The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-11
10 hogs, 400 TBS. each, @1O $4,000.

~ ioSH, foo lDs. eacI, " III S4UU.UO.
1t is said that pigs arc very scarce; and ]
presume such is the case. Then why
slaughter them when not more than hall
fat The same paper that quotes amber
wheat i'll Lansing at so cents per bushel,
quotes lard at 19{ cents per lib. The figures
stand side by side, and are very significant
The Western farmers say they want a
large breed" Of hogs. And yet there
are thousands and tens of thousands OF
hogs slaughtered in the great grain growing
sections of the West that do not dress zoe
lbs. In fact, judging from the market re-
ports, hundred hogs that will average 200
lbs. is considered good lot From this it
is very evident that it is not so much a
Charge breed" that is wanted as better
pigs of the "snall breed" month ago,
that dressed 400 lbs. each. The butcher
paid me IA! cents Il lib. for them, and my
man brought me home for the two pigs,
$11S,G1. have some more that are about
IA months old, that have been running in a
clover pasture all su nmcr, and until the
middle of October, with feed of corn
night and morning. | think they will DO
better still. These pigs arc of the smnH
breed. And let me tell you that big pig
of the small breed is better-bctter for the
farmer, and better for the butcher, and
still better for the consumer-than a small
pig of the large breed.
"What breed are your pigs?" No mat
ter about that. do not know any good
breed that will mot do just as well as these
have done. Much as we need improved
breeds, we need improved feeders much
more. 1t is no use for farmer to get
good breed of pigs and then half starve
them. But the common error is to starve
them half the year and surfeit them with
corn the other half
If we may place confidence in our stats.
tics there seems to be scarcity of pigs,
and it is probable that pork will continue
to bring good price for year to come
and if this is the case how exceedingly
foolish it is for farmer to sell his grain at
the present low prices and at the same time
keep lot of store pigs squealing about the
premises for want of food! am inclined
to think that, on a ''grain and clover farm
there is no cheaper way of making pork
than to take some well bred, well-fed Sep
TENDER pigs, and keep them in a thrifty,
almost fat condition, through the winter
and early spring; and let them have the
run of good clover pasture, and plenty
of fresh water during the summer, with a
quart or more of corn day. In the fall
and winter they will pick up considerable
food about the premises that would other
wise be wasted, and in the summer they
will get three-fourths of their living in the
clover field, and by the middle of October
we ought to have hogs that will dress 275
or 400 pounds.
But let no one think he can obtain such
results by feeding the pigs literally one
week, and neglecting or half starving them
the next, They must be kept steadily
gaining every day. Feed sparingly at first
and gradually increase the allowance. Do
not feed lavishly for few weeks, and then
get frightened at the rapid depletion of the
corn crib and cut off the supply. A farmer
needs pluck. Make your calculations i'll
advance. With what the pigs could pick
up in tho barn-yard during the fall and
winter, and with the clover and waste from
the house in simmer, make calculations to
give each pig Is bushels of grain; and then
if you have good breed of pigs and keep
them warm, dry, and comfortable, never
scold or beat them, treat them kindly, feed
regularly and with unwavering steadfast-
ness, and then do not make the Is bushels
of grain bring in S25 and have nice lot of
rich manure into the bargain, it will be
because such liberal feeding has brought
down the price of pork.
american AgricuIturist.