Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-07-20
eag{iru1M!a1.
House and Farm.
Pork and Apples.

Inc pigs die IpliNhiS "ioe'J l" WV
orchard grass pasture. They seem to
do as we'll on this grass as they would
on clover. 1t has grown too fast for
them, and is now all headed out.
They seem to be very fond of the heads
and also of the STEMS OF course they
will not eat them when they get too
ripe, and on this account have turn
ed in the horses and calves to help eat
it down. Orchard grass rarely sends
M a second stem and head the same
year, but it does produce mass of
leaves which grow so rapidly that
when eaten off they will make good
bite on good land in four days. This
beats any other grass with which am
acquainted. 1t starts earliest in
spring and grows until winter. On
account of these peculiar qualities
and its nature to grow we'll in the
shade, have selected orchard grass
for a perpetual pig pasture. This
"perpetual" pig pasture is the old or
chard, which we design tc make a
perpetual" orchard. When farm
er can unite as many notions as these
into one and make that an established
fact, and get it into shape to be per
manent, he certainly has accomplished
something. Let us see.
Every farmer keeps, or should keep,
a lot of pigs, and if he studies his own
interests he will have pasture for
them. This pasture should be sur
rounded by substantial fence, so that
it will be impossible for the pigs to get
through it. 1t should connect with
the playhouse. There should be a
shed in it for the pigs to be under to
protect them from the storms and the
hot sun. If possible, there should be
running water in the pasture, If not
there should be .conveniences for sup,
plying the pigs with drink in the bot,
dry weather Of summer. While the
grass is green and juicy, IS 1t Is now,
the pigs will not require any drink
90 much for location. For pasturage
] am satisfied that orchard grass is the
best, as it will not die out or run out
lift is not fed off too closely before
winter, and will produce the largest
AMOUNT of feed or aftermath of any
grass. Clover is too short. lived to fill
the idea of a permanent pasture, 1t be.
ing biennial, and not likely very ex-
tensively to survive its allotted life OF
two years.
have found by experience that the
most neediul thing for a productive
orchard is to make the sol rich. 1t
is not SO much a question of cultlva-
ton to make an apple tree bear well
as it is Of feeding. There is no surer
way Of supplying the wants OF an OIL
chard which is expected to yield an
annual crop Of fruit than by making
it pig pasture. In this connection
the sweet cornstalks or sugar cane,
which should be cultivated as addl-
tlonal food for the pigs to give them
good start for the slaughter pen,
should be carted on to the ground and
scattered about for the pigs to eat.
This material will help to enrich the
soil and at the same time be found to-
be a very profitable crop to make the
pigs grow faster. 1t is one OF the
crops farmers generally ne 6 lect, when
in reality it Is one Of the most import
ant. In my idea of uniting hogs and
orchards the former are made import
ant factors in helping to rid the latter
of noxious weeds and insects. They
eat the apples as fast az they are al
fected by them and drop from the
trees, and consequently prevent the
development and increase OF the in,
sects.