The Arizona sentinel., 1896-08-22
Hogs and Alfalfa.

nOma, ana IS taken lrOilI CIo NOIu'illiS of the Home, Field and Forum. It ap- plies to a considerable extent to the new industry of hog raising in Arr zona, and is published for the benefit of our swine raisers.
 I believe the hog industry IS one of the most profitable for farmers in this county, when properly managed
 I will give you my experience in the business in this county. 1 came here seven years ago, bringing with me, among other things, three small pigs. I sold two of these and kept the other. The first pig ever sold of my own raising here, I traded for one bushel Of alfalfa seed, which at that time was waived at $7 per bushel, hogs being about the same price per hundred pounds. I sowed alfalfa seed in the spring of 1888, and in the spring of 1889 I fenced one acre hog-tight, and turned in ten head of hogs. They did very we'll on this one acre. The next spring I pastured between thirty and forty hogs on this one acre. The re- suit, as you readily can see, was that the hogs did not have very good graz ing that season. The next spring (1S91) I also increased my pasture to five acres, and turned in sixty hogs big and little. also pastured my work horses and milch COWS on the same piece of alfalfa, and the result was as before-ratber close picking. The spring of 1892 I increased alfalfa pas ture to twenty acres. l have been out of luck since that time, in not having hogs enough to eat it off. During the past season, a very dry one, as you are aware, I pastured sixty hogs, fifteen horses, and three milch COWS. The horses and COWS were on the pasture probable two-thirds of the season. 1 also moved the pasture twice during the season for hay. am of the opinion that hogs will do better on alfalfa when it is nearly ready for making hay. The very young plants seem too washy. Hogs, however, seem to eat it with more avidity when young and tender.
 My experience with hogs and alfalfa as you will have observed, covers a period of five years, during which time the price ofhogs has varied very much but am safe in saying that my cash receipts will average $500 per year foI the time stated. Some years it would not reach that amount, but in other years 1t was considerable more.
 I shipped pig last summer, raised on alfalfa and fed corn eight weeks that tipped the scales at 600 pounds
 have fattened out several punches of hogs, and made good profit. But do not think this the most profitable way for Finney county farmers. think the most money for us will be to sell stock hogs at six months old These we can raise on alfalfa without any grain whatever, and can therefore produc them ready for the cattle feed CTS in the corn districts east of us cheaper than they can be produced even in the corn districts. One or two farmers may not be able to do this but if all our alfalfa farmers, or g large number of them, will give IF part of their acreage to raising stock hogs, cattle feeders will soon come right to our doors and buy our hogs.
 We can also take our brood SOW; through the winters cheaper than east ern farmers can, for the reason that we can almost winter them on alfalfa hay and sorghum. You may be inclined to doubt thls statement, but if you will take the trouble to go the Scott & March ranch, fourteen miles northeast of this city, you will find about sixty hogs in as good condition as any far mer would desire stock hogs to be, anC they are being wintered on alfalfa hay and cane,
 Now as to the best breed for this country, I perfer the Poland-Berkshire for the reason that they mature young CT than the Poland-China. I have given both breeds trial, and therefore speak from experience.
 A word about the fence. My pasture is fenced with eight barbed wires, and makes a good hog fence. The objec- ton, to it, however, is that it is yer! dangerous for horses. A better anC cheaper fence. think would be two foot picket fence, with two or three barbed wires on top, which will make a fence that will turn pigs and horse in it.
 Much has been said during the las
 two years about the profit of the alfalf
 seed crop. have been in both th'
 alfalfa seed and the hog business, ant | if I had to give up either, l say let tn
 seed business go and give me the hog
 for profit.
 There is scarcely 8 farmer so poo
 that he may not start in the hog busi