Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-10-05
From the Valley Farmer.
How much Pork will Il bushel of
Corn INake!

Mr.. ABBoTT.-ln the June number
of the Valley Farmer, on page l95, a
a question is asked-'How much
pork will a bushel of corn make?
This | consider an importantquestion
and one that all farmers ought to be
able to answer. A knowledge of
what it requires to produce a given
quantity Of any article raised by far
mers is absolutely necessary, in order
to enable them to make a correct es
innate of the profits of their labor
by ascertaining the amount of food,
ofthe different kinds, it requires to
raise and fatten stock of all kinds,
that is raised by the farmers of the
Mississippi Valley, we are enabled to
judge whether it is more profitable to
raise stock at a given price, or hemp
and tobacco. The amount of labor
to raise any, and all of the various
articles that are raised by farmers is
easily ascertained; and it is impossi-
BILE for any one to be successful
and thrifty farmer without a knowl-
edge of whatit costs to raise the va
rious kinds of produce, either by ac-
tual experiment or close and accu-
rate observation. will now answer
the question by giving the result of
an actual experiment. which is the
only way of obtaining correct infor-
mation.--Some years ago | was de-
sirous Of obtaining Information as to
the best and most profitable way of
fattening hogs. | inquired of my
neighbors and friends, and found
some in favor of close hoored pens,
and others large dry lots; and as to
the amount of pork bushel or bar
rel OF corn would make, their opin-
ions were as various as their counte-
nanccs. was just beginning to
farm, and as was DESTROYS ofknow-
ing the best way of fattening hogs, |
determined to try the different plans,
and also how much pork a barrel of
corn would make. made a foored
pen and covered it in. Weighed
three hogs and put them in the pen.
lalso weighed three of the same size
and put them in dry lot;-average
weIghG I Is Tbs. I fed six barrol, uf
corn to the sixhogs. They were for
ty days eating the corn-with plen-
ty Of saat and water. Their average
gain was IS lbs. The hogs in the
lot gained the most One that was
fattened in the lot gained SO lbs
One in the pen gained 81 lbs; the
other four were not so thrifty. These
hogs were about fourteen months old
when slaughtered. | put them ur
the 25th of October. There was 3
good deal Of slcet and snow during
the month of November, which gave
the hogs in the pen an advantage
they would not have had had TIT
weather been favorable; they eat The
same quantity of grain in the same
time. This experiment gives de
cided preference i'm favor oil the lot
1t also shows that one bushel OF cor,
will make Is lbs. of pork; and tina
the six barrels of corn made ST. 81
worth Of pork, at , l2 cents per ID.
and that the farmer gets IL 2 cent
for his labor of feeding per bushel
over selling at % cents per bushel
Hogs will fatten faster in Septem
Der and October than they will il
colder weather. A few years ago
fed one barrel of corn to very flint
Berkshire hog that was about thirty
months old, Shortly after being cas-
trated) in the months of August ane
September, and he gained 81 lbs. il