The Forrest City times., 1898-07-01

But in farm practice, instead of in an
experiment, the growth of pigs would
be more rapid. as they would not be
forced to Craze so closely, less handling
would be required, two or three weeks
less OF corn feeding just before killing,
and other conditions would be more
favorable. By this system of pr roduc-
ing pork on the farm it should not ex-
ceed cost of one cent per pound. Six
and two-thirds bushels of corn were
fed each pig, but that can be reduced
2.s bushels by feeding more on peanuts,
and that of itself would reduce the cost
per pound to very near one cent. Had
the sorghum been planted ten days
earlier it would have increased the
growth of the pigs by affording them
more food when the clover was drying
up.
There are three important advantages
OF such system as this for growing
pork-thc pigs gather all the foods
themselves, the manure is scattered
over the soil from which 1t was made,
and all the foods except sorghum. are
soil-improvers
The health of the pigs was perfect on
the foods throughout the ten months,
showing the foods to be entirely suited
to them in the manner in which they
were fed. Mixed minerals were kept
in boxes before the pigs; charcoal, one
and one-half bushels; common salt,
four pounds; hardwood ashes, ten
pounds; Stacked lime, four pounds.
The charcoal was broken into small
bits and the other ingredients mixed
with it. One pound of ash of burnt
bone would advnntageously replace
common lime. The mixture was eaten
heartily at frequent intervals. The
pigs did not root while on the clover,
and only did what was necessary when
on the peanuts. Crimson clover and
peanuts in the ground would be excel
lent foods for the sows during winter
Roofing and trampling tough clay soil
would do some harm when wet in win
ter, but loan and sandy soil would not
be injurious in the least Very slight
roofing is required to get the Spanish
peanuts, as they grow clustered around
the tap-root, near the surface of the
soil. The Spanish peanut is unexcelled
for fattening pigs, and that, with its
cheapness to grow--less than the long.
fiat-limb varieties, improving the soil
and remaining in the ground without
rotting-are most desirable qualities
1t succeeds best on rather thin. dry soil,
and is scarcely affected by drouth or
heat.
The day of the big, fat hog is past:
there is more demand and profit in
growing ten-month pig weighing $50
pounds than larger or older ones This
being the case, pigs should be hurried
forward with some grain while on pas
ture. Pigs should never be confined in
pings, as such treatment is vicious as
well as violation of the sanitary laws
of the animal life. The hog cannot
thrive SO well nor be as thrifty when SO
treated. The pig is cleanly animal
more so than most domestic animals
when allowed a decent chance. He
will deposit his manure in one particu-
lar place and never in his feed-trough or
bed. 1t is disgusting beyond tolerance
to see a pig eonfired in small pen,
especially in summer, with no place for
ssAS ifnHeiS NASSl's ~ WIG ASCo-tiOuBn
or in the bog-mud floor and all emitting
the most intolerable odor.
Good pasture is essential for profit
able pigs, as the pig is grass-eater as
well as grain-eater. The chief factor
in favor of cheap pork production in
the south is the mild climate A large
variety of cheap crops can be grown,
expensive houses are not needed, care
of sows and pigs in winter is avoided,
green food can be had all winter. and
also many other advantages When
cared for the health of the pig in the
south is, perhaps, better than else
where. In producing pork there is an
additional advantage besides that of
profit-the soil is enriched.
Effect of different crops that were
grown in a pork experiment on the
yield of a succeeding corn crop: