The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-08-29
HOG RAISING.
Prize Essay in Southern Ruralist Con-
test by MIR. C. U. Hinshaw, Climax,
N. c.

I have been breeding hogs a long
time and have decided the Berkshlres
are the best [ have ever raised, and
are one of the most popular IN all
parts of the South.
Berkshires are of English origin,
and were first brought to this coun-
try about 1880. They may be put In
good condition for killing before they
are six months old, but will continue
to gain in weight until they are two
years or more of age. They are good
"rustlers" and will make large part
of their living in the pasture. but re-
spond quickly to fattening food. They
lose less in dressing than do most
others. The sows are very prollhc
and good mothers, excellent nurses,
producing good hams, shoulders and
bacon. One of the most prominent
breeders of several kinds of swine
saws he prefers the meat of the Berk-
shire for his own family use. Their
upright ear, quick eye, firm nerve and
activity keep them away from dan
ger.
They are excellent to follow cattle,
it being almost impossible for them
to be hurt by the horns of the cattle.
If closely confined and well fed, they
grow rapidly and fatten easily.
Select a SOW from large, even lit
ter, and / prefer having her one year
old when her first litter is dropped.
The SOW is now given liberal treat
ment and furnished as great variety
of food as your resources will admit
of. such as thick slops made of bran
or shorts, in addition to a small al
lowance of corn, with clover and rye
pasture. They should have plenty of
exercise every day, with clean water
| to drink and cool themselves in. len
days before she is to farrow. If cir
| cumstances have prevented you from
| keeping your brood sows separated
| from the balance of your herd dur
ing the entire time of pregnancy,
| quietly separate her from the herd
| and give her good, conf tor table, prl-
vate quarters. with a moderate
| amount of dry straw for bedding, In
| a shed with warm southern exposure.
| Now feed with a view to keeping her
system loose and open, thus avoiding
a feverish and restless condition In
| narrowing, reducing the quantity
gradually a short time before farrow-
ing. You will find but very little
risk when the proper precautions
have been taken to secure the above
conditions beforehand. AS rule, 1t
seldom pays to disturb them while
narrowing, unless the weather is very
cold, when it is best to cover the
mother with a blanket and remove
the pigs as fast as delivered to the
fire and keep them there until all arc
dry, then return them quietly to the
SOW. They seldom need any further
care or attention, save what the
mother gives them. Give the sow q
little thin slop with some charcoal
and a little spoonful of soda in it
Her feed should be increased daily
until at the end of one week she has
all she will eat with Savidity, and 6
run to grass, rye or clover. The pigs
must have their little, sharp tusks
broken off with some nippers wheI
they are two or three days old, sc
they will not bite their mother anc
cause her to kill them or not le
them nurse. When they are three
weeks old fix a trough where the SOW
can't get to it and feed the pig
a little sweet milk thickened will
middlings. Don't feed them to-