The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-09-06
Feeding HOGS in Summer.

the year are pfactlced IN dlHeTenG parts
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 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 shifted to
farms where large numbers are kept.
1t has several advantages, however.
The food is utilized to the best adyan-
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 over
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 run in
pastures with horses, mules, cattle and
sheep. When the weather IS hot they
~, 81 1a IS
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
Ia the Northwestern States hogs on
the smaller farms are generally kept ia
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 gem
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
Tina 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
by planting vines and allowing them to
run over supporters SO as to form sort
of roof. The common Virginia creeper
and the wild grape vines are excellent
for this purpose. Sheds for protecting
hogs from the sun may be cheaply built
by using cedar posts and seantling for
supports and covering the top with
straw or wild hay. The hog pasture
should also be well supplied with water
A spring will afford the best water, and
it is desirable to conduct-a portion of it
into troughs and to allow the remainder
to escape and fill pools. The great OBJ
lections to clover hog pastures are the
amount of somewhat costly fence re-
quired and the frequent renewal of
clover, which ''runs out ordinarily in
the course of two years Many now
recommend orchard grass or bluegrass
instead OF clover for seeding land in
tended for pasturing hogs. There is
another difficulty connected with keep
ing hogs in pasture and relying on
grass or clover alone for feed. The sea-
son is often unfavorable-ei either too wet
or too dry. If grain is fed in pasture
hogs are likely to give up feeding on
grass or clover.
Asmethod of soiling or partial soilino
hogs during the summer months has
beer introduced in several parts of the
country with most excellent results. The
hogs are kept in an Enclosure of a size
proportionate to the number of animals.
which is supplied with water and suit
able projections from the sun and
storms. The food is placed in troughs
OF quite large capacity. 1t consists
prir cipally of green food of all descrip.
tons. Clover, tender grass, especially
orchard grass, fodder corn, rye and
pea.yines are principally relied on for
food. They are grown near the Ell
closure where the hogs are kept, SO IS
tosaye labor in removing them. They
arc cut with hand-scythe unless the
number of hogs be large, when NOW
ing-machine may be employed for cut.
ting them. They are taken to the feed
inSyard before they are wilted, omga
sled Or low wagon, and thrown into
the feeding-troughs. In the opinion Of
some it pays well to run them through
common straw or ensilage cutter be-
fore feeding them. They would also
mix some corn meal, bran, mill-stuffs,
or hnseed meal with them. A food of
this kind is relished by hogs of all ages
and contains all the elements of.nutri-
ton. Its certainly very cheap. When
green fodder is fed in this manner there
is very little waste. Only enough is fed,
at any one time to allow Its being all
consumed. 1t is stated by those who
have given this method of keeping hogs
8 faithful trial, that as many can be
kept on the product of one acre of land
as on four that are devoted to pasturing.
There is great saving in the amount
of fence required, and the manure can
be utilized to much better advantage.
BY adopting this method of feeding, q
daily supply of food may be insured,
even If the season is unfavorable. If
one kind of vegetation is not doing well
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