Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-06-16
AGRICULTURAL.
From the New England Farmer.l
THE PROFIT OF FATTENING SWINE

THE FHOfII Of TAI lENlN0 SNlNEs !
In the Monthly Farmer for April, 1854, there
are statements over my signature relative to the
profit of fattening swine in Now England, to-
geiher with hints as to the proper mode of con-
Quoting the business; and in the following
number for May, there is a shorter article, con-
frming the statements previously made. Since
writing those articles, have further invesiica-
ted the subject, in order TO prove the soundness
or otherwise Of the views then presented
On the 2lst of December, 1851, bought
four very lean shoats, weighing respectively, 63, /
= 81, GO and SO lbs, or in all, 2i2 lbs, gross
live weight They were placed in warm apart
ments, consisting Of a pen for making compost,
and an eating room The litter made BY two
horses was daily thrown into the compost pen
also, about every third week, a cord, or tro
loads of either muck or forest-mould was put
into the pen; and clean straw was added, at
suitable times, for bedding. The pigs were
fed on meal made by grinding ears of corn, or
on what is called corn and cob meal, and they
were supplied with all the meal they would eat
with good appetite, Immediately after feed |
ing them at given time, the meal for the next
feeding was placed in the bucket, and boiling
water was added, and also after awhile the wash
of the kitchen, the whole standing in warm
place till the time for feeding, and the becoming
thoroughly soaked and very much swollen
Whenever grist ofears ofcorn was to be carried
TO mill to be ground for the pigs, the same was
accurately measured up in basket, well known
TO hold the right quantity of ears, when even
full, to make bushel of sheled corn and the
pigs were charged with each grisi at the time
it was measured. Entire accuracy was aimed
at in keeping the account with the pigs, and
know of no chance for slip in the accounting
The business was thus conducted till the Nth
Of the present month, when the pigs were sold
10 the butcher for eight cents per pound, dressed,
--ho charging three dollars for slaughiering the
four Between the dates above named, the
pigs consumed seventy-sx bushels of corn on
the ear, equal to thirty-eighi bushels of sheled
corn. During this time they Manufactured eight
cords, or sixteen loads Of muck and mould into
the first quality of compost, mingling the raw
materials well with the horse manure and straw
for bedding. They may be accounted with as
follows:
1876 lbs. OF dressed pork, at &c. per ID. $4,000
Deduct T6 bu ears Of corn, or 80 bu
corn consumed, at an average price
of sl.25 per bu. SI7.5O
Deduct paid for Strengthening 800
+" paid for pigs at outset, $500 1900
Balance over market price of corn $50
Add cords, or l6 loads of raw ma
terial manufactured into compost,
worth bu. of corn Sl.25 per
load 1000
From which, if you please. deduct
the cost of supplying the MATERIAL
say 60c. per load, which is rather
high 500 1900
Profit on four pigs, over and above
market value Of corn consumed $3.50
With regard 10 the price at which the corn
is charged to the pigs, have to say that in
January the thirty-eight bushels could have been
bought for dollar per bushel and at less than
a dollar and quarter as late as March, though
now corn is worth more than the price chaged
the pigs
1t will be found or calculation that these pigs
gained some over fifteen pounds of net pork for
each bushel of corn consumed which argues
pretty well for the mode of feeding, and for the
business of converting corn into pork and com
post.
Another years practice and observation has
not disclosed any thing material for me TO de-
duct from the views formerly advanced as to the
policy and profit of iat,ening swine. still en-
terrain entire confidence in the desirabeness of
the business, when conducted with system and
propriety. Indeed. have mover seen the wear
in farming when / was nor well pad for tat.
tening pigs of good breed fairly reckoning
their services as manufacturers of fertility for
the land In my judgement, it is sounder
practice for the farmer thus to add to his means
for making crops and keeping his lands in good
heart, than by buying the fashionable concen-
'rated fertilizers of the day, which too often
merely stimulate the present crop, and leave
she land no better than they found it.
Notwithstanding the great prejudice existing