The Portland daily press., 1878-05-22
AGRICULTURAL.
Pig Raising Pro a fabIe.

In New England, where nature has not
been very lavish with her favors. it is neces-
sary for her farmers to observe close economy
in all departments of farming, to make it paw,
1t may be said that this is done by many les.
pecially In New England) to such an extent
as to be detrimental to the best interests of
the individual; money is saved from the same
way as the Irishman played the fiddle. "by
main strength, be jabbers." Instead of a ja-
dicious investment in good stock, that would
pay ~ per cent. Ito put it low), we 20 on in
the old ruts, year after year.
How many farmers in New England keep
hogs at profit? Not many, trew, il we be-
lieve what we hear. And why? Nowhere in
the country is there better demand for fresh
pork, and hams than here; and yet our far
mers buy hams and pork ;-lots of ii. Go in.
to any country store, and ask for yourself if
this is not so.
LIS this owing to the fact that "the West,
can grow cheaper and better pork than we at
home? Or to the fact that we, as rule. have
an inferior stock of swine? The last has more.
or as much to do with it as the first. The fact
is that we have grown the old coarse-haired.
nondescript, long-nosed hog, and have kent
him so mean that the business don't pay. If
swine-raising will pay anywhere it ought and
does in New England, where land is CHEAP.
and where the dairy is the principal farming
interest, the refuse product of which paws well
when fed to swine. But we must change our
way of keeping swine to make thon, pay. Ia
stead of keeping them shut up on board floors
and in close pens II mean, now, the farmer
with plenty of land }, let them run through the
summer in some old pasture or wood lot, well
fenced in, so that they need not be curse to
your neighbor. 1t is astonishing how much
hog will get to live on in some good run,
and how well he will thrive if he is fed well
once day. Such hogs, when put up to fat
in the fall, thrive better and make better
meat than when kept in close pens. But we
want good kind to have it pay. What kind |?
There Is no better grass hog or hog to fatten
than the Berkshire. They keep easily, Law on
fat rapidly, and when crossed with our ina
tive stock, the cross invariably results in
good animal to fatten.
Two or three breeding sows on any farm
will pay better than any COW. Those people
who live near manufacturing villages can usu-
ally sell the pigs, when weaned at from So to
IS each, to mechanics who have small houses
and garden. The "gentleman who paws
the remit is necessary adjunct to those who
live in such places, as the refuse of the fam.
lily keeps him, little meal fats him, and his
success insures goodly supply of necessary
articles for family use, at small expense.
But, says one, have no such market for pigs,
Very good; when weaned, feed them yonr
skim milk, let them run and pick; and when
they are six months old put up and feed, if
need be, with little bought stuff, uutil thew
will dress $50 pounds. when butcher and take
to your nearest town, and see how quickly
she will be taken up.
Another reason why we ought to keep
more swine in New England is, we need the
manure. One full grown hog, when kept up
and well fed, will make more manure than
COW, and kind which is worth more than
any that can be made on the farm. A few
hogs, If well supplied with absorbents, will
make enough complete fertilizer to dung
large-sized cornfeld, and thus save you your
money, which you would otherwise pay for
commercial fertilizer, to insure YOU the same
result. But why Berkshires, say one to breed
from? We don't want a large '.pork' hog,
with fat four inches thick here. We can't al.
ford to raise such hog. Our market calls
for small, meaty hog, with meat laid in
strips of fat; and such a hog the Berkshire is
admitted to be. We can't raise mess pork at
profit; but hams and bacon are always in
demand, and any good farmer, if he can't
get good prices for his fresh pork, can cure
it 10 such a way that there is profit in it; this
know. There are other good breeds of hogs,
undoubtedly; but 1 know of none who do so
well in our pastures land this is point) as
the Berkshires. This is admitted to be a
fact.
If there was one good thoroughbred Berk-
shire boar in every vicinity OF dozen farmers
he would add immensely to the value of the
pigs bred there, and it would be found that
his progeny would fatten much easier than a
mongrel breed. Now is good time to buy
Thoroughbred swine. as the low price of pork
has thrown many on the market at reduced
prices. 1t would be money in many farm
er's pocket if he would avail himself of the
opportunity to buy pair of such pigs.