Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-10-02
The SWINE INDUSTRY.
EXTRACTS FROM THE STATE BOARD
BULLETIN FOR SEPTEMBER.

AUGUSTA, SEPT. 10 1900.
We desire 10 thank our correspondents
for their prompt and valuable replies to
our questions for this number Of the
bulletin.
In calling your attention TO the pig as
an adjunct TO the live stock OF the farm,
We knew we should find but comparative
ly few farmers who are devoting much
time 10 swine husbandry exclusively,
and consequently expected but limited
replies 10 the main question, but have
been much pleased NJ the number and
general trepd Of those which have been
received.
IL Is pleasing to note the large number
who are beginning TO see value In the
pig outside of what he may do In base
ment or manure shed, and who are in
clined 20 place him by himself In quar-
tiers fitted for his use rather than TO keep
him In pisces so thoroughly unified for
sny animal that IL Is only because OF bis
wonderful sdsptability 10 conform 10
conditions and To overcome unnatural
surroundings that he has survived at all.
That he has been able 10 do his work
here, and at the same time furnish s
large amount Of food proves what may
be reached when he IL properly under
stood and put In condition 70 be at his
best.
We believe from our own experience
that one correspondent has strack the
key note Of the successful saving OF ma
cures when he says that mixing and
leveling will do the work, that horse
manure Is one Of the best OF sbsorbents
when placed in the trench behind the
COWS, and that when so handled the
work of the pig upon it Is rather an
injury than otherwise.
When this plan shall have been fully
perfected we have freed the pig from
this uneleanly work, and can use him
for legitimate gain as We would any
other farm animal.
On the other hand, no one can, under
present conditions, bring profit from
the pig by obliging him to live upon
purchased grains alone, and even on
dairy farms where the waste forms quite
a large part Of his food the grain bill
still holds the profits down very low.
The pig Is at home in the pasture. He
Is as essentially agrazing animal As the
cow or the sheep. As We write We can
see our brood sows rs diligently crop
ping the grasses 10 their pasture as our
cows in the pasture opposite. A very
large part Of their food Is thus secured
AZ no expense whatever, and their gen.
erAl appearance shows very fully that
they are In q thrifty condition. The
soiling crops, including rape, are OF As
much value in the pasture where the
pigs are running as where the cows or
the sheep are kept.
Let Us consider for q moment the net
profits from the average brood sow.
Ours will bring two litters year, aver.
aging five pigs each, which have sold at
four weeks for o. 80 each, bringing .
gross return Of S25 per SOW.
These pigs are usually dropped In
April and September and with the
mothers In excellent condition are never
any trouble, requiring no more stten-
ton at time of birth than any other
Young animal upon the farm.
But very little grain is fed except
while the pigs are sucking, and no
skim-milk, ss the surplus milk all goes
TO the calves.
Occasionally We have pigs that are
not called for when four weeks old.
These can always be disposed Of as
shotes to excellent advantage. II we
should coufine our brood sows In small
pens, and feed purchased grains, they
would be bill Of expense, their c0ndi-
ton would be such that they would not
breed to advantage, and we would be
obliged to give up that part Of our live
stock.
AVERAGE CROP CONDITIONS OF OXFORD
COUNTY.
Amount of hay crop, 80 per cent
Condition Of fruit, l0s per cent. Condi
ton Of the potato crop, so per cent
Condition Of the corn crop: sweet, 81
per cent; yellow, % per cent. Conpar.
alive acreage of each: sweet, 80 pei
cent; yellow, 95 per cent. Potatoes arr
rusting some in few localities, but nc
rot Is reported.
GENERAL AVERAGE FOR THE STATE
Amount Of hay crop, 76 per cent
Condition Of fruit, SO per cent. C0ndi
ton Of the potato crop, rs per cent
Condition Of the corn crop; sweet, 81
per cent; yellow, 80 per cent; compar
stive acreage OF each: sweet, 80 pei
cent; yellow, 81 per cent. Rust OF
potatoes Is quite generally reported bu'
rot does not prevail to any great extent
OXFORD COUNTY.
NoRwAY-I have always been interest
ed In swine huabandry In connection
with butter making. I do not believ'
Iswine should be kept In the basement o
n barn. Like other animals kept TO
lprodt, they ought TO have plenty o
light and good air. With this In view
1.-TWO years ago I built piaGery. II j
I3O by 40 feet and II feet posted. With
steep roof. The sills rest on . solit
stone foundation four feet high, tn