Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-06-30
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PASTURE FOR PIGS.
Glover and Rape the Best Single
Crop-Alfalfa and Sorghum.

Cr0p-Alfalfa and Sorghum.
Swine raisers should make it a point
to SOW pasture crops this spring for
their hogs. The two best crops. aside
from alfalfa, where 1t grows we'll, are
peas, oats, vetches and rape. For
the average farmer with, say. three
spring litters. 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-haf 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-
lows:
The area intended for rape should be
we'll worked during May and given a
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-haH pound of fat 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 1928 pounds in weight. more OF
less, according to the growth of the
pasture. Do not depend on red clover.
Even at best it makes poor pork. Red
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. I believe al
falfa to be the best pasture for swine OF
any when it grows wen-but that ia
not everywhere. A few pounds Of alfalfa
seed sown in even quarter Of an acre
Of nicely prepared ground would be but
a small venture. Sorghum is another
crop that our farmers should not fail ia
give trial to. A dollars worth Of seed
sown broadcast in a piece Of ground,
free of weeds, about June 1, might pos
sible be paying investment in all parts
Of North America. For soiling swine
sorghum is highly commended. It may
be cut twice in the season, and for this
purpose. or for pasturing, is ahead Of
corn.
Mr.. Powell of Client strongly recon-
mends crimson clover fer hog pasture.
In letter to the writer he leaves nc
room for doubt Of its adaptability fol
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. It grows much
faster than red clover late in the season.
I should use crimson clover, however,
for fall feeding, and for this purpose il
need not be sown before June or July.
Crimson clover deserves trial by oul
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 we'll pre-
pared and fertilized ground in the pro
portions Of 10 pounds of mixed Glove,
seed and pounds Of rape. This croI
will be fair pasture for hogs 8 week.
from sowing and right through the sea-
son till late fall. The following mixture
is suggested: Four pounds Of red clio
yer, four pounds Of mammoth, fou,
pounds Of lucern and FIVE pounds Of
Dwarf Essex rape seed. If the land Il
naturally low and inclined to be wet. 6
few pounds of alsike should be added
Experience With African Sorghum.
On good, well prepared land SOW / y
bushels of black African sorghum K
the acre. On poor or light soil SOW
three-fourths to one bushel. If dry o.
subject to droughts. SOW broadcast ani
plow the seed in. The sorghum must b'
thick that the stalks may be small, fol
then stock will eat them better, ant
the crop cures in a shorter time, max
ing brighter hay. cut and let it taxi
the sun for day, then put in piles o!
about wagon load, so it will not in
jure In case Of rain. It can stay il
these piles until you have the time t.
haul to stack or barn, but it may b.
done in three or four days. If put IL
large stacks when too green, it will
heat and become worthless. It SHOULD
be- cut as soon as the seeds are hard O.
out of the milk. I always get two crop