Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-08-12
The Pig As a Manufacturer.

In the decline of manufacturing in
terests, aud a want of employment in
the older states. let us not overlook the
humble operative who only makes sta
pie goods and sends them to hungry
market. He works upon coarse. raw
material, and manufactures pork, lard,
and fertilizers, articles for which there
is always good demand on ever, farm,
and ready sale in the village markets.
One effect of the large increase in the
circulation of our agricultural journals
has been to raise the price of fertilizers.
The profits of cultivation are seen TO
keep pace with the use of fertilizers.
The demand is especially lively in our
i large towns and their suburbs, where
market gardening is followed, and more
money is made from ten acres well titled,
than from many large farms. Six TO
| eight dollars a cord is a common price
| for stable manure in these localities, but
it is often much higher, and sometimes
not to be had at all. In the flush times
through which we have passed, many
| villagers ceased TO make their own pork,
aud even upon the farm, near good mar
! kets. it has been a question whether
there was any profit in keeping pigs. In
/ the olden time it was main resource,
and the corn crib and the pigsty were
as indispensable as the barn and cow
yard. The best manure made upon the
| farm was the contents of the sty. 1t
made its mark upon the corntield, and
its effects were seen for years after, in
the oats and grass. After many years
experience of homemade manures and
the manufactured article. we have come
to the conclusion that no cultivator can
afford TO dispense with the labors of the
pig as a manufacturer of fertilizers. Ii
Is the most satisfactory way Of filling
the pork barrel. and the lard keg, even
il there be little economy in it, Swine
pay largely in mixing and composing
the contents OF the barn cellar that re-
ceive the manure Of the cattle kept in
the stables above We have noticed
this feature in the management of the
most thrifty farmers recently visited.
Pigs are kept at work from their birth
to their slaughter. All refuse from the
farm and garden goes to the barn cellar.
Absorbents. in the shape Of wcathered
peat and muck, head lands, swamp hay.
salt marsh grass. sawdus,, sea-weed.
leaves from the woods, were frequently
added to keep the swine busy and to
prevent all bad odors. The sty which
is so often nuisance. by the use of alb
>orbeuts may Ice kept entirely inoiiens-
i've. The pigs not only compost all
this material thrown into the cellar. but
by the tramping Of their fe, prevent
excessive fermentation after il is mixed.
The pig is especially valuable 10 the
villager who is occupied a. laborer or
mechanic during the day. He has his
acre or two of land. his vines and fruit
trees which can be made to supply his
table with comforts the year round,
The profit OF his garden and fruit trees
will depend almost entirely upon the
free Use of fertilizers. Il is practical
bic to keep his soil in high stale OF
productivencss with fertilizers made mp
on the premises. Il we made the most
Of our home resources to fill the harder.
and store. the fruit room. the times
would not be 50 incurably bad
- -lpsrican .igricujt4rid