The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-11
Feeding Hogs in Summer.

pne year are practlced in different parts
OF tne country. In the New England
ana 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 70 make manure for hauling upon the
nelds. More manure can be made by
keeping the hogs in a small inclosure
IMAM by allowing them a wide range.
Inc iced of the hogs kept in partial
conhhement consists of sour and
SKINNED milk, kitchen slops, mill
stuns, vegetables and weeds and grass,
when 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.
IL mas several advantages, however.
Inc 1ood is utilized to the best advan-
tage. large amount of excellent
manure is made if the yard is kept sup
plled with muck, old hay and straw,
ana other kinds of vegetable refuse. In
most OF the Southern States the method
OF Keeping hogs generally practiced
diiiers from this as far as possible The
'hogs are allowed to range at will over
any OF the land that is not inclosed
Ihey 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
1or the fruits, nuts, and other kinds of
1000 that both devour. They run in
pastures with horses, mules, cattle and
sheep When 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.
Ihey keep healthy, however, and the
flesh prodUced is of superior quality. 1t
is delicious as it has the flavor of wild
meat.
In the Northwestern States hogs on
the smaller arms are generally kept in
partial confinement during the summer.
much as they are in the East. On LARGE
farms, howe'er, they are generally
Kept IN pastun. The pastures most in
favor are thost seeded with common or
mammoth redclover. Rings are GEN
orally inserted into the noses of the
hogs to preventthem from roofing up
the sod. One acre in rank clover will
keep five mediun-sized hogs durinothe
time it is growing well. The clover
pasture intended for hors 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 bv
trees. On new places, on the prairies
where there are no trees, shade NAV be
secured in a comparatively short time
by planting vines andallowing them to
run over supporters so as to form a sort
OF roof. The common Virginia creeper
and the wild grape vines are excellent
Tor this purpose, Sheds for protecting
hogs from the sun may be cheaplv built
by using cedar posts and scantlinp for
supports and covering the top with
straw or wild hay. The hoo 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
jections to clover hog pastures are the
amount OF somewhat costly fence re-
CURED and the frequent renewal of
clover, which ''runs out" ordinarily in
the course of two years. MANY now
recommend orchard grass or BLUEGRASS
tended Of clover f9r seeaine La n rs
another difficulty connected with keep
ing hogs in a pasture and relying on
grass or clover alone for feed. The sea-
son is often unfavorable-eithe too wet
or too dry. If grain is fed in a pasture
hogs are likely to give up feeding on
grass or clover.
A method of soiling or partial soiling
hogs during the summer months has
been 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
principally of green food Of all descrip-
tons. Clover, tender grass, especially
orchard grass, fodder corn, rye and
pea-vines are principally relied on for
food. They are grown near the en-
closure where the hogs are kept, SO as
to save labor in removing them. They
are cut with hand-scythe unless the
number of hogs be large, when a now
ing-machine may be employed for cut
ting them. They are taken to the feed
ing-yard before they are wilted, on
a sled or low wagon, and thrown into
the feeding-troughs. In the opinion of
some it pays well to run them through
a common straw or ensilage cutter be-
fore feeding them They would also
mix some corn meal, bran, mill-stuffs.
or linseed meal with them. A food of
this kind is relished by hogs of all ages
and contains all the elements of nutri-
ton. 1t is 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
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 a
daily supply of food may be insured,
even if the season is unfavorable. If
one kind of vegetation is not doing well
another will be likely to be growing
thriftily.- Chicago Times.
n re H. I = IL