St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-03-06
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
SWINE BREEDING.

FARMER AND PLANTER
SWINE BREEDING
uap.HaanrA 0othoAs Caao0e - Rel1oA
Upoa - Produce decd Resalts.
Many farmers value the hogs above
oil other live stock on the farm. The
porker has come to be regarded ~ the
creature to b relied upon for the rent
Many farmers have grown mp from
ownership Of solitary pig to 10 pro-
prietors Of hundreds Of acres ON which
roamed hundreds Of the pigs. In this
industry. IS in many others, the swine
breeder and feeder has applied his
thought and energy to the accom-
plishment OF dxed purpose. He has
planned from the lowest foundations
the realization OF IN ideal which 10.
quired many years to culminata. Tho
fancy of the progressive breeder secs
far down in the future the finish Of
q purpose, and views in advance
many probable difficulties rs we'll
rs tho tedious details OF many
intervening issueA Tho breeders
however, who are possessed Of this
foresight are not very numerous. DC.
casionally some who have the acumen
to look ahead and recognize great pos
sibilities have not the steady purpose
and physical endurance combined 70
apply themselves to such an end.
Remarkable results shave been 40.
complished by experts in handling the
hog. In . number of instances males
have been sold for breeding purposes
for 81. 900 or more each. A considera-
BILE number Of females also have been
sold ut prices ranging from $500 each
upward. 1t il well for those who view
these remarkable sales, with the pur-
pose Of accomplishing tho same re-
suits, to bear in mind that the
occasion of such sales rarely
comes to breeder. It Is true
that some parties have made good
profits out of such purchases, and that
there was, of course. immediate money
to the seller ut such prices Such busi-
ness, however. must be characterized
as speculative. and involving, on this
account, great risk.
The usual purpose Of the buyer Of
hiRh-priced breedinR-stock is to sell
the produce It exceptionally high fig-
ures. because of tho merit evinced by
the high price of the parentage. Tho
buyers of youngsters At several hum
dred dollars . head, because of the
fact that the dam and sire are report
Ell to have been sold for four-hgure
prices, forget 1T times that the pur-
chase Of the high-priced parents was
made on the Judgment. perhaps, of
one man who may have made . mis-
take in his estimate of value. Il
IL true. however, that under right
management and favorable condi-
tions there aro hogs Of both sexes, in
these times of depression even. that
are worth 1000 each. The men who
pay such prices, however, should have
resources enough to be in a position ia
take risks of death and of failure in
fertility.
This creature 90 much despised by a
class of people is eminently the poor
mans friend. While there are risks Of
loss, there arc again advantages not
found in any other domestic animal.
There is = litter Of youngsters, half
dozen or more of them, instead of the
single offspring Of other domestic ami.
mails. and in case ct the death Of hall
of them, enough remain to insure q
little profit for the season. In the
case Of aged sows two litters q gear
give tho breeder double chance, n
compared with other live stock.
When the industry il depressed. the
small profits may be thus multiplied,
and when values are high. the profits
arc greatly increased. The value Of
. hog ~ . scavenger ~ well n . graz
ing animal makes it possible to grow
and mature on . good portion ofchear
food; and, on tho whole, the cost in
many instances for growth and finish
is com paratively slight. where ths
feeder il an expert at furnishing the
different varieties of perishable food
The great trouble in most cases Of
failure in the management Of swine Il
lack of variety of food. So many
farmers try to avoid care in handling
swine by fencing them within = dry
lot, and feeding dry corn almost ex
elusively, and are then surprised tina,
success does not follow such ! policy.
The thoughtful, industrious and pains
taking breeder furnisher abundance
Of grazing throughout the year where
bluegrass 10 available for winter, thu,
insuring strong constitution and Wig
orous powers Of digestion.
In the absence Of grasing during the
winter season, the progressive feeder
will have provided root crops. vegeta
bles or fruit which, with other succu
lent foods, will prove good substitutes
for grazing. Thus It 10 that cheap and
perishable foods may be made to dis
place ons-han of the more valuable
corn, oats and other cereals, and thu
animals are usually healthier because
Of the judicious use Of such food. By
right management. too. the root and
vegetable crops may be produced or
the same ground which has Furnished
IN early crop Of winter wheat Or rye
Pumpkins, turnips and other crops car
b readily grown on such ground. Al
. rule, too, such perishable foods mus
Be fed on the farm and used promptly
while the permanent grains may b
held over for years, II necessary, to b,
used in the emergencies Of occasiOna
crop fAilureA Cor. Farm and Eireside
BOOK FARMING.
Il % valuable to TIE Extent that Acquires
Knowlsage = lstsillgoaely Applied.
There IL very strong prejudice IL
the minds Of many farmers agains
wha: they are pleased to call ''bool
farming" agricultural papsrA Thi'
prejudice il gradually decreasing, and
Iii Aecreasn mora .rani1llv In the I'm