The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-18
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
Various Methods of Supplying
Hogs With Green Food Dur
ing the Summer
EarnSGs Mortgaging Land, Growing
Crops, and Live Stock in Order
to Obtain Money.

1naJ nOgS require green IOOO uuTlHg
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 warm weather, and they
are more conducive to health and the
formation of muscle. They are also
cheaper than any food that can be OBJ
tanned 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 va
riety of plants, fruits and roots in the
forests In some cases they become
semi-wild, and are reluctant to como to
the farra buildings till after the weather
becomes cold and the supply 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 un-
inclosed ground at distance FROM the
farm fields generally raise more pigs
than sows that are kept in small pas
lures, 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 comparatively cheap,
farmers who raise large numbers of
Gn1 80 ~, Ixvo 49,
them from May till October in clover
pasture. During favorable season a
good clover pasture will carry five hogs
10 the acre for about five months in the
year. III 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 rs soon as there is grain to
feed them in the fall. Ten acres of
land seeded in clover, if provided with
shade and living water, will keep fifty
hogs in growing condition from the
time corn is planted till 1t Is ready to
feed out. The chief expense will be
A fence that will hold hogs can be
made by using two boards at the bot
tom 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 is advisable to
plow the ground and to reseed it. In
order to have constant supply OF
clover, it is necessary to have two lots
that can be used for the purpose of
pasturing hogs.
In places where fencing material is
high or where re6ecloyer does not do
well, farmers can not derive as great
advantage from pasture for hogs.
Neither can farmers who keep but a
few hogs derive as much profit from
pasture as those who keep large num-
ber, as the cost of fences decreases
with the number of acres that are in
closed 1t requires but twice as much
fencing to inclose four acres as is need
ed 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
fodder to their hogs. They can adapt
the soiliIg 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 deyour If
they keep but few hogs they can
bring the fodder on a wheelbarrow, and
if they keep many they can bring it on
a 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. Ii the
yard has growing crops on three sides
of i, the trouble Of removing the fod-
der 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. t.lfalfa is also excellent, and is
recommed tor localities where the sea-
sons 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 so 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 than corn or small
grain for producing fat. On land that
is new, rich, and under high cultiva-
tioa, two crops of sweet-corn fodder
can be raised in year. In the more
northern states and territories. where
the climate is unfayorable for corn. field
peas can be raised for hogs TO good adj
vantage. II cut when the peas are of
the size to cocl. hogs will eat the
heads, vines, and foliage. In Canada
and Scotland peas are extensively raised
for hogs, and they are worthy of much
more sttention than they receive in the
northern portions Of this country.
The Burden or Debt.
A country banker recently stated