The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-11-11
FARMER AND PLANTER.
TIMELY TOPICS.


Tho Approach of Hog.killing Time-shei-
ter for stock-Late sor:hum-Carins for
sweet Potatoes.
Hogs intended for slaughter should
now be fattened as rapidly as possible.
They ought to be ready for the knife
by the middle of November, for the
latter part of November is our best
hog-killing period. The weather now
is also very favorable for developing
fat. 1t is cool and bracing enoug h to
give appetite, and not cool enough to
make it necessary for the animal to
burn up large percentage OF its food
to keep up its animal heat-as every
one knows it is hard to fatten
animals In very cold weathef:
Sweet potatoes, peas, grohndpeas'
chufas and sorghum should now
be given the hogs freely. Change OF
food and variety will give good appetite
and promote digestion. Salt, ashes and
powdered charcoal mixed, should be
kept constantly within reach of the
animals-a few doses of copperas and
sulphur given at intervals will promote
health, and SO will tehspoonful OF
turpentine to each hog given occasion.
ally mixed with its food. Copperas and
turpentine are especially called for If
animals ale wormy, which they are
very apt to be. 1t is all important that
the food should be so arranged that NO
fecal matter taii get mixed with it-and
an abundance of pure drinking water is
of first Importance. Not only the health
of the animal, but the flavor of the
meat will be affected by cleanliness.
If sufficiency of shelters has not
been provided for stock this should be
looked after at once. In our mild eli.
mate roof to protect from cold rains
is the chief thing needed. This can be
cheaply had by using inch planks ter
or twelve feet long-as often urged BY
us on former occasions, supply o1
such planks should be kept on every
farm for roofing purposes-a pen OF
stall of rails or poles, with brush pilet
up against it on all sides except the
south, fills the bill. All that is needed
is to break the force of cold winds ant
keep off the cold rains. Such shelters
are cheaper than food. The anima
heat must be kept up to normal stand
ard, either by preventing its escape (b,
shelters) or by making more of 1t b.
burning up food. planks and brush art
cheaper than hay and grain.
If you have any late planted sorghum
whose seed are about formed, or will b
ut The close of the month, cut and pu
under shelter without curing. Tn
stalks will remain green and succulen
for some weeks, and stock will relisI
them very much after frost has kille
the plants of the natural pastures.
shou be cut as late as possible-a ligh
frost will not hurt it, but it should b
cut before killing frost.
If the weather and ground are dry tt
ward the last Of the month, and potat
vines have about stopped growing
sweet potatoes may be dug withor
waiting for frost. A light frost doe
not hurt them, but if digging is put ol
too long d freeze may overtake thei
that will hurt them, and rains may 81
in and keep the ground too wet. Gu
best success In keeping potatoes hs
been when the ground was dry whe
they were dug and when the weatht
had become settled COOL Potatoes al
often injured by being covered too muc
at first and getting too warm. The
will need very little covering before tf
goth of November in ordinary season
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