The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-02-04
Raise Good Hogs.

Hogs fill an important place in our plan
of mixed husbandry, because they will
| convert into manure and pork much that
would otherwise be consumed. But few
farmers at the East raise as much pork as
they might with profit, and the markets
are supplied with Western pork. The rea-
son why they do not make it pay is, that
they do not manage right with their hogs
In the first place, there is no use in feed
ing long, thin, slap-sided breed of pigs,
even if they are given to you. Get good
sow of some first-rate breed, or else breed
the best common sow you can find to 4
thoroughbred boar and raise a good breed
ing sow. Manage SO as to have two filters,
one early in the season, and the other long
enough before winter to have them get well
agoing. Good pigs are always in demand,
and it is just as easy to get six or ten good
pigs as the same number of poor runts
| that will never fat. And the same amount
of food fed to good pig will make twice
as much meat as to the other. The only
difference in expense is the first cost of the
boar or SOW, and one litter of pigs will pay
all the difference i'll expense between a pure
bred Chester, Suffolk, or Berkshire and
the lank specimen ordinarily used in breed
ing.
What is the best breed? is question
often asked; but there are several so good
that it is difficult to answer. Where the
''Chester White is known, no other breed
can compete with it. 1t is, according to
our notion, nearer perfection as a hog than
has before ever been arrived at. Its out
line is beautiful, its disposition gentle, it's
habits quiet and contented-not disposed
to roam and fret, so that the food it con-
sumes goes to the formation of flesh, and
is not spent in running after mischief 1t
is not gross feeder, but, like all other ami
mails, requires its food at regular intervals.
This care and attention is never lost on it.
There is no other breed enjoys better health.
If kept and properly cared for until twelve
or fifteen months old, it will yield from five
to seven hundred pounds of pork. What
other animal will yield so much in SO short
a time, from so small beginning, with
such a small outlay of capital?
The Berkshires are a smaller breed, fat
ten well in proportion to their food, and
are excellent breeders. No one can go
folks, and the improved Prince Albert Suf-
folk especially, are good The Essex,
Cheshire, Leicester, and Polands are much
better than the "no breed" The China
is fit only for crossing with some of the
large coarse breeds. Such cross improves
the China in size and the larger breeds in
quality.
But in buying SOW or boar for breeding,
do not be satisfied with its being called a
Chester, or Suffolk, or Berkshire, (unless
you buy of some responsible breeder, but
see for yourself that the animal has the
good points of the breed.
Breeding.-The SOW goes from fifteen to
lie A. ~.
tine fourteenth week she should be watched
considerably, and if she appears to be suf-
fering, restless, wandering about collecting
straw, ETC., coax her into sly by herself,
where you can take care of her and the
pigs. This sly should have cleats nailed
on the sides foot from the floor, under
which the pigs can escape, or else the SOW
may lie on them. 1t is not best to inter-
fere to take away the pigs unless she seems
likely to crush them, but it is well to be
where you can watch her without being
seen yourself. When the far-owing is
over and the after birth is dropped remove
it at once, for if she eats it she will be
likely to eat her pigs also. If she should
commence to eat her pigs, give her a half
pint of spirits and make her drunk. If she
is not too fat she will manage without
lying on her pigs. For week or two
before narrowing she should be fed or
cooked meal and milk, and this should be
continued for some time after. If a farmer
has few lengths of adjustable fence always
about his premises he will find it handy on
many occasions. He can fence in few
rods of grass for pigs, calves, or lambs, as
required After ten or twelve days the
pigs can be let out with the SOW. Frequent
feeding is better for the SOW than large
feeds. If she is weakly, or seems to have
too many pigs for her milk, make mash
of whey and bran, or skim milk, meal and
bran, and teach the pigs to eat as soon as
possible.