The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-28
The MANAGEMENT Of Hogs.

There exists among farmers wide di-
versity of opinion concerning the best
and most profitable breed of hogs.
Some affirm that the large Chester
White is the best by far. Others think
the Poland China superior to all other
breeds. Still others assert that both of
these breeds are too large and long TO
be profitable; that they would as soon
shovel corn into bottomless pit and
expect it to return as into the capacious
stomachs of such hogs and expect a
profit. These last are firm advocates
of the smaller breeds-Suffolks and
Berkshires.
In some controversies it is possible for
both sides to be right, and this is one of
them 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
cumstances.
In q timbered section, where hogs
run over a large tract of land and are
raised principally on mast and roots, it
must be evident to every one that a
strengthened, large breed. like the Po-
land China or Chester White, is the
most desirable and likely to prove the
most profitable, because of its ability to
travel a considerable distance in search
of food. Some farmers might infer
from this that the old 'shazel-splitter''
would be still more excellent breed,
but am speaking of hogs that will fat.
ten after they are grown. Farmers
who raise hogs in these timbered Sec
tions find it pays best to let them run
until full grown and matured, then to
pen them up and feed them liberally
with corn a short time. Thus treated,
they fatten quickly and are placed on
the market large, heavy, finely-formed,
healthy hogs, bring the top price and
return good profit to the raiser.
The farmer whose farm is small and
who Ia compelled to make the most OF
every foot of land, and the suburban
resident, who raises two or three hogs
for his own use, will find it to their in
terest to keep only the Suffolk, or small
Berkshire. These small breeds are nat
urally quiet and lazy, and can be well
| fattened at any stage of. their growth.
A GROSS between the Suffolk male and
Poland China or Chester White female
proves to be an excellent and profitable
hog for the farmer who aims to market
twenty or thirty a year, and whose past
urage Is limited to two or three acres
This cross attains a fair size, natures
early and can be quickly fattened.
1t must be borne in mind by all who
are compelled to contine their hogs to
small pens, that to make good porI
hogs must, especially during the ho
months, be fed largely upon freshly -cu
clover or vegetables. Rotten apples
deeayed cabbage and other garden re
fuse will not answer. The green fooc
must be fresh and clean. A very small
patch of clover will furnish snfficien
food for four or five hogs the whole
summer, as it can be cut several time
over.
The hog would be clean animal i
he had half a chance; but the idea pre-
walls that anything is good enough 70
a hog; so he is fed upon all sorts o.
swills, slops and garbage, and expeCte,
to manufacture nice sweet hams ant
side meat out of it. While people con
tinue to think that water from mudd,
pool covered with green scum and near
ly alive, and sour slops from stinkin.
barrel is good enough for hogs to drink
we must expect to hear of terrible losse
, from pneumonia, bilious fever and in
fammation of the bowels, all groupe,
under the mysterious name of cholera. L
order to obtain good meat, it is necessar
: tofeed the hog with wholesome food ant
, supply it with clean water.
A cool, airy. nearly dark place to Ii
in during the hot days of summer ca
easily be provided by the intelligen
breeder at small cost, and it will pa
largely in the increased health an
growth of the hog. and In preventin
the loss of fat. In winter a warm she
with a good bed of straw will make quit
saving in food, and hogs will fatten
full third faster than if exposed to a
, kinds of weather, as can readily be pro,
+ On by any one willing to make the e,
' pertinent. A heap Of stable manure
the worst place in the world for no
bed. 1t is impossible for them to inhal
the noxious gases arising from it nigl
: after night and remain healthy. Such
$ bed is also a prolific source of weak back
and rheumatism.
If we desire to raise healthy and prof
able hogs, and make good clean porl
we must pay more attention to the
food, drink and quarters than to bree
and pedigrees, though the latter is a
Il important item and should be kept
view.-Cor. Examiner and Chronicle.