The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-17
AGRICULTURAL

that if dozen of our most common
birds could be swept from existence, we
should no longer be able to grow the
principal crops, and insects would riot
and multiply beyond the possibility of
restraint.
From thirty trees, six years planted,
standing II feet apart, and covering
one-tenth of an acre, Michigan fruit
grower gathered this year go bushels of
plums of the Canadian Egg and Cars
Golden Drop varieties, which were sold
in the Chicago market, and netted 81
bushel.
THE r. G. Parvin Steam Motor, pat
ented the present year and placed before
the public as ga successful traction en-
gine, capable of drawing plows, heavy
loads OH ordinary roads, and for all
heavy draft purposes" has been receiv-
ing marked attention at the Western
fairs.
PROFITS OF FARMING.-If merchant
in the city is able to earn competence
of $4,000 to $4,000 q year, he is consid
cred wealthy by most farmers; yet this
entire sum is often expended in prOvid-
ing the ordinary comforts OF living; and
at the end of the year he is, in proper
tionate progress, but little ahead of the
farmer, who has not been compelled to
pay rent of 81 800 year for his home,
but rather has got his living from the
homestead rs he went along. Although
occasional fortunes are made in the larg-
er cities, yet we venture to say that the
average comfort of farm life and freedom
from anxiety for obtaining livelihood,
are far ahead of most city residents. In
the case of the farmer, his own hands
make the food he eats; while the city
consumer is at the mercy of thousands,
who constantly absorb his daily earn
ings and give little back. City life is
one of constant expenditure. Farm life
is self-sustaining and preservative. A
young laborer in the country working
at one dollar per day and board, is pro-
portionately better off and more indie
pendent than clerk in city on 800 o
year, who has to eXpend $500 for liv
ing. One can save at the end of the
year just as much as the other and, if
there are chances in favor of either for
obtaining a good name and competence,
they are on the side of the country lad.
Any farmer who can support himself on
farm comfortably, and make it pay
net income of per cent. on its cost, is
far ahead in competence of the citizen
who lives in brown stone front on a
magnificent salary, and has to spend it
all for life and appearances. ."-Er-
change.
How MUCH PORK WILL BUsHEL OF
Corn MAKE?-Some years ago, when l
was Just beginning to farm, was desir-
Gus of knowing the best way of fatten-
ing hogs, and l determined to try the
different plans, and also to ascertain
how much pork barrel of corn would
make. 1 made q foored pen and COW
cred it in. Weighed three hogs and put
them in the pen. 1 also weighed three
of the same size and put them in a dry
lot-average weight one hundred and
seventy pounds. 1 fed six barrels of
corn to the six hogs. They were forty
days eating the corn, with plenty of
salt and water. Their average gain was
seventy-fve pounds. The hogs in the
lot gained the most One that was fat
tened in the lot gained eighty-eight
pounds. One in the pen gained eighty
four pounds; the other four were not so
thrifty.
These hogs were about fourteen
| L
, them up the 2jth of October. There
was a good deal of sleet and snow during
, the month of November, which gave the
; hogs in the pen an advantage they
would not have had if the weather had
, been favorable; they were each fed on
the same quality of grain. 1t also shows
! that one bushel Of corn will make fifteen
: pounds of pork, and that the six barrels
of corn made eleven dollars and twenty
five cents worth Of pork, at two and
? one-half cents per pound and that the
farmer gets twelve and one-half cents for
his labor of feeding per bushel, over
l selling at twenty-five cents per bushGl.
Hogs will fatten faster in September and
i October than they will in cold weather.
Another very important question or
. inquiry suggests itself from the forego-
ing, and that is, What is it worth to
raise hogs to the average weight of one
hundred and seventy-fve pounds? 1t
= may be difficult to determine the exact
4 value of the grass, clover and grain field;
= that the hog feeds on while growing to
a a gross weight of one hundred and sew
e enty-five or two hundred pounds, but
s with these assistants l can raise hog tc
t weigh one hundred and seventy-fve
: pounds and over, with one barrel of corn
/ 1t will be seen from these estimates that
s two barrels of corn, with the advantage
r Of grass, clover and grain fields, viii
r produce about two hundred pounds O
# net pork or two hundred and fifty pounds
: gross.
e Hogs do best in large fields, with plen
IS ty of water, and the farmer who cuts W
;. his corn in the months of September anC
j October, and hauls it out on his fields
/, will be amply paid for his labor, in th
e improvement of his land, from the stalk
n and manure of hogs. 1t is great saw
n ing of labor to turn the hogs in the fielC
: when the quantity of hogs and the siz
: of the field Correspondence OH
n FGJJner