Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-07-20

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Crop-AIfaIfn md Sorghum,
Swine raIsers should make 1t point
to SOW pasture crops this spring for
their hogs. The two best crops, aside
from alfalfa, where it grows well, are
peas. oats, vetches and rape. For
the average farmer with. say, three
spring Iitters, all to be fattened for
market, two acres should be set aside
for pasture crops for the pigs. On one
acre sow peas, oats and vetches, and on
the other rape. The first acre should be
divided into two parts One half Of the
vetch mixture should be sown by May
/ (earlier, according to latitude), and
the other some weeks later. The pro
portions for one-half acre may be one
half bushel each Of peas, oats and
vetches (tares) This crop will be ready
for the hogs when five inches high, says
a Canadian correspondent Of The Coun-.
try Gentleman, who also advises as fol a
lows:
The area intended for rape should be
well worked during May and given
light dressing Of manure. The rape seed
may be sown some time in June, in
drills. at the rate Of two pounds of rape
and one half pound of fiat turnip seed
to the acre. These two acres, thus pre-
pared. should afford ample pasture for
the hogs right through the growing
season and will be equal to three tons
best mill feed Hogs pasturing on this
feed should receive mixture of shorts,
bran and corn morning and night
about two pounds per day to pig OF
100 to 125 pounds in weight, more or
less, according to the growth of the
pasture. Do not depend ON red clover.
Even at best it makes poor pork. Rcd
clover is held responsible for much Of
the soft pork in the market, whether
correctly so or not.
Alfalfa and sorghum are two crops
that our farmers who raise pigs should
give trial to this spring. | believe al
falfa 10 be the best pasture for swine of
any when il grows well-but that Is
not everywhere. s few pounds of alfalfa
seed sGWn in even Il quarter of an acre
of nicely prepared ground would be but
small venture. Sorghum is another
crop that our farmers should not fail to
give trial to- a dollar 5 worth of seed
sown broadcast in a piece OF ground,
free Of weeds, about June /, might pos
sible be a paying investment in all parts
Of North America. For soiling swine
sorghum is highly commended. 1t may
be cut twice in the season, and for this
purpose, or for pasturing, is ahead of
corn.
Mr.. Powell of Ghent strongly recon-
mends crimson clover for hog pasture.
In letter TO the writer he leaves no
room for doubt of its adaptability for
swine feeding. In order to get the great
est benefit from this crop of this years
sowing, he recommends that some red
clover be mixed with it. 1t grows much
faster than red clover late in the season.
l should use crimson clover however,
for fall feeding, and for this purpose 1t
need not be sown before June or July.
Crimson clover deserves a trial by our
farmers. Sow 80 cents or a dollar
worth Of seed this spring or summer,
anyway.
The best single crop Is by all odds
clover and rape, sown early In well pre-
pared and fertilized ground in the pro-
portions Of II pounds of mixed clover
seed and pounds of rape. This crop
will be a fair pasture for hogs s weeks
from sowing and right through the sea
son till late fall. The following mixture
is suggested: -Four pounds Of red clo-
yer, four pounds of mammoth, four
pounds of lucern and five pounds Of
Dwarf Essex rape seed. II the land is
paturaIIv low and inclined to he wet a
few pounds of alsike should be added