Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-06
THE FARM AND GARDEN
Fattening Hogs.

A hog viii thrive according to the food
you give it, and win make pork according
10 the quality of the food. Thus, corn is
better than other grains, and old corn bet
ter than new. Beachnuts will make
soft, oily pork, and it is said that hogs
fattened exclusively on acorns viii produce
bitter-tasted pork Another matter to be
observed in order to have sweet pork, is TO
have clean pens; that is, not the filthy,
muddy pens we often see. The hog must
have place where he can be clean and
dry. A separate apartment to sleep or
rest in is the surest way, and then with
proper food, youwill have sweet and solid
and healthy pork. On the subject of feed
ing hogs, the american Stock Journal
makes the following suggestions:
esThe length of time required for fat
teninr hogs is from three to five months,
dependent upon the feeders means, the
breed he adopts and the attention he be-
slows upon them, as also the amount OF
Judgment brought to the assistance OF the
work When hogs are first put up they
should be in moderate condition, not con-
fined until they are so, the food then
should be somewhat better TO that on
which they have already fed, but not at
once in too great a degree. 1t should be
improved step by step, till the diges-
tive powers are adapted for that of the
nutritious quality with which the fatten-
inc is 10 be completed: oyer-gorging is
sure 10 cause indigestion, and the only
remedy for this is abstinence. 1t is es-
sentiai that pigs be fed at regular inter,
walls. any animal fed regularly thriYes bet
ter than those fed at irregular intervals,
and where the diet is varied and not ad-
ministered TO safety, the process IS &C
companied with profitable results. Inc
hest period to commence fattening IS in
the autumn; then almost every kind OF
food is TO be had in plenty as well as In
nprfectiOn: the weather is neither too hot
nor too cold: and the humidity generally
nreyalent at this season generally acts
benefcially upon the skin and tissues, and
As II were lubricates the whole animal
economy. Besides, they are ready to be
slaughtered at the period when this can
be done with most advantage, when the
lovness of the temperature allows more
time and consequently enables the owner
TO turn the flesh TO the greatest adyan-
tace: whereas in warm weather the meat
must be sailed or picked, eaten or dis
posed of Immediately, or it turns off and
is snoiled, The best kind of food for fat
tening pigs are pasturage on clover or lu-
cerne. or a run in the cornfield imme-
diatelv after the crop has been taken in.
Milk or whey mixed with corn, oat, bar
lev, or pea meal, alone, or in connection
with each other or with boiled and mashed
potatoes peas given whole, or crushed,
or in the form of soup and either alone or
mixed with potatoes or meal potatoes
and rice: potatoes and meal of any of the
above kinds, or mashed potatoes and
whole grain.
"a small portion of salt should always
be mingled in whatever food given, as II
tends to stimulate the appetite as well as
the digestive functions; it will also be
found advantageou occasionally to admin.
lister a little sulphur or powdered anthony,
say about once or twice month; these
tend 10 purify the blood, as also to facilitate
Digestion and maintainthe appetite. Small
meals and many of them are preferable to
few and large ones, for swine are very apt
10 overeat and gorge themselves or, II any
he left in the trough to return to II by fits
and starts until it is all gone; in both cases
the digestive functions are impaired and
The process is not fully and beneticially
performed. Regular hours OF feeding
l. ghGGTvpn soon
learn 10 expect thaTmeals at certain hours,
and their stomachs being ready Tor 1t, lndl-
gestion follows irregularity and prevents
much benefit being derived from the meal
when it does come.
sIu the opinion of the writer the most
economical and advantageous form IN
which grain can be used is that OF meal
moistened with sour or skim-nilk OF
water. into a kind of soup or porridge.
Some authorities recommend when mix
ING with water the proportion OF I'VE
bushels of meal to hundred gallons OF
wafer. the mixture to be stirred severa
times a dav for two or three weeks, unit
ma imperfect fermentation takes place,
and it becomes ascesccnt In this state IT:
fattening powers are claimed to be
greatly increased. Says one who has pur
sued this method in a large way. Tho
difference in profit between feedingin Thu
manner and giving the grain whole, /
very great, so great that whoever tries j
once, will not be apt to change it for thu
common method Hogs putuptO falten
highly fed and taking little exercise, ar
very liable to acidity of the stomach; col
caTcous matters remedy this evil and ar
found in occasional feeds of ashes, cinde
or earth which the animals champ an,
swallow. Too many pigs should not. b
fed in the same pen; three are suficien
and they should he near as possible of tn,