The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-07
Raising Meat.

nEs u. I . IlOIlou, WI Iuii'SA Wv n
township, was in the Enquirer office
yesterday. Mr.. Horton is one of the far
mers that a reporter of the Enquirer
called on last summer with view to
Getting some information as to the most
buccessful way to manage farm. He
makes good crops of corn, cotton, wheat
bnd oats, and is one of those farmers
who believes in living at home. Know
Ing, as We do, that he does not believe in
buying anything that can be raised at
home, and that not pound of Western
meat comes on his place, we took occa.
bion to ask him some questions about
raising meat.
"Yes, sir" said Mr.. Horton, II have
alwsys raised my own meat, and con-
sider that I have made money by it. OF
course, I do not raise meat to sell to my
croppers, but I insist, as far as possible,
that they shall raise it for themselves" I"
"Well. how is it?" he was asked,
F'thst there are so many farmers who
claim that they cannot afford to raise
corn to feed to hogss"
"You can't do it. They are correct
lo far as that is concerned" replied Mr..
Horton. "But then you do. not want to
raise your hogs on corn altogether. 1t is
too expensive, and I don't believe they
do It anywhere-that is, altogether"
'Then how do you manager"
"Oh, there are several ways. The fact
is there are so many ways in which 1t
can be done, that it is difficult to tell
which is the best way; but the idea of
raising q hog altogether on corn is as
foolish as feeding dog on fried chicken.
Il raise my hogs in pasture and feed
vary little corn except in the fall when l
want to fatten and If they havo been
managed properly there is very little
fattsnirg to do. All hog wants is q
good range in the woods. During q
month or two in the winter you feed him
10 little corn. As the season advances,
I he gets more and more able TO take care
of himself. Along during the latter
part of June, you can turn him in on the
stuhble, and if you will SOW peas at in
tervsls so as to have crop along from
July until frost, you will have your hogs
provided for all summer. When frost
comes, you can turn them into pasture
in the woods, where they can get plenty
4 of acorns, and these will keep them in
excellent condition.
"A few weeks before get ready to
Eilly my hogs, turn them into small
lpt-never into close pen, because they
! do not do 30 well-and feed them corn.
During the whole year, it does not take
more than from six to ten bushels of
corn for hog that will net $50 to 400
pounds.
"Then you think it pays to raise your
own meat9" Mr.. Horton was asked.
"Of course 1 do. don't know how
much it really cost, but I would not be
willing to buy my meat even if l had
guarantee of this Western stuff. at four
cents pound. I am satisfied that my
meat does not cost me that much, and I
would not be surprised at its costing
great deal less"
"The fact is," continued Mr.. Horton,
raising as I do only enough meat for
my own consumption, the time and ex-
peuse given to my hogs is scarcely
worth considering. But judging from
my own experience, I am satisfied that if
proper attention were given to the mat
tor, it would be found almost anybody
can raise meat cheaper than they can
buy NrkviM Enquirer.