Maryland free press., 1862-11-21
The Hog and Its Food.

A correspondent of the Stock Journal gives
some hints for the management of the hog. He
thinks that the hoE fattens most rapidly in such
state Of atmosphere as Is most congenial to his
comfort, not too hot, nor too cold Hence, the
months of September, October and November are
tie best for making pork. The more agreeable
the weather, the less Is the amoupt of food re-
yeired to supply the waste of life. 1t has been
found by experiment that field of red clover is
the best and cheapest place to keep hogs in during
the spring and summer months, where they can
have plenty water, and the slop from the house,
and the sour milk from the dairy. All sour feed
contains more nitrogen than when fed In sweet
state. The first great herbage Of the spring works
q the impurities of the blood, cleanses the SYSTEM
renovatcs the constitution and enables the animal
10 accumulate store OF strength to carry it for
ward In it's destined course. small patch of oats
peas to turn into when the clover fails is good.
Some object to fattening hogs SO early in the sea
SOD, the Indian depended upon for the pur.
pose, not being matured. Taking all things into
consideration, it is better to feed before it is
ripe, as in that state ii Possesses considerable
sweetness, and most varieties are in milk by the
first Of September, the hogs will chew it, swallow
the juice and eject the dry ibrous matter. At this
season of the year, swine can be fed on riahY s!
tlcles not readily marketable, as imperfect fruit,
vegetables, &c. When such articles are used,
cooking them is generally economical. Pump
kns, squashes, potatoes and apples boiled or
steamed, mixed with one eighth part in bulk with
in.fee or meal whey, and milk left to sour, will
fattcn hogs fast. In this state they will eat it
with aridity, and derive more benefit from it than
when fed in an unfermented state Articles that
are of perisbable nature should be used first, to
prevent waste, as II is desirable to turn all the
products of the farm to the best account. Anoth.
er quite important advantage of early feeding is,
The less trouble in cooking the food and keeping
u In proper condition to feed out. The convent
eroe of feeding is promoted, there is no expense
cr trouble to guard against free zing. The more
you can mix the food the better, as they will
thrive faster on mixed food than when fed sepa
.ately. In feeding, no more should be given at a
time than is "oaten up cleap," aud the feeding
should be regular TO time. ftis Of the greatest
Importance to get ths best varieties, those that
are we'll formed, and have an aptitude to taken on
fat readily, aud consume the leest food.
The writer SAYS that tbore is a great diversity
of opinion IL to which ia tho best kind, but BIO
rrefers the Berkshires to any he has ever Kept
This Is the opinion also of George Patterson, Esq,
Of this State, who Is probably the best judge and
breeder of live stock in this country, and will have
no other kind his farm. We recently saw
tBsrs Eetd OF nearly hundred headj they re.
minded us Of old times, when there was such
range for this beautiful breedj but they are now
generally disregarded, and the Chester hogs are
preferred for platation use. They undoubtedly
make the best b6cop, and are called in England
"the gentleman's hogs" they were very popular
romo years ago in this State, but were very gen.
orally discarded, as being poor providers for
,he,nselves-and we know OF none that are pure
bred but those on the farm of Mr.. Patterson and
SIr. h. NcTienry
The correspondent o! the Stock journal thinks.
ehat cross Of the SuffJlks with tho Berkshire es
make good feeders, and the pork is excellenti
they will usually weigh from $50 to 800 pounds
at the age of eight to ten or sleyen months. The
better say is to nave tbs pigs dropped about the
first of april, and feed we'll Until December, and
butcher. 1t is wrong to let hog remain poor
twelve months Of its lilt, when 1t could be made
as large in nine months, as it generally 10 at 0f-
teen months. If pigs are kept well for three
months after being dropped, they cannot be stun
ted after that, even if the feed is cut short. Il
is now the opinion with our good practical farm
ers that feeding apples TO swine Is profitable, and
that there ID no crop that pays better according
20 Its cost, being fully equal to p5tasoes ~ mea-
sure, while the expense is not more than three or
four cents per bushel. They are better to feed
to stock hogs in a raw state than potatoes,-iu.
decd, he has found but little benefit in cooking
apples for swine 1t is desirable that hogs should
BE provided with dry acor for eating and sleep
iag only, the whole pen completely sheltered from
the atmosphere, to save any washing or waste Of
.he manure. one other suggestion :-every far
ner should see that the commonwealth of The pig.
sery lie fuI nith,d with plenty cf straw, potato
vines, leaves, eawdust and the lke,with an oc ca
sional load of muck, and almost any quantity of
weeds, pea heat straw, all of which will
60 converted into the most Efficient supports Of
vegetable life. Hogs are the beat composers
known, as they delight in upturning any such
articles as the farmer wishes TO convert into ma.
nure for the comipg ear.