will have
to be decided by exper ment: but II
will be noted hat the Virginia farmers
do not turn their hogs into the plndar
field until the pindar crop has been
gathered. Including the vines and the
ne plan can be pursued here. The
Spanish plndar Is peculiar. indeed. m
the respect that the nuts are so firmly
attached that most OF them cling to
the vine when II is pulled up. Whether
enough probably remain In the ground
to afford sufficient food for hogs for fla
yoring purposes we shall have TO leave
W SOulc ptdttlCdi piuldT TURNER 10 say.
The Dispatch II should be further noted
while testifying that the best hams"
come from the peanut section Of Virginia.
adds that some OF the finest OF Virginia
hams come from the Piedmont section"
and that II has ALSO known excellent
hams to come from Hanover" which Is
neither a pindar nor Piedmont country.
but produces fine sweet potatoes. It's idea
being that may be In roofing in the fields
whence the potato crops have been re-
moved the hogs fnd plenty Of potatoes
70 flavor their meat" This enlarges the
field OF possible profitable endeavor. OF
course. so as to make II conform to State
limits. There are acorns and chestnuts
md such things In our Piedmont region.
and the middle country and the low-coun-
try can grow pindars and potatoes In
Quantities that will feed and flavor all
the hogs that we may elect TO raise.
though they were numbered by the MIL
ION instead Of the thousand. There is no
longer a question that the State can and
will raise its own supply OF hog products
n the near future-it has about reached
that point aready-but We need not De
satisfied with a record and returns for
,uantity only. The next step Is to pro
duce hams that win compete with the