Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-07-22
HOGS IN SUMMER.
various Methods Of Supplying Tiem Win
wholesome Green Food. So.

Various Methods OF Supplying Ticm win
wholesome Green Food.
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 are
also cheaper than any food that can be
-ootMned on farms. In many parts OF
the South hogs are allowed to run mt
large during the summer and fall.
They eat grass and weeds in pastures
ana variety of plants, fruits and roots
III 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 q
distance from the farm fields generally
raise more pigs than sows that arc
kept in small pastures, yards or pens.
In many parts of the country wher,
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 a favorable
| season good clover pasture will 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
we'll 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 for
fence. A fence that will hold hogs can
be made by using two boards at the
bottom and two barbed wires at the
top. After the pasture has been used
Tor 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 a 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 rcd clover does not do
well, farmers can not derive as great
advantage from pasture for hogs.
Neither can farmers who keep but few
hogs derive SIS much profit from past
ure as those who keep 4 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 rs 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 fcd-
der to their hogs. They can adapt the
soiling system to hogs as well as to
cattle. They can keep their hogs in
yards or pens. and bring them the
green fodder they are to devour. If
they keep but a few hogs they can
bring the fodder on wheelburrow,
and if they keep many they can bring
it on a cart or wagon. They can raise
many of the crops that arc 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 be 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 for
hogs. Alfalfa is also excellent. and is
recommends! fer localities who're the
seasons ere dry and hot. It 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. Ii it makes
a quick growth the stalks will be so
tender that the hogs will eat almost
the Who'll. of them. The stalks and
foliage both contain large amount of
sugar, which is more valuable than
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 raised
for hogs to good advantage. lieut. when
the peas are OF the size to cook. hogs
will eat the heads. vines and foliage.
In Canada and Scotland peas are cx-
tensive'y raised for hogs, and they are
worthy of much more attention than
they receive in the Northern portions
of this Chicago Times.
N0fiAss.