The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-09-22
The Management Of Hogs.

4 There exists among farmers wide d.
s versity of opinion concerning the best
!. and most profitable breed of hogs.
! Some affirm that the large Chesterl
: White is the best by far. Others think
{ the Poland China superior to all other
!. breeds. Still others assert that both of
s these breeds are too large and long to
: be profitable; that they would as soon
S shovel corn into bottomless pit and
expect it to return as into the capacious
s stomachs of such hogs and expect al
( profit. These last are firm advocates
s Of the smaller breeds-Suffioiks and
= Berkshires.
8 In some controversies it is possible for
? both sides to be right, and this is one of
: them. l have never taken part in these
/. discussions, but observation and careful
!. comparison long ago convinced me that
!. both large and small breeds of hogs are
. useful, profitable and desirable in differ
{. ent localities and under different cir
e cHmstances.
q In a timbered section, where hogs
Z run over a large tract of land and are
ss raised principally on mast and roots, it
6 must be evident to every one that al
e land China or Chester White. is the
z most desirable and likely to prove the
y most profitable, because Of its ability to-
5 travel a considerable distance in search
s Of food. Some farmers might infer
s from this that the old .'hazel-splitter''
swould be a still more excellent breed.
e but l am speaking of hogs that will fat
Aten after they are grown. Farmers
Awho raise hogs in these timbered sec
Mtions find it pays best to let them run
8 Suntl full l-grown and matured, then to
open them up and feed them literally
with corn a short time. Thus treated,
Sthey fatten quickly and are placed on
s THE market large, heavy, finely y-formed,
8 Mhealthy hogs, bring the top price and
Hreturn good profit to the raiser.
g The farmer whose farm is small and
awho is compelled to make the most of
9eyery foot of land, and the suburban
sresident, who raises two or three hogs
4for his own use, will find it to their in
= terest to keen only the Suffolk, or small
: Berkshire. These small breeds are nat
urally quiet and lazy, and can be well
+ fatteaed at any stage OF their growth.
= 4 cross between the Suffolk male and
sPoland China or Chester White female
s proves to be an excellent and profitable
81 hog for the farmer who aims to market
gtWenty or thirty a year, and whose past
s8urage is limited to two or three acres.
This cross attains q fair size, natures
q early and can be quickly fattened.
;; 1t must be borne in mind by all who
are compelled to conlne their hogs to
small pens, that to make good PORK
hogs must. especially during the hot
months, be fed largely upon freshly cut
Clover o. vegetables. Rotten apples,
tecayed cabbage and other garden re
To<> 4
:: must be fresh and clean. A very small
s food for four Or five hogs the whole
F summer, as it can be cut several times
q over.
20 The hog would be clean animal il
!. he had half q chance; but the idea pre-.
..vals that anything is good enough fol
IA hog; SO he is fed upon all sorts OF
aaswills, slops and garbage, and expected
Sto manufacture nice sweet hams and
side meat out of it. While people con-
tlnue to think that water from a muddy
Spool covered with green scum and near
.4iy alive. and sour slops from sinking
e barrel is good enough for hogs to drink,
awe must expect to hear of terrible losses
j I from pneumonia, bilious fever and in
s. .iammation Of the bowels, ali grouped
-Eaunder the mysterious name Of cholera. In
Border to obtain good Iueat, it is necessary
!, q to feed the hog with wholesome food and
! sssupply it with clean water.
q A cool, airy, nearly dark place to lie
fMin during the hot days of summer can
; Neasily be provided by the intelligent
r 81 breeder at u small cost, and it will pay
. {. largely in the increased health ana
y yE growth of the hog, and in preventing
& the loss of fat. In winter warm shed
Hwith a good bed of straw will make quite
a ia saving in food, and hogs will fatten 8
Efull third faster than if exposed to al
, Gkinds of weather, as can readily be prov
5 Ven by any one willing to make the ex
rh pertinent. A heap of stable manure il
= 3 the worst place in the world for a hog
81 bed. 1t is impossible for them to inhale
+ 81 the noxious gases arising from it night
: 81 after night and remain healthy. Such a
q bed is also q prolific source of weak backs
1Aand rheumatism.
~ If we desire to raise healthy and profit
: "A able hogs, and make good clean pork
: d we must pay more attention to theil
, q food, drink and quarters than to breed
;. Il and pedigrees, though the latter is an
4 3 important item and should be kept il
el lview.-C0r. Examiner and Chronicle.