The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-09-21
AGRICULTURAL.
FATTENlNG HOGS.

1t has been demonstrated that in fattening hogs
a great saving of food is made in cooking and we
believe that a very considerable improvement in
the quality Of pork is likewise effected by this
process From experience, we should altogether
prefer pork either for eating fresh or sailing that
had been fattened on daily slops, with cooked po-
tatoes, pumpkins or apples, mixed while hot with
PORTION of meal, either ofcon, rye, barley, oats
and peas, or buckwheat. We know that the idea
Is prevalent that the best pork is made from hard
corn and cold water; some, indeed, NAV allow
their hogs Stops during the first part of their fat
tening, canine them wholly 10 corn for q short
time before they are killed, in order as thew saw
to harden the pork. We are convinced this is
erroneous. In the western part of the country
where in many cases nothing but corn is fed to
hogs from the time they able TO swallow it till
they are slaughtered, the pork is VIGOROUSLY more
oily and not as well fatted as that which is made
in sections where a variety Of food is used
In feeding store swine, the advantage of cooked
food is not so obvious. The digestive organs car
manage a small quantity of raw food, even though
it be Indian corn and are probably able to extract
the nutriment fully from it; but if the raw food
is increased beyond certain amount it will not
be thoroughly digestcd. We have heard it argued
that If II were necessary to restrict hogs to short
allowance, it would be best to give the food raw,
because the longer time required for its digestion
kept the animals longer free from hunger. 1t
must be belief similar TO this, which induces the
Irish people, according to Mr.. Colcman,) to
cook their potatoes so slightly as TO leave stone
in the middle. We confess the idea is not to us
unreasonable But when it is wished to tdttea an
finals it becomes an object 10 have them consume
as great quantity offood daily can be perfect
ly digestcd, because the sooner they consume a
gwen amount the greater will be the proportion
Of flesh or fat accumulated. Cooking does the
work, part of digestion and thus by assisting
fha f,p a,rtb "a.
of greater quantity. while At the same time it is
disposed in manner most profitable to the feed
er.
From the middle of September to the middle of
November, the pumpkin is of the best articles
of food for hogs which the farmer can have. BY
the way, We deem the pumpkin crop the most prof
nE5te that can be grown. For the production of
rich butter we know of nothing equal and il
comes in just when there is deficiency of grass
feed Forfully two months they may be used to
excellent advantage and with but little trouble
For cows it is only required to cut them and feed
Them IN their managers, or break them in pieces
on clean sward ground. For hogs they should
be boiled in as little water as will answer to cook
them when soft they should be mashed fine, and
about one-fourth of their bulk of meal intimately
mixed in Good ripe, sweat pumpkins, cooked
IN this way, with little whey or skinned milk
will make hogs fatten as fast as any food We ever
used.
But hogs like other animals, require variety Of
food; they will not do as well confined to one
kind, however good it may be; it is best, there
fore to vary their diet frequently or incorporate
several articles into mass, occasionally changing
the relative proportions.
Hogs should be kept dry and comfortably warm,
while being fatted. They should be fed in clean
troushs, and the appetite should be so closely
watched that no food is given them to be left from
one meal to another. Nothing should be omitted |
which will promote their quietude, for on this |
greatly depends the accumulation of fat The |
nervous system has such a connection with the |
secretive organs, that animal which is constant
" restless cannot be fattened
A plentiful supply of charcoal should be allow
ed to hogs while fattening; it is good preventa-
tive against dyspepsia, disease which is not con-
fined wholly to the higher order Of animals The
coal corre-ts the acdty of the stomach, and great
ly promotes digestion.-Abdny CHitirdtOr