Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-23
GRICULTURA

How MUCH PoRK WILL A BUsnEL or
Conn MAKE?-This | consider an impor.
tant question, and one that all farmers ought
to he able to answer. l will answer the
question by giving the result Of an actual
experiment, which is the only way Of ob
tanning correct information. Some years
ago | was DESTROYS Of obtaining information
as to the best and most profitable way of
f~attening hogs. l inquired Of my neigh
b0rs and friends, and found some in favor Of
close foored pens, and others large dry lots,
and as to the amount Of pork a bushel or a
arrel Of corn would make, their opinions
were as various as their countenances. |
was just beginning to farm, and rs | was de-
sirous Of knowing the best way of f%attcning
hogs, | determined to try the different plans,
and also now much pork a barrel of corn
would make. | made a foored pen, covered
it in, weighed three hogs and put them
in the pen. | also took three of the same
size and put them into a dry lot-average
weight lbs. l fet-sxx %tbufrels of corn
to the six hogs. They were forty days eat
ing the corn-wilh plenty ofsaltand water.
The average gain was IS lbs. The hogs in
tho lot gained the most. One that was fat
tened in the lot gained SO lbs. One in the
pen gained 81 lbs; the other four were not
80 thrifty. These hogs were about fourteen
months old when slaughtered. | put them
up the 25th Of October. There wasa good
deal Of sleet and Snow during the month Of
November, which gave the hogs in the pen
an advantage they would not have had it
the weather was favorable they eat the same
quantity Of grain in the same time. 1t also
shows that one bushel Of corn will make ID
lbs. Of pork and that the six barrels Of corn
made $1l 25 worth of pork, at 2 IL cents
per h.; and that the farmer gets II II
cents for his labor Of feeding per bushel,
over selling at 25 cents per bushel.
Hogs will fatten faster in September and
October. than they will in colder weather.
A few years ago | fed oae barrel of corn to
a very fine Berkshire hog that was about
thirty months old, (shortly after being cas-
trated) in the months Of August and Septem-
Der, no glinel 81 lbs. in 80 days, which
was the length Of time no was eating the
barrel Of corn. lie ran on a clover lot,
which was Of great advantage. This last
experiment is considerably over an average,
and would not hold good with common hogs.
From the above experiment it will be seen
that 3 2-3 los, of corn, suppoSing the corn to
weigh 55 lbs, to the bushel, will make l 10
e pork. Mr.. Arnott, as quoted from the
GnaeSee Farmer, thinks 5 lbs. corn will pro
i1cc / 10. Of pork +! This think of Mr.
Arnott's will not hold good with an expert
ment. Subsequent observation has satisfied
me that the foregoing experiment, as detailed
will do to practice upon.
Another very important question, or in,
quiry suggests itself from the foregoing, anC
that is, what is il worth to raise hogs to tn,
average weight Of l75 lbs. A correct ans
wor to this question, based on actual expert
ment, would be OF great advantage to far
mers. To value the grass, clover and grail
fields that the hog feeds on while growing I
n gross weight Of $50 or 200 lbs, is ~scareel
susceptible Of being arrived at by experiment
yet with these assistants | can raise a no
to weigh IT'S lbs. and over, with one barre
Of corn. 1t will be seen from these estim;
ties, that tEO barrels Of corn, whit the advar
tage Of grass. clover and grain fields, wi
produce about 200 lbs. of nett pork, and 25
lbs. gross. Estimating the corn at % cent
a bushel. this would give the farmer 50 5
for his grass. clover, grain fields, capt.,
stock aud his labor. To sell corn at % cent
a bushel is very Improbable business. whe
We take into consideration the wear Of land
and pork at 90 SO per 100 lbs. is a vel
slow business. If We take into account Il
absolute necessity of elOvering our land, al
raising small grain in order to heap up al
improve II, ] nave no hesitation in sayiI
that il is better for the farmer to raise 20
at 50 SO, than To sell corn at % cents
bushel.
Hogs do best in large fields with plenty
water, and the farmer who puts up his &C
in the months Of September and Octob
and hauls il out Of his fields, will be ami
repaid for his labor in the improvement
his land from the stalks, and manure Of
hogs. II is a great saving Of labor to II
the hogs in the field, when the quantity
hogs and size Of tho field suit.
w. NJ. JACKSON,