The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-13
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

had no idea until I got interested in
the hog how interesting hogs are.
had to go around with Mrs. Mathis
last season, and 1 heard her talk so
much about the pressing need of i'm
proving the breed of hogs in Alabama,
until her famous "razorback" and his
being built only for speed got me con-
study up on hogology and to take notice
Of them whenever I got a chance.
Now, I am no hog expert, but I have
gotten to the point where 1 can spot
the well-known types, and am fast on
the way to learning something about the
good points of each Of the well known
varieties. An agricultural expert out OF
the great west, with whom I travelled
for several days last spring, casually
remarked that after a study of the sit
uation the states salvation from the
boil weevil would be to get into the
hog raising game on big scale.
A month or two gack I took a trip
through south Alabama and saw and
talked hogs, and found out how the pea
nut and velvet and soy bean was rev.
olutionizing things, and how cities like
Eufaula, Troy, Ozark, Abbeville, and
Dothan were having hog days when
buyers from as far away as Chicago
came to bid, then I realized that at
last my people were taking the hog
seriously and relying on him to pull them
out of the hole in which they had been
dropped when the energetic little worm
set out to eat up all the cotton in sight.
For years I had been going to county
and state fairs and perfunctorily 60
hand to my nose, and no real interest
in their sizes, color, avoirdupois. 1t was
just one Of the things to do and the cas-
lest way when asked, did you see the
big hogs at the fair?n to be able to say
yes" and put an end to hog talk. I
admit that so far as pigs were con-
cerned, that I was a Stacker" Yes, l
would occasionally stroll out to some
farmers pen. after a good dinner, to
look at his prospect for meat. but it
was manners, pure and simple.
Now, really surprise myself for, when
got out into the country, one of the
first things I ask my host is "Have
| YOU any hogs?" and if he says yes
I then get him to take me out and let
me look them over. I am glad to say
that more and more the farmers of Ala
bama are beginning to realize that it
does not pay to raise scrub stock of
any kind. 1t means much for the agri-
cultural future Of the state.
| The story Of breeding and cross-breed-
ing is one Of great interest. The Chinese
and Neapolitan breeds have been of
great use in the crossing and improv-
ing the breeds commonly reared in
Britain, giving rise to the white and
the black breeds, respectively. In the
early history of this country, several
importations Of swine We're made from
Europe, but receiving little care, soon
degenerated. In the early part OF the
nineteenth century, small number were
brought from China. and about 1920 few
Berkshire swine were brought from Eng
land.
These efforts were to get away from
scrub stock. I found statement where
Henry Clay imported some hogs from
England. 1t takes two years to get a
scrub to weigh as much as well-bred
Dig will weigh when nine months old.
| the farmer is learning that II he has
only scrub stock. he can improve his
herd in a very few years by the use OF
a pure-bred sire. Years of breeding and
selecting for two distinct purposes, have
given rise to two distinct types Of hogs
the lard and the bacon type. Each type
,omprices several distinct breeds.
The lard hog is an American product
and is essentially corn-belt hog. The
early settlers needed hog which would
both produce meat and lard, both Of
which might be kept through the sum
mer months These products found .
market wherever there was a demand
for palatable food. which would fur
nish an abundance OF heat and energy
Later 1t was found that this type wa