The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-03-23
The Hog Crop.

l tarmeE mas louud MS HUSS Tue mos
satisfactory produce he has been abb
to place upon the markets. Especially
has this been the case in the past yeal
when, 10 addition to good prices, tht
country has had the advantage of fgreat
ly lessened losses from disease. 1t Cal
never be known just how many mer
have been "tided through" by theil
hogs but there is no guess work in say
ing that the number has been legion
aud that in the great hog growing
states this kind Of stock has contribut
ed more than any other one thing to
such degree of prosperity as has been
enjoyed
The above quotation from the Nation
al Stockman and Farmer. is strong
endorsement for the pig but not one
whit stronger than he deserves We
know of no branch of farming that
would yield so much sure profit as
raising hogs for the early fall market.
Young pork is always ready sale and a
cash article in the Philadelphia mar
ket.
From the first of November to the
middle of December there is brisk
home and city market for young pork
and crop Of pigs to supply this market
would be eagerly bought up by country
butchers and Philadelphia market men
in order to make the business thor
ough success. farmers who propose to
adopt 1t as one of the main branches
of their business. and not side Incl
dental crop, should fit up and arrange
with view Of making hog raising one
of the leading features of their farming.
There is no summer food so economical |
and healthful as clover for growing
pigs, consequently the first necessity is
to provide field of clover for summer
feed. A ten acre lot of clover to turn
on to in May would carry 100 pigs and
hogs through the season with daily
slop feed of bran and corn neal mixed
Warm pens would have to be provided
for the sows to winter in and the num-
| Der of brood sows need not be more
than 6 or s if good mothers were Sc
cured. For rapid growth and early
maturity small or medium sized breed
should be selected, and for this purpose
the Berkshire would probably be the
best; or the Esiex which is smaller
hog, but always ready for market.
The first litter of pigs should come
in about the first of March. These
pigs ought to average 200 pounds in
November if we'll cared for, and litter
of summer pigs if of rapid maturing
stock would dress 100 pounds early in
December.
In summer hog raising there are two
essential requisites. The pens for the
stock sows must be made tight and
warm Comfortably so( and an acre OF
roots supplied for spring feed for the
sows and pigs before grass is fit to turn,
on; and there is no root crop for this
purpose so good as parsni ps. all things
things considered. The parsnip is a
sweet nutritious root, produces heavy
crops when planted in rich soil and
plahted early. Ia order to insure a
large crop of parsnips the ground
should be plowed in the fall and the
seed planted in April, or as early in
spring as the soil is dry sufficiently to
admit Of getting in proper condition to
receive the seed. The parsnip is not
injured by frost and n.remain undug
till the frost is out of the ground. when
it can be dug and fed retaining all of
its sweet and most nutritious qualities.
A part of the roots should be dug in
the fall and stored for earl feeding be
fore the frost is out in the spring; or a
small patch of sugar beets for this pur-
pose be raised. Sugar beets or man
gels arc easily raised, are rank growers,
requiring little hand hoeing, and pro
duce heavy crops.
There is no crop that farmer could
produce in this section Of country that
would pay 50 we'll as hog crop, if he
fitted Up for the purpose of making it a