The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-10-12
FARMER AND PLANTER.
Raising Hogs On the Farm, at Pres-
ent Prices Of Meat, Pronta-
BILE Side Line.

Hogs have always been profitable
side issue upon every farm. They live
so cheaply and mature SO quickly that
there is always good margin of
profit. Soon after the war of the cos
the stealing of hogs became such q
constant source OF loss to farmers
that very many gave up raising hogs
entirely. Having once fallen into the
habit of buying meat, large part of
the farming population have contin-
ued to do SO. This has been partic-
ularly so with the tenant class.
This was very unfortunate. Many
millions If dollars have been paid for
western meat that should have been
kept at home.
At present prices of meat, hogs will
pay. Every farmer should at least
raise his own home supply. He can
raise it for one-half he pays for it.
The improved breeds of hogs will
make good porkers in from nine to
eleven months.
The cost of growing them will de-
pend upon the management. If lit
tie care is taken to provide good pas
lures of Bermuda, and then arrange
ments made to supplement these with
suitable forage crops, the cost of
growing hogs will be very little.
Patches of ground-pease, cow-peas,
sorghum, sweet potatoes, etc, may be
SO arranged that they will have a
constant supply of cheap food all
through the season.
The old idea of feeding hogs en-
tirely upon corn has given way to
new and better methods. Growing a
succession of such crops as those men,
toned above and many others not
mentioned. makes it easy to have fine
hogs for killing that have cost very
little.
The new aud improved breeds help
to do this. The hog is no longer de-
pendent upon roofing" for living.
The old adage, ''root hog or die" is
no longer applicable. 1t is now .eat
hog and grow" The best hogs have
very little disposition to root. They
prefer to eat and lie down and digest.
The roaming razor-back roadster has
had his day and passed away. The
compact, quick growing, easy fatten-
ing. lazy hog has taken his place.
The chief point is to keep them
healthy by giving them plenty of wa
ter, and clean beds and constant
change of food. The much dreaded
cholera is easily avoided by feeding
upon vegetable such as turnips, cab
bage, potatoes, and fruits that fall
from the trees.
Not only is it well for every
farmer to raise hogs enough to make
the meat for his own farm, but hogs
are a profitable crop to grow for sale.
There is money raising hogs as bus
mess. Not only can money be made
selling pure breeds at fancy prices,
but selling meat.
From all we can learn the north
west will be very short on corn. That
means short on hogs. That means
high prices for meat. That means
money to the man who has hogs for
sale. We remember the old time hog
killing, and it thrills us with pleasing
emotions to this day. Our farm was
small affair, yet we had about forty
fine fat hogs to kill every fall. Up be-
fore day, light the great log fire, heat
the rocks and with them the water.
Take the keen knife, whirl the hog
upon his back and find his heart.
Then the pulling of the hair, and
frying the melts on the hot rocks and
blowing the bladders for Christmas.
IL was jolly good time, feasting on
spare ribs, sausage and cracking
bread and brains. We can not help
feeling sort of pity for the boy who
never took part in old time hog kill
ing.
1t il paid to raise hogs in those
days, when meat was cheap, it will
pay better now, when it is high.
A small family can raise few hogs
from the household and kitchen Stops.
These will often make q years sup
ply of neat and cost. nothing but a
little forethought.
We urge our readers to try hogs, at
least home supply.-Dixie Farmer.