The Dawson journal., 1883-04-12
Raising Hogs.

Elitor Ishmaellte = Farming il
4bi, Q ;tion, since thewar has not'le
nrontable. Ibelieye it is general,
agreed hat much of our failure is tc
be attributed to the policy of buying
from the markets the farm supplies
that should be raised at home. This
course WIS probably justified by the
high price of cotton at the beginning
of the new order of things, but, under
existing circumstances, the policy is
no longer question. If we succeed,
it is fact that we must raise all our
supplies on h farm.
With our present labor we will a.
VANS have heavy demand for bacon,
aad as we have found that we cannot
afford to go to the markets for it the
vital question is how can we best
raise il at home. There are three
main difficulties in the way: 1st, hog
thieves; End, diseases; 3rd, lack OF
prop tood crops. The laws of the
state are ample for protection against
thieves. We have only to aid each
other, by communities, in detecting
the guilty party, and seeing that the
court, administer the full measure o.
the penalty prescribed. Ii. by such
cooperation, we secure the severe
punishment of a few parties this evil
will be renedied L do not know
that there is any known remedy for
cholera. Hogs kept in thrifty CON
dition, under close personal care,
separation from the herd as they be-
come diseased, and cared for as
humanity and personal interest de
mand, will not die in such numbers
az to make the breeding expensive.
Again hogs with us are no more
subject to disease than hogs at the
west. We pay western farmers not
only for the actual cost of the mcat
wo buy, bat for the risk thov have
taken and then a fair profit Or both.
Nor, indeed, do we stop here, bat
pay an enormous profit to the rail-
roads for transportation, and to the
merchants, first wholesale and then
retail for handling. 1t is not true
that we have male a fearful financial
blun1er? | repeat then, the matter
is no longer an open question. We
mast raise hogs If we succeed in
farming.
If properly managed the business
is not expensive, Money and time
ought not to be wasted upon inferior
stock of any kind. The improved
breeds pay beat in the long run
Berkshire os Essex pigs can be killed
at nine To twelve moiths, Weighing
from $50 To $50 pounds, Pigs drop
ped in March should be slaughtered
in December or January; those drop
ped September can be allowed to
grow to little over twelve months
before slaughtering. Sows should
he 40 managed as to drop their pigs
in early spring or early fall that they
may avoid many risks of disease from
too long life or the unnecessary
severity of more than one Winter.
One hundred and fifty pounds of
meat having passed through one
winter is much cheaper than 250
pounds that have carried the expense
and risk of two winters.
Ny own plan in raising hogs has
been to begin with an early green lot
of rye or burr clover. Burr clover
with Bermuda grass furnishes excel
lent grazing until the grain fields are
ready TO be cleaned. AS soon as
the season will allow, lot should
be Sown to peas upon which the hogs
should be allowed to run as soon as
the peas are properly matured. By
the time they have finished up what
they can gather here they can be
put upon the corn fields to gather
the waste left behind the crops.
After this they are to be turned up,
on the potato patch, and lastly to be
wlntered upon ground peas.
Potatoes and ground peas are ex-
cellent food for hogs indeed [ know
nothing better. Almost all these
crops can be provided for hogs at
small expense, and, if allowed to
gather up what seems tc be necessary
waste about The farm, meat ought to
De raised to cost us not more than 5
to 6 cents.
am clearly Of opinion that every
pound OF meat and every ounce Of
oreAf consumed Upon the farm should
oe raised updn its fields
w j. NoRrHEN.