Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-08
A Chapter on Pigs.

I. T. Pearson, of Franklin, raised the
past season two litters Of pigs, thirteen Of
which we're iatteued by farmers and mechan.
les in the vicinity, the total dressed weight
when killed being 5,09S pounds, or an aver
age of 3l5 pounds each. The lightest one
weighed 80 pounds, and the heaviest 433
pounds. None of them we're ten months old 4,
and three were killed in September aud Oc-
tober The largest one was iatted by Mr..
b. Jewett, of West Berkshire, and will be
hard to beat, we think. The breed was
Chester White and Suffolk, an excellent
cross for the purpose, uniting the size Of the
first with the aptitude to take on fat Of the
last. These pigs were latteued by ten differ
ent individuals. The average weight here
attained must equal or excel that Of hogs Of
twice the age, throughout the country, while
the quality for family use would be superior.
1t will be seen that where results like the
foregoing can be obtained, it is much cheap
er and better than wintering stock, and es.
pecially is this the case with mechanics and
small farmers who only have feed sufficient
to fatten pork for family use.
Perhaps some may say that pigs make the
dearest meat, requiring more attention aud
better feed than hogs. This is not necessar-
lily SO, but the results will be modified by
circumstances. 1t is essential to have carly
pigs-should be ready to wean by the first
of Apri-and the breed is Of much conse.
quence, as not little depends on this, some
kinds being more thrifty and taking on fat
much more readily than others, and making
good returns for the food aud care bestowed.
All kinds Of stock need good care, but we do
think 1t necessary to pay rather more atten-
tion to fattening pigs than hogs that have
been wintered over, as their age demands
this, to produce the best results.
To make the case palmer we will give a
brief statement from our own experience.
We had two of the pigs mentioned above,
intending to make from them sufficient sup
ply of meat and lard for domestic purposes,
and we were not disappointed in the result,
The two dressed G30 pounds, being just the
average for the whole lot Others did bet.
ter, but for the outlay we were well satisfied
with the result. The pigs were healthy,
thrifty, and made good use of the food CIV
en- them. This was sour milk, given five
| tunes q uay, untll ABOUT NONcmO'T.
They were kept in pen all Of the time
and were well supplied with bedding After
the field corn had become fit for roasting
which was not very early last season, they
were fed about one hill day, stalks and all
until the crop was about fit to be harvested ;
which they ate up clean aud appeared to rel
ish exceedingly we'll. 1t is not to be sup
posed that there was very much Of fattening
quality in this kind Of food, but it served tC
keep the pigs in good healthy condition
enabling them to asslmiate more perfectly
whatever else was given them, and we like
it for this purpose. What grain they had
was the soft corn after the husking, with the
exception OF about one bushel Of barley
meal.
They were fed regularly and were wei
taken care of, which we consider an impor
tant consideration, and for which We wer,
well repaid in the end.
We hope that our iL-mcrs will take more
pains to improve their stock OF pigs, being
always sure to get the best breeds possible fol
the purpose, as much of success depends up
on this, aud then there will, be less necessity
for winterng over so many shoats from
which to get only as much pork as may bC
obtained from well bred and well fed sprins
pigs.-E. r. To'cle, iu Messenger.