The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-06-08
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN.
NoTfa or PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE
LAnoE AND SMALL FARMERS.


seven Eessons why the Breeding Of Swine
In Large or small Numbers Is the Most
Universal Of Any Stock Interest in the
Country.
First, the farmer can engage in swine
breeding with less capital than in any
other; second, his returns come in quick
and often Improperly managed; third,
the product always finds a ready sale,
and generally at fair prices; fourth, the
hogs will convert into money much on
the farm that would otherwise go to
waste; fifth, there is less risk from loss,
If attended to as they should be, than in
other branches of stock growing; sixth,
no animal that is reared on the farm viii
show O more marked difference in looks
or greater variation in profits than the
hog with judicious breeding and feeding,
or with the careless, slip shod way that
he is often handled; seventh, cheaper
help will care for him.
Now, $40 judiciously invested will pur-
chase three good full blood shoats-a
male and two females. The balance of
the first cost will be the rearing until
they are sufficiently old for breeding;
they should raise the first litter at year
old, and be kept as long as they breed
profitably. Do not kill the goose that
lays the golden egg, as your old sows are
better mothers, and the pigs from mature
sows are better, stronger and less liable
to injury; now, every year save few Of
your best young sows, and when they
raise their first filters then select again,
and save the best of these, and SO on.
Often two filters year can be raised;
although, to sell for breeders some pre-
fer only one. Now, as to time, the ar
guments arc about equal, in spring or
fall pigs. The spring pig gets to market
quicker, but it takes more expensive food,
and the risk at the time of birth, if they
are as they should be farrowed-early,
is greater, while the fall pig, if properly
fed, can be raised very cheaply through
the winter, and in the spring can be
turned on the clover as soon as it starts,
and he will make nice growth for
several months, or until you wish to
finish him with corn.
The use of pork for eating and lard for
cooking and other purposes, is SO general
the world over that it makes steady
demand for hog products at remunera-
tive prices. The hog will utilize much
on the farm that might go to waste.
Now, this is particularly the case with
the small farmers, whose name is legion.
Take pumpkins, squashes and small
potatoes; buy kettle. build an arch,
and cook them; mix in bran, shorts and
rye, and your hogs will grow fine until
you finish with corn.
The marked difference in different
ways of following swine breeding, by the
selections of breeders, proper feed, etc.,
you will secure hog well proportional,
square and blocky, and a good seller,
while the want of proper care in these
respects will give you the original land
shark or prairie pointer, which buyers
usually pass by, and the raiser generally
curses, and says swine breeding does not
pay. Abiding to cheap help, we find on
many small farms boys that can attend
to feeding and preparing food for hogs.
Very often the grandfather is spending
his declining years with son or daugh-
ter ON the farm, and although not able
to do hard work, still has no desire to be
idle, and is one of the best to look after
the wants of the hog or the pig; and the
cash received as the result of his labors
ofttimes pays as well as from many other
larger OUTLAWS on the premises.