The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-07-14
HOGS IN SUMMER.
Various Methods of Supplying Then With
Wholesome Green Food.

Wholesome 6recn rood
That hogs require green food during
the summer months all swine-raisers
admit. The hog is naturally grazing
animal, though its habits have been
greatly changed by keeping it in par
tial confinement and by substituting
grain, roots and milk for forage plants.
Hogs prefer green plants to other kinds
of food during the warm weather, and
they are more conducive to health and
the formation of muscle. They arc
also cheaper than any food that can be
obtained on farms. In many parts of
the South hogs are allowed to run at
large during the summer and fall.
They eat grass and weeds in pastures
and variety of plants, fruits and roots
in the forests. In some cases they be-
come semi-wild, and are reluctant to
come to the farm buildings till after
the weather becomes cold and the sup
ply of food is scarce. They live six
months almost without expense to their
owners. They are generally healthy,
and keep in good condition, while they
increase in weight. Sows that burrow
in forests or on uninclosed ground at
distance from the farm fields generally
raise more pigs than sows that are
kept in small pastures, yards or pens.
In many parts of the country where
the climate and soil are favorable to
the production of red clover, and
where fencing material is comparative
ly cheap, farmers who raise large num-
bers of hogs find it to their advantage
to keep them from May to October in
clover pastures. During favorable
season a good clover pasturawillc carry
five hogs to the acre for about five
months in the year. If the pasture is
well supplied with shade and water,
the hogs will generally do exceedingly
well in it. If they do not become fat,
they will gain in size and be in good
condition to take on fat as soon as there
is grain to feed them in the fall. Ten
acres of land seeded in clover. if pro-
vided with shade and living water, will
keep fifty hogs in growing condition
from the time corn is planted till it is
ready to feed out The chief expense
will be for the clover and material pr
fence. A fence that will hold hogs An
be made by using two boards at the
bottom and two barbed wires at the
top. After the pasture has been used
for grazing hogs for two years the
ground will produce excellent corn.
As the clover will begin to run out"
at the end of two years, it it advisable
to pillow the ground and to reseed it, In
order to have constant supply of Glow
er, it is necessary to have two lots that
can be used for the purpose of pastur-
ing hogs.
In places where fencing material is
high or where red clover does not do
well, farmers can not derive as great
advantage from a pasture for hogs.
Neither can farmers who keep but few
hogs derive as much profit from past
ure as those who keep large number,
as the cost of fences decrease with the
number of acres that are inclosed. 1t
requires but twice as much fencing to
inclose four acres as is needed for one
acre. Still, farmers who keep but few
hogs and those who live where red
clover does not succeed can derive
much benefit from feeding green fod-
der to their hogs. They cap1dapt the
soiling system to hogs alhaIas to
cattle. They can keep their hogs in
yards or pens, and bring them the
green fodder they are to devour. II
they keep but few hogs they can
bring the fodder on a wheelbarrow,
and if they keep many they can bring
it on cart or wagon. They can raise
many of the crops that are designed for
hog food so near the yards and pens
that it can be carried to them on forks.
If the yard has growing crops on three
sides of it, the trouble of removing tho
fodder will not be great. 1t can he cut
in the morning before it is time to start
the teams in the field.
Common red and mammoth clover
and orchard grass are among the best
fodder plants that can be raised fol
hogs. Alfalfa is also excellent. and is
recommended for localities where the
seasons are dry and hot. 1t will grow
in most parts of the West and South
where red clover does not succeed.
Sweet corn is another excellent crop to
raise for feeding to hogs. If it makes
quick growth the stalks will be sc
tender that the hogs will eat almost
the whole of them. The stalks and
foliage both contain large amount OF
sugar, which is more valuable thar
corn or small grain for producing fat
On land that is new, rich and under
high cultivation two crops of sweet
corn fodder can be raised in year
In the more Northern States and Ter
ritories. where the climate is unfavor
able for corn, field peas can be raiset
for hogs to good advantage. lieut. whel
the peas are of the size to cook, hog
will eat the heads, vines and foliage
In Canada and Scotland peas are ex
tensively raised for hogs, and they ar,
worthy of much more attention tina,
they receive in the Northern portion
of this country. Chicago Times.