The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-04-20

| peit arc III reality the source OF sup
ply Tor great amount Of the meat
product, especially hams and bacon,
that is consumed in other portions of
the country. Yet the advantages of
many OF these belt States are lit
tie, II at all, superior TO those outside
of that district. The South has an
abundance of vegetation. Cowpeas,
velvet beans and peanuts are legumi-
nous crops that are peculiar to that
section. Corn grows readily in all
Parts Of the South, and in the sub.
tropical portions the experience Of
feeders with cassava seems to indi.
cate that it has considerable value for
pork production. In addition, there
is generally an abundant water sup
ply; the climate is mild, and there is
a long period in which green feed is
available; the expense of shelter and
winter feeding is very greatly lessen
ed. These conditions, giving long
period of pasture and outdoor life, en-
hance thrift, and with proper manage,
ment, insure great freedom from dis
ease.
In the extreme West the alfalfa of
the irrigated valleys and the clover of
the coast districts give splendid
foundation for successful pork pro-
duction. In most of thesc regions
there is an abundance of small grain,
particularly barley, that may often be
fed economically, while in some To-
calities corn is successful crop.
Barley is Of SO much interest to the
experimenter, and it's use is of so great
Importance in the production of pork,
that it demands moro than g passing
notice. This grain has not been re-
lied upon to great extent in America
as the principal part of hog-fatten-
ing ration, but the practice of Danish
farmers, and the results of expert
mepts can very well be studied with
profit. The Danish bacon, which fig
ures 80 prominently in the English
| markets, is produced mainly with bar
ley and dairy by-products.
At the Ontario Agricultural College
Day has found barley so valuable in
the production of prime export bacon
that it is now used as a standard with
which other grains are compared. In
his experiments to determine the ma
ture and causes of "soft" pork, Shut
found that the best bacon produced
was by ration in which barley was at
least one-third of the whole amount.
Farmers in those parts of the country
where barley is prominent crop can
we'll devote attention to their onror-
tunities for pork production; besides,
in addition to this grain, some of the
leguminous crops can often be grown
for pasture, thus furnishing materials
for well-balanced ration.
The grain-growing districts of East
ern Oregon and Eastern Washington
are instances of such localities. Corn
is raised there to very limited ex-
tent, but barley is an abundant crop
and can be produced at minimum
cost, and often wheat may be utilized.
In nearly all parts Of this section there
are irrigated valleys where alfalfa grows
abundantly. Yet every town end city
in this section imports immense quan-
titles of pork products from the corn
belt; indeed, it has been stated that
IS and 80 per cent. of all the hams
and bacon sold at Spokane are shipped
from the East; and when one remem-
bers that this city feeds great terri
tory, it is readily seen how great is the
dependence on the corn belt.
The purpose of these remarks is ot
to minimize the value of corn in me at
production Of any kind. Corn is, per-
haps, with favorable climate and
SOIL the most economical grain that
is at the command of the stock raiser
and feeder Of the United States. II
is nutritious and highly palatable.
Without its use it is difficult to imag-
inc how the animal products of che
United States could have attained
their present pooition in the world 6
! 3ommerce; and 80 long as meat pro-
ducts are factor of American agri-
culture, corn will probably be lead.
ing factor in meat production in this
country, and the corn belt will natu-
rally continue to be more or less the
center Of feeding operations. On the
other hand, the condition is ever
present that farmers in localities
where corn is limited product have
their own wants to supply. IF, in ad.