The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-04-06
Raising Hogs as a Business.

Say what we may in relation to the con-
ditions of other kinds of business, the bust.
ness Of raising hogs for the market is very
profitable. 1t is a question if there is any
branch of legitimate trade or manufacture
in this country that pays as we'll as pro-
ducing pork. There are other occupations
with more poetry and romance about
them; there are very many things that
offer greater attractions to a person of
culture and refinement; there are other
branches Of farming and stock-raising in
which there is greater pleasure, but if
ones object is to make the most money at
the least risk, let him raise pork.
The most prosperous farmers through
out the prairie regions Of the West are
those who have given the most attention
to raising pork for the market. The rea-
sons for this are obvious. Pork has held
its price, while the value of almost every
other farm product has declined. The
increase in the cost of transportation has
not affected pork to the same extent that
it has other farm products, for the reason
that it does not rank among the bulky
productions of the farm. The fertility OF
farms where hogs have been fed in large
numbers has kept up. The expenses On
farms where hogs have been the chief
stock have been light.
A great deal has been said and written
on the benefits of diversified agriculture.
For the most part the arguments in favor
OF variety of interests on farm are
good. To the extent of raising all the
grain, hay, vegetables, and fruits the
family and stock on the farm require,
most persons would advise diversified
farming, but when it comes to the matter
0f vavlN of hon 1,o ioo1 tn cali u a <,,,o,
ton If it is not better to limit the produc-
hogs the principal article for sale on the
farm much is saved in fitting up buildings
and in buying the machinery necessary
for conducting general farming.
1t is obvious that many men without
sufficient capital to engage in general
farming on place of their own, or even
to manage rented farm, could do we'll
by engaging in the business of raising
pork. There is vast amount of land
throughout the West that may be rented
for term of years at three or four per
cent per annum on the value of products.
A tenant who can rent quarter section
of this land, and can inclose twenty acres
Of it by substantial board fence, end the
remainder by wire fence, has place
nearly ready for the raising of hogs. The
first object should be to get the small
field in clover tor a hog pasture. All the
remainder of the farm should be planted
to corn, except enough to furnish food tor
the family, two horses and from one to
three cows. The buildings required for =
farm when the chief crop is corn are
small and inexpensive. Warm ane dry
shelter for every 100 hogs can be provided
for very small sum of money. All the
hay required for the horses and cows
could be cut in a single day with a ma
chine that could be rented. The outlay
for buildings, machinery and utensils on
"a farm to be devoted to raising hogs is ex-
tremely small.
The first year the hogs will find wild
grass very inditferen. pasturage, but after
that time they would nearly get their liv-
ing for four months on clover. The corn
fodder would do much toward keeping
the COWS through the winter. The corn
crop would demand most of the time OF
the farmer, but he would have sufficient
leisure to take care Of garden, and to
raise the small amount Of grain required
| for his family and horses. A farm can
be stocked with hogs for less money and in
less time than with other animals.-Ohi.
cago Times. "