The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-10-22
From the journal of Agriculture.
Save the Corn.

AN annual income equal to the value
| OF corn wasted and destroyed by vcr-
min, in single counties, would make
one rich in II very few years.
The waste on single farms is some
times ten per cent, Of the entire crop.
In this year Of anticipated short crops
of corn, it is worth whiIo to try to
stop the leaks.
1t is provoking to have the cattle
break into the field and destroy tho
growing crop, but doubIy SO 70 sec the
corn destroyed by tho rats after being
housed in the crib. But this provoc;l,
ton may be very easily and chcaply
avoided.
In the corn-growing regions We
have noticed that Il principal part of
the crop is stored in temporary cribs
or poles, and often without any cover
ing. These pens arc laid but few
inches from the ground, and afford a
most excellent barber for rats, which
Will cat, or contaminatc and render
unfit for uso very large part OF the
corn.
We recommend for cheap, tempo
rary, rat-proof crib, first four round
posts set firmly in the ground, extend
ing about two feet above the suri:lcc,
putting them az the corners Of u
square area, eight feet on each side.
On each Of these lay sleeper, and on
these lay rails or poles, and build the
crib i'll the usual way; but before stor-
ing any corn get either tin or sheet
iron and nail TO the upper part Of the
posts, letting it extend about half way
from the top TO the ground, and chi
tircly round the post, and to be nailed
on smoothly. This simple arrange
ment will save large amount Of corn,
which for a year and moro will bo
money.
For 4 permanent crib, or granary,
VIC would adopt the same style of
ionndation-maIzing the posts Il little
higher, but not SO hi igh as to offer 4
tcmtation for tho storage Of pIows or
tools. Tho space under the crib
should be kept entirely clear Of every
kind of plundcr, and cvon Of weeds.
We once built rail..crib as above
described in this State, and our neigh
bors ridiculcd it rs Yankee contri-
vnnce; but while bushels of corn, with
the chit eaten out, were found under
some Of their cribs in tho spring, no
rat or mouse ever found his way into
our Yankee contrivancc."
Another method of saving corn, or
Of making Il little go q great ways in
feeding stock, especially hogs, is to
mix other feed with it. We rccollcct
that forty years ago the farmers in
New England raised hogs that weigh
cd from four to six hundred pounds
without feeding much corn to them.
But little corn grew there, and thcrc
were no railroads to import it, nor
were the Chester Whites, or any other
Of tho superior modern breeds then in
troduccd there and yet VIC know that
the hogs taken to market from the
ncighborhood in which we were ac-
quaintcd were, on the average, a good
dca! heavier than those brought to
any Western market for the last thirty
years.
In fattening these hogs, peas wcro
often used to considerable extent,
they were ground with oats and tho
meal sca!dcd. Sometimes pumpkins
or potatoes were boiled and mashed,
and "provcndcr" Goats and pea mcaD
mixed with them.
BY some such method as this, VIC be-
lievc that farmers could fattcn their
hogs with much less corn than is COM
monty used. Potatoes are very abun-
dant and cheap, might be profitable
fed to hogs; oats arc not dear. If q
mixture OF oats and corn were ground
and fed with boiled potatoes, incrcas-
ing the propotion Of corn towards the
last, VIC believe the result would show
that pork can be made with half the
corn generally uscd-pork, too, that
will not shrink in the pot. Bran, also,
is a very good feed for hogs in warm
weather; it promotes their growth,
and ut present is very cheap.
by the liberal use Of brains in de-
vising ways and means, and 4 little
muscular effort in. preparing tho feed,
we believe that even if the corn should
be as short as is now expected, it will
be sufficient to fattcn the usual amount
Of pork, and leave q surplus ample for
other purposes. In other words, if
proper economy is observed by every
one in the use Of corn, wobclicvc there
will be no scarcity.