The Newtown bee., 1890-10-17
Empty Pig Pens.

While visiting among the. farmers, 1 noticed that every farmer had pig pen, bat was surprised to see some two-thirds of them empty. l naturally inquired why they did not keep pigs or else tear down the pen. The answer invariably was, ''I was busy, this year; could not bother. Don't want to tear it down, for next year 1 will keep some." Others said it cost as much, if not more, to raise pork. than to buy a hog in the Winter all ready to salt down.
 Since my return home, I have been thinking how many of those same farm CTS who have no hogs will be ready, at the proper time, to step forward and pay cash for good fat hog to salt down for Summer use. Not many, believe, until they have counted over in their minds many, many times what it will cost and even then thinking they ought not to pay out the money, as it is cold weather and they need so many things. They put it off until, many times, they are forced to by faithful wife, who, knowing that pork is indispensable in the house of farmer, will give them no peace until she gets her pork, lard, etc. Without doubt, had the wife had her way. there would be no necessity of buying, for the pen would have contained two nice fat porkers. the cost for which was paid for in small amounts.
 We will suppose that it costs more to raise ones own pork. than it would to buy it in the Fall. Which would be the easier for farmer. pay out for feed in small amounts without feeling it or pay out the full amount at once. Certainly the former, for any person can better meet money obligation much easier in small amounts than the whole at once. Now the whole trouble comes in this way ,: Farmer So-and-so says, sWell, next week must get a pail of pigs" So that ends it for that week. When the follow ing week comes he is just as busy, so the pigs are forgotten and so on through the Summer; so that, when Winter comes, as 1 said before, after much persuasion from his faithful wife and knowing full we'll how foolish he has been, he has to put his hand into his pocket and pay out money that he, perhaps, ought to pay out l for his wife's new clothes or for the children, but, as eating comes first, it must go for the pork.
 During my trip, I asked many what became of the leavings at the table and other waste which generally goes to the swill barrel. They could not tell me. They said, q don't know; probably thrown away Very true, but still, my dear farmer, all this would have made pork and saved your wife from going so often to the butchers wagon Many farmers think that there is no money in Fall pigs. My experience tells me that there is money in pigs at any time of the year. If you have young pigs late in the Fall, every pair will bring you nearly as much, if sold to butchers as roasters, as you would have received for them in the Spring, as there is always demand for roasters in Winter. A SOW having two filters of pigs every year is profitable animal and, when too old for breeding, is clean cash as soon as butchered. Now, my dear readers, hope on my next trip to see our farmers pig pens we'll stocked with pigs and not see them compelled to buy pork in Winter. In conversation with large dealer in Western pork, q short time ago, the dealer said that the farmers of New England ought to be ashamed of themselves for not raising more pork. They would declare war against western pork, could they but zee, as ht has seen, thousands of times, the pork which is dressed in the West and shipped East by the aid of ice and chemi- calls in refrigerator cars. He said that it was no more fit to eat than a compost heap in any of our barn yards. Remem- Der, my friends, that, if you read this, you must say, without thinking it over, 1t Is true. Therefore take heed in the fu- tuTe and it will be your gain.-TA. s. M.