Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-06
PRODUCTION OF PORK.

#The census OF 1870 as compared with
at Of $50 shows that during the past ten
bars the percentage OF increase in the
Fodgction OF pork. by Georgia farmers,
as greater than in any other state In the
nion. This should be particularly graf
hing 70 Georgia farmers. which clearly
loves that our people are gradually
#eaning themselves from western pack
& houses and Filing smoke houses on
leir own premises with home raised
eat. In my travels about over this and
#.her states. I meet large numbers or
rmers who assert that they are now
.isinE their bread and meat at home,
Id never have any 20 buy. IL Is now gen
EaIIy conceded that the grain and green
rage acreage in the south viii be large
Increased this year. because farmers
#.alfxe that at present prices OF pork and
btt0n. il viii require about pounds OF
De latter 10 pay for one pound or the
ruer next fall. The cotton producer
hnnot make both ends meet when the
rice OF his supplies so high and the sell
z price OF his money products so low.
|he very necessity OF the situation Is
brcinE southern farmers 70 cnange
their system OF agriculture. This re-
brua viii be in the direcs-on OF a more
hcfded system OF diversified farming
hitch viii result IN making our farms
enerally self sustaining.
Importance Of Raising Hogs.
There are annually consumed in the
buth more pounds Of pork than,aH other
#eats combined. IN large number OF
buntry homes the use OF beef and mutton
rare. except during the winter months
intervals. and pork IL about the only
heat eaten By the negro farm population
twenty years ago statistics show that g
er cent OF the pork used in the south was
hIpped from western packing houses
AID meat has become as staple an article
supply stores as sugar and coffee How
yer. as already stated. we have made
aufd progress in the production OF pork
the south since that time which has
aused a corresponding decrease in the
nfprnent OF western meat into our terri
prv. Iudeueudeut OF the average cotton
roducer who IS now raising pork for his
Immediate family consumption, there are
umbers Of farmers who have gone regu-
rIy into the business OF raising hogs for
.harket. and during this winter a larger
lumber OF carloads Of tat pOrkers were
.hiuped from different points in Georgia
nd other southern states 70 southern
ackfng houses. The industry, together
rfth that OF raising beef cattle, is begin
ling now 10 attract such general attention
hat one OF the largest OF the western
lacking houses is making arrangements
b erect a large plant at Atlanta for the
purpose OF handling these live stock pro-
ucts from the southern farms Within
mother decade OF two. IL would be no ex-
|ravagant prophecy 10 make mention at
his time that southern pork and cat
lie viii not only take the place Of such
roducts from the west in the SOUTH but
he European nations viii be partially sup
|Hed as well. The hog has been called the
|mortgage litter" In the great corn belt
Z the west. and he is destined to perform
he same function 10 quite an extensive
xtent in the south The absence Of the
kog on the southern farms has created the
Inortgage on the cotton crop. and his
presence here will assuredly cancel the
'nOrtgage-
Conditions Required.
The south in climate and natural re-
|ources furnishes a more inviting field
or the successful production OF pork than
nv other section In the union. This state
'nent IS the general verdict arrived at by
! N investigators on the subject and by
racticai experience in hogratsing In the
Inherent sections. There are few gen.
raj rules, however, which farmers should
lake into consideration when they under
axe to raise pork on an extensive scale.
There should always be an abundant sup
fly OF good pure water I'm the pasture, or
where the hogs can reach il while feed
'ng in the field. or when confined in the
lot Shallow. stagnant ponds are very
Undesirable and quite likely 20 develop
IataI contagious diseases The general
kasturage should be in a field or woodland
where the land is sufficiently rolling for
rood drainage after heavy rains Shade
rees in summer viii keep hogs cool with
ut the necessity for providing muddy
|TaIlows for them Hogs are naturally
healthy animals and IL the quarters are
Kept clean and lime sprinkled about the
|ot and fence corners during spring and
ummer there need be no fear Of dis
kases. In the fan. rye. barley and clover
patches can be sown for late winter and
karly spring grazing When danger OF
lrost has passed. patches OF sorghum
peanuts and cowpeas could be planted
! nd as these small fields. each fenced
APART are ready for the hogs they could
b turned into them at different inter
|Fals through the late spring. summer and
karly fan. A field Of chufas or artfchOkes
yin furnish good food IN winter.
The only necessity for corn would be
when the porkers are penned. simply for
hardening the lard and giving good favor
10 the meat. Mr.. r. r. Putney. OF Dough-
|rty county. and one OF the most extern