The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-24
Shall We Raise Hogs 2


A great deal has been said to the farmers
at the south, to induce them to raise their
own supplies. 1t is generally conceded. by
the farmers themselves, that it is much
cheaper to produce, at home, all food crops
necessary for farm stock, but it is not so gen
orally believed that it will pay to raise the
meat needed by our labor.
Taking circumstances just as they are,
this may, possibly, be true. says the Hon.
w. j. Northen, in the Southern Cuitiuutor;
but making circumstances as they should be,
should very much change the condition Of
things. In this, as in every other business, we
would seek the best best appliances and the
most convenient and profitable arrange
ments. Let us arrange our crops, our past
ures and our convenience for proper care,
and the matter will be successfully settled.
Our lands and our labor are very much
cheaper than at the west. With proper
preparation ard judicious cultivation, our
crops can be produced as cheaply and as
abundantly as at the west, and the capital
necessary to bring about the same results
is, therefore, very much lessened. In other
words, a hog worth in the markets S25,
grown upon cheaper lands, cheaper prod
ucts and in more favorable climate will
bring larger profit to a southern farmer
than il raised under the conditions neces-
sary at the west.
The mistake we make is the expensive
food given to hogs. 1t is not desirable nor
profitable to feed hogs so exclusively corn,
as is generally done at the south. Much of
this expense will be reduced in good past
ure. 1t is astonishing to see how thrifty and
vigorous hogs become on good Bermuda
pasture, with very little other food Such
pasture can be greatly increased by sowing
red clover, at the proper season with the
Bermuda, and have both grow together.
The land must, of course, be well prepared
before receiving the clover seed. Lucern,
a special food for hogs, has been found ad-
mirably adapted to the soil and the climate
of the south. These grasses will not grow, to
advantage, on worn out, thin land; nor does
it ever pay to expect profitable results in
grazing the lands usually given to pasture
at the south. Select good land, prepare it
thoroughly, fertihZe as far as may be posi-
bic, and seed to the grasses already indi-
Gated, and the foundation is laid for profita-
bic hog raising
In addition to pasture, crops may be
grown at little expense and yet bring good
profits in furnishing suitable change. Be-
ginning in the early months of the year
with rye, to be followed, successfully, with
early cats, early peas, the cleaning from
grain fields, later peas. sweet potatoes and
ground peas, large numbers Of hogs can be
grown and the expense, as compared to the
income. scarcely appreciable. To raise
hogs successfully, and at a profit, we have
only to get ready for it.
The main reason, l imagine, why farm
ers do not give more attention to raising
hogs. is the destruction caused by contagi-
Gus diseases. This objection cannot obtain
in any more force with us than at the west.
Nebraska recently suffered loss of 81, 000,-
600 from swine plague, and Iowa nearly as
much. know of no section any more ex-
empt from the ravages Of disease than the
states at the south. No advantage, there
fore, can be claimed over us in this partlcu-
lar. The meat we buy has been grown I'M
der the same chances for loss as that we
raise. After getting pastures and crops
ready we must use the best means known to
prevent losses from disease In this con-
nection it may not be amiss to say that 1
have never lost my hogs from disease, when
gave them turpentine regularly-one tea
spoonful to each hog once week. l snail
not undertake to give the reason for the
remedy. 1 state only the result.
Possibly the best argument for raising our
own supplies is found in the fact that those
farmers who live at home invariably have
Al L., H. 81.
are always financially pressed.
cannot believe it pays to delay time and
waste food on inferior stock; We do not
want hogs 2 years old before they are ready
to be slaughtered. Get the best breeds, such
as develop rapidly, push them early, give
them good care and constant attention,
slaughter at 10 to IA months, weighing 200
to 800 pounds, and you will not regret the
trouble of raising your own meat on the
farm.