Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-12-06
Starting a Hog Ranch.


common in all the Western States and
Territories. Recently several horse
ranches have been started. We also
hear of a goat ranch in Colorado and a
goose ranch in Texas. Some enterpris-
ing citizens of st. Louis have concluded
to start a hog ranch. They have secured
large tract of broken and partially
wooded land on the bank OF the Missis-
sippi River, about thirty-five miles south
of the city, where they propose to carry
on their operations. Much of the land
is broken. but considerable portion of
it is adapted to tillage purposes. The
tract contains large number OF oak
and other nut-bearing trees. 1t is ex-
pected to derive considerable profit from
the mast the trees will afford. The
land is well supplied with springs and
streams of pure water. 1t is not the in
tention of the managers of the enter
prise to raise any cultivated crops for
feed. The ground Will be kept in grass
and clover. They will rely on corn
raised ON the Illinois side of the river for
food to fatten the hogs. The corn will
be taken over in boats belonging to the
company. The great American bottoms
embrace some of the most productive
corn lands in the world. 1t is proposed
tanned at the st. Louis stock yards.
These animals can be bought very cheap
and will be valuable for the purpose
designated. First-class Berkshire males
will be employed for improving the
stock. The pigs will have an extensive
range, abundant shade and good water.
All the conditions will be favorable to
healthy condition of the animals. The
location is excellent for obtaining sup
plies and for marketing the hogs when
they are in condition to slaughter.
This enterprise gives great promise Of
success. 1t seems strange that some
thing of the kind had not been started
before Its operations will be watched
with interest. 1t is likely that the man
ayers will be able to obtain many kinds
of food at a very low price. They might
load scOws with garbage at st. Louis,
float them down the river and unload
them at the hog ranch. Refuse fish and
the waste of slaughter-hOuses could be
treated in the same way. In every large
city considerable quantities of corn and
small grain become damaged in the
course of a season by a variety of causes.
Some is charred by fire in warehouses,
some is damaged by water, and some
because heated in elevators. Grain in
jured in any of these ways may gen
orally be purchasedin large quantities
at very low rates. Admitting that
the land controlled by this COM
pany is now in bad condi-
tion as regards fertility, it is certain
that much of it can soon be made very
productive by the judicious use of the
manure made by the hogs. By means of
hog manure large crops of red clover
may be raised, and this will be of great
value for feeding hogs during the sum-
mer and early fall. In the course of a
few years considerable land will become
rich enough to produce large crops Of
corn. There would seem to be many
places on the Mississippi, Missouri,
and Arkansas Rivers where enterprises
of this kind could be started with
great promise of success. Boats would
be able to reach portions of the country
where large quantities of corn and other
kinds of hog food are raised, but where
the facilities for railway transportation
are poor. Boats could take these
articles from the places where they are
raised to the hog ranch at small cost
Many farmers occupying rich bottom
lands would raise corn on contract, if it
was taken off their hands as soon as it
1t is likely that raising hogs on large
scale would pay well in many places
where there is not good water commu-
nication. Many are now engaged in ex-
elusive cattle and sheep production, but
there are comparatively few persons
who give their exclusive attention to
hog-raising. A farm can be easily and
cheaply fitted up for hog-raising. Com
paratiYely few buildings are required,
and these may be of the cheapest
character. Adornment is wasted in
buildings for protecting hogs. Tight
roofs and floors are all that is required.
The latter may be made of clay, con-
crete, or mixture of gas-tar and lime
and gravel Much of the land should
be devoted to the production of clover
and tender grasses, to be eaten by the
hogs during the summer. Rye may
often be raised to good advantage for
winter pasturage. Much of the land
should, of course, be devoted to the
production of corn. The raising OF
corn calls for little expensive machinery,
as is the case with the production OF
small grain. If labor is high the
harvesting may be done by the hogs
themselves. In some parts of the
South it is the custom to turn hogs into
cOrn-helds and to allow them to do the
harvesting. The practice appears to be
very wasteful, but close observation
shows that it is not. Nearly every
grain is gathered up and eaten. 1t is
also common there to turn hogs into
fields of small grain that have become
lodged. Observation shows that in
these cases the amount of grain wasted
is very small. By the employment OF
cheap, portable fences the amount OF
waste may be greatly reduced. No
labor is required to harvest artichokes
for hogs. In fact, by judicious manage
ment much of the labor in the produc-
ton and harvesting of food for hogs may
be reduced. Chicago Times.
Training Of Children.
This subject is very generally neg
looted. Men of thouoht and enternriSe