Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1878 — Farmers as Pork-Packers. [ARTICLE]

Farmers as Pork-Packers.

We have, says the Rural World, in former years, again and again urged farmers to pack and cure and prepare for market their own pork. The combinations among the city packers this winter to pay only very low prices for pork makes it very important that farmers should kill and cure their own hogs. It is true last year the packers paid good prices, and lost money. But this year they have combined to pay low prices and make money. They intend to make up the losses of last year and double the money they invest this year besides. Now, if farmers can kill and cure hogs as well as men in the city can, when the pork is sold they will double their money, too. What one man can do another man can do. If one man can cure pork well in the city, another man in the country can cure it equally well. But he must try to qualify himself to do it. He must talk with those who have good success in curing meat, and draw out all the information he can. He must read everything he can find on the subject. He must make the proper arrangements at home for doing it well. He must learn to cut and trim his bacon nicely. He must keep it neat and in good order. He must not have it too salt nor too fresh. He must get a good recipe and try it, and his own experience may induce him to modify it somewhat in future operations. He must talk with his neighbors, watch their practices, and perfect himself in the business, and cure his pork as well as any other man, and he can sell it as well. When market day comes, if the city packer makes money, he makes it, too. If the city packer loses money, he does not, because he has produced, not bought, his hogs, and well-cured pork will sell at paying prices always. . Good pork always buys work on the farm. It always buys goods at the stere in town or city. It always commands money, because people must eat. The better the quality, the better the price and the more easily it is sold. It is the best that pays best. Put up your own hogs. Don’t send them to the city and nearly give them away. Deduct shipping expenses, commissions, etc., and but little is left. Put up pork at home, and you have what will command money all the time.