The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-08
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Che Farm and Grove.
CcpwigAtsd BY Rural Press SyRdiate,
he sIOcKBRIDGE. PHI. D.. Editor.
THE HOG IN SUMNER

This is really the critical time with
the pigs intended for slaughter next
winter. While they are still with
the sows, and while the rye aud
oat-peavine pastures last, the pigs
grow rapidly and thrive. With the
coming of midsummer, however,
the shoats are too often turned into
| the halnmOcks, or given access to
the ponds and bay-heads and, figuri-
| lively speaking, told to 'root hog or
die" Reprehensible as is the prac-
tice of turning the animals entirely
loose to prey on the neighbours crops,
this has at least the advantage for
the swine, both two legged and qua
druped, of giving them access to a
large enough range so that the food
necessary to growth will be found.
The hog is such an inveterate fora
ger that, if not confined, he will GER
tainly provide himself with food, un-
less the country over which he
ranges is an actual desert, When,
however, he is confined, but is SIM
ply let have access to the natural
supplies in the unimproved and nat
ural pastures to which he is now Of
ten restricted, Ire may be able to
provide for his own necessities, or
he may more often be forced to the
verge of starvation by poor season
or more common over stocking Of
the range. 1t is no uncommon sight
to see a dozen pigs confined to the
shore of some pond, or fenced into
an uncultivated bay-head, where
two self respecting shoats might
possibly make decent living. Then
we may expect to hear the owner
complain that his hogs do. not fatten
rs they should, in the fall, and
scout the idea of making shoats
dress one hundred and fifty pounds
at seven months old.
The fact is that hogs, even more
than other animals, must be kept
growing in order to fatten easily and
quickly. This Is the real secret of
success i'll producing either baby
beef" or pig pork" From start to
finish the animal must be kept NOV
ing. 1t matters not how literally
the young pig may be fed, or how
the animal may be stuffed in the
fattening pen, if between these two
periods there was considerable in
terval of starvation and stand still.
This is the C nditioa liable to occur
at this season of the year, with re-
suits so unsatisfactory.
How is the trouble;to be overcome?
This is the practical question for the
consideration of every hog owner,
The answer is simple. The animal
must be given sufficient food so that
he shall continue to grow straight
through the season. Alternate starry
ing and stutfing will never produce
satisfactory results. How is this
feed to be supplied? If natural pas
ture or range is to be depended ON,
care must be taken that the number
of animals docs not exceed the ac-
tual feeding capacity of the pasture.
Constant vigilence will protect
against disaster in this direction, but
if the animals do not make good
growth all the time artificial feed
ing is absolutely necessary if salts
factory fattening is expected. How
can this summer feed be most eco
nomically provided?
OF course the best results will be
secured by planning for the regular
summer feeding of the pigs in ad-
vance. Pastures planted expressly
for the summer use Of the pigs in
tended for fall killing should be
provided.
Sorghum, sugar corn, millet, milo
maize, peas and early pinders will
furnish variety and succession of
the best of feed for this season.
Watermelons may be added to the
list. All these crops may be salts
factorily harvested by the pigs.
Sorgham, milo maize and millet are
crops which may be pastured, or cut
over, several times during a season
The others will be used in season to
allow of planting of late peas and
sorghum for fall feed, or for regular
fall crops.
Now a word for those who have
not provided for the summer feeding
of their pigs, but who would be glad
to supply them with feed, could it
be provided economically at this
late day. | want to emphasize the
fact that when Il crop is made, it is
in its hest condition for use, and
can usually be made more profitable
then than at any future time. This
applies to corn and peas. Thousands
of acres Of these crops are now about
Yet in the ordinary prac-
tice they will stand in the field for
weeks, even months, before being
harvested. This is almost invaria-
bly, true of corn. Yet the result of
this practice is that little inferior
fodder will be secured, every bundle !
of which diminishGS the yield of
grain more than its equivalent, and |
the ears will hang till fall, after
which the stalks furnish little |
nearly worthless pasture or are en-
tirely wasted. Yet the very man |
who lets 1his corn hang in the field |
from July till November that he
may then have the additional labor of |
picking, and feeding the ears to his |
hogs, may have these same hogs ON
his hands in a nearly starved condi-
ton in midsummer. If given Il |
chance at the crop at this time, they !
would harvest and get full value |
from the ears. They would at the |
same time harvest and save without |
waste the whole plant, fodder and |
stalk. They would continue to grow
any thrive at time when they
would otherwise be worse than
still, and would be in con-
iition to take full advantage of the
chufas, potatoes and cassava
III which they can be thoroughly
md most economically finished in
season for killing before Christmas.
The practice here recommended is
successfully practiced by some of the
pest farmers. 1t is in principle iden-
ical with the now universal practice
If saving corn in the silo. Corn en-
iilage of today is invariably made
If the well natured plant. By this
means the entire crop, ears, stalk and
eaf is used, at its best. The hog is
'ur best silo. He will do for the
outhern farmer what expensive
machinery and labor ac-
for the northern corn