Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-04
A NEW BONANZA.
Now to Double the Price of Wheat by
Converting 1t Into Hogs.

St Paul, Aug. 3.-To the Editor.
The low price of wheat and the ten
dency to still lower prices, seems to-
present an opportune time to call
the attention OF the farmers OF the
wheat districts i'll northern Mime
sofa and the Dakotas, to the high
price of hogs.
At the present prices OF hogs re-
cent Experiments seem to demon
Strate that by fattening hogs ON wheat,
the farmer may realize more than 81
per DuShel for his wheat, now worth
ut the farm 40 to 50 cents, and which
after freight has been paid to Minnca-
polls or Duluth, is worth only about
81 or SO cents. At present prices, the
largest car load of wheat 1000 bush
els) in St Paul, is worth only about
$500, while car load of hogs OF the
same weight (GO,O0Olb) would be worth,
about $500.
The hog natures ut the age of six.
to nine months. Hence il it is true
that 50 cent wheat when turned into
pork becomes worth more than 81
bushcl, the business of raising hogs.
by the wheat farmer promises large
profits and quick returns.
New let us see what evidence there
is upon the value Of wheat for fatten-
ing hogs.
Upon this point the following state
ment has been made: farmer i'll
one of the best corn and wheat cOtnl-
ties in Central Illinois was so reluctant
the past season to sell his wheat ut
the prevailing prices that he thought
he would convert it into pork. He was
greatly pleased ut the result. lie had
$1,000 worth of hogs, and fattened
them almost OH wheat, using little
corn. His method was to soak the
wheat in warm water twenty-four
hours before feeding. III cold weather
he let the water come to boil in the
kettle and then poured in the wheat
and put out the fire. When it cooled
it was soaked enough and ready to
feed, which he did Immediately. He
weighed the hogs before commencing
to feed and kept n strict account OF
the weight of all grain fed, also
figured the corn at So cents and the
fat hogs at -. Said he, 1.-The
wheat just brought me $1.01 per bush
ell
From this statement it would seem
that wheat is worth $1.O1 per buSheI
to feed when hogs are worth 4 IL
cents per pound. The present price,
of hogs in st. Paul market is SO cents
which on the above basis would make
wheat worth $125 per bushel.
The writer is Informed that during
the last few months, "a full car loads
of fat hogs have been sold at the
south st. Paul market, which were
raised in northern Dakota and fattened
entirely on wheat, sometimes fed i'll
the manner pointed out by the Illinois
farmer and sometimes converted into
rude graham flour" before feeding
The unanimous testimony of the rails
ers has been to the effect that by
feeding it they had iealiZed over $1.O1
per bushel for their wheat. The
quality Of the product Of such hogs
is said to be superior to the product
Of the corn fed animels. If this is true,
it seems to open up the possibility to
the wheat farmers of introducing to
the markets of the world a brand of
American pork, which i'm time would
become as famous as Minnesota hard
wheat, and like it command the highest
prices and the best markets.
1t is certainly a matter worthy Of
consideration.-A. b. ;Stickney.