The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-09
Feeding Hogs In Summer.

Feeding Hogs in Summer.
Various methods of keeping andfeed-
ing hogs during the warmer months of
of the country. In the New England
and Middle States the practice of keep
ing them in close styes with which
somewhat small yards are attached is
general. The farms are commonly
small, and one object in keeping hogs
is to make manure for hauling upon the
fields. More manure can be made by
keeping the hogs in d small inclosure
than by allowing them a wide range:
The feed of the hogs kept in partial
confinement consists of sour and
skinned milk, kitchen Stops, mill
stuffs, vegetables and weeds and grass,
which are brought to the pens. This
method of keeping hogs requires con-
siderable work, and is not suited to
farms where large numbers are kept.
1t has several advantages, however.
The food is utilized to the best advan-
tage. A large amount of excellent
manure is made if the yard is kept sup
piled with muck, old hay and straw,
and other kinds of vegetable refuse. In
most of the Southern States the method
of keeping hogs generally practiced
differs from this as far as possible. The
hogs are allowed to range at will v
any of the land that is not inclosed.
They frequent the public roads, often to
the great annoyance of the people who
do not keep hogs. They range the
woods and dispute with wild animals
for the fruits, nuts, and other kinds of
food that both devour. They u in
pastures with horses, mules, cattle and
sheep. Wien the weather is hot they
seek the shade of trees and wallow in
the mud of creeks. Their living is
cheap, but their gain is not rapid.
They keep healthy, however, and the
flesh produced is of superior quality. 1t
is delicious, as it has the flavor of wild
meat.
In theN Northwestern States hogs on
the smaller farms are generally kept in
partial confinement during the summer,
much as they are in the East. On large
farms, however, they are generally
kept in pasture. The pastures most in
favor are those seeded with common or
mammoth red clover. Rings are gen.
orally inserted into the noses of the
hogs to prevent them from roofing up
the sod. One acre in rank clover will
keep five medium-sized hogs during the
time it is growing well. The clover
pasture intended for hogs should be
well supplied with shade for protecting
the hogs from the heat of the sun dur
ing very hot weather. The cheapest
and most inviting shade is afforded by
trees. On new places, on the prairies
, where there are no trees, shade may be
secured in a comparatively short time
D by planting vines and allowing them tic
Il over supporters so as to form a sori
] of roof. The common Virginia creepel
] and the wild grape vines are excellent
] for this purpose. Sheds for protecting
1 hogs from the Jul may be cheaply bull
by using cedar posts and scantling fol
!. supports and covering the top with
straw or wild hay. The hog pasture
. should also be we'll supplied with water
A spring will afford the best water, anC
it is desirable to conduct-a portion of i
e into troughs and to allow the remainder
to escape and fill pools. The great OBJ
Il ~jections to clover hog pastures are the
4 amount of somewhat costly fence re
: quired and the frequent renewal o
clover, which ''runs out" ordinarily il
e the course of two years. Many nov
recommend orchard grass or bluegrass!
instead of clover for seeding land in
6 tended for pasturing hogs. There ii
another difficulty connected with keep
! ing hogs in a pasture and relying OF
). grass or clover alone for feed. The sea
= son is often unfavorable-either too we
: or too dry. If grain is fed in a pastur,
: hogs are likely to give up feeding OF
grass or clover.
= A method of soiling or partial soilin!
= hogs during the summer months ha
: been introduced in several parts of tn
country with most excellent results. TIL
hogs are kept in an inclosure of a siz
prOportionate to the number of animals
which is supplied with water and suit
\ able projections from the sun an,
. storms. The food is placed in trough
= of quite large capacity. 1t consist
y principally of green food of all descrip
tions. Clover, tender grass, especial.
orchard grass, fodder corn, rye AM
pea-vines are principally relied o. TO
food. They are grown near the en-
d to save labor in removing them. The,
N are cut with a hand-scythe unless tn
number of hogs be large, when a NOW
y i~ng-machine may be employed for cut
ting them. They are taken to the feed
IT ing-yard before they are wilted, on
a sled or low wagon, and thrown int
If the feeding-troughs. In the opinion o
some it pays well to run them through
a common straw or ensilage cutter be
a fore feeding them. They would ais
Il mix some corn meal, bran, mill-stuffs
or linseed meal with them. A food O
this kind is relished by hogs of all age
f. and contains all the elements of nutri
n ton. 1t is certainly very cheap. Whe,
green fodder is fed in this Their
a is very little waste. Only enough is fe
at any one time to allow its being a.
consumed. 1t is stated by those VIII
have given this method of keeping hog
a faithful trial, that as many can b
~ kept on the product of N acre of Ian
+ as on four that are devoted to %pasturing
There is a great saving in the amour
of fence required, and the manure ca
be utilized to much better advantage
d BY adopting this method of feeding,
daily supply of food may be insured
,e even if the season is unfavorable.
4 one kind of vegetation is not doing we
a another will be likely to be GROWN
thriftily.- Chicago Times.
s. Reptiles in Disguise.
w Everybody is fond of birds, but it
., possible that some people might lik
H., Loo, g {1o, believed +hn~, +D L