Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-06
CTo BE coNTINuED.)
MONEY IN HOGS.

| Chas. J. Mackey writes in the Farm
Journal as fillows:
| There are two outlets for hogs that
bring good returns,-fat hogs matured to
200 pounds quickly for market, and breed
ers for those who are always looking for
a chance TO better their stock and will
| ing to pay a good price. The business
of breeding for the latter trade, how
ever. Is not easy. 1t requires an ex-
| ceedingly sharp eye. the ability to dis
cover the good and weak points of hog
at n glance, great patience, and extreme
| carefulncss in mating.
Decide on tho breed, then visit relia-
BILE breeders OF this particular breed, Sc
| lecting yearling sows in farrow that
will come in IN favorable months. These
! sows should be large in frame and bone,
! of good length and well proportioned;
wide between the ears showing face, and
standing squarely on good feet. Be as
sured of quality and certain that they
can be regularly registered in the asso-
citation.
Get the sows home at least three weeks
prior to date of narrowing. so they may
become accustomed to their quarters and
be properly fed on good grass and whoat
middlings sop OF sweet milk or wdter,
with enough linseed meal added to keen
the bowels open A very small quantity
of corn each day will keep them fat
enough Proper feeding prior to far
rowing is essential
In this latitude central Iowa) fall pigs
do best narrowed from August 18th to
September list; earlier Is better than
later. Good shade. grass and wheat mid
dlings slop will get them started before
winter.
Any time after March list will do for
spring pigs, but the nearer to bright,
sunshiny days and grass the better. As
a rule. yearling sows will farrow in liz
days after breeding: older sows two to
three days longer. Two filters should be
raised annually by breeding so pigs are
farrowed about March 1st ana August
Goth, letting pigs suck eight or ten
weeks.
If doubtful Of ability to sell any of
the male pigs for breeders, castrate while
sucking, as they heal more rapidly under
the influence of mothers milk.
In no event keep n SOW that, having
been properly fed prior to narrowing,
then becomes vicious or proves poor
milk producer but never dispose of a
at first narrowing. For day or two
after narrowing leave sows alone: 1t is
unnecessary to go near except to give
fresh water. The second day an ear Of
corn and a small quantity of middlings
slop may be given, but feed very spar
ingly during the first week; then turn to
grass and sun.
The feed question here. in Iowa, is not
a xr,!ty, af
corn and oats, abundance Of milk and
clover dwarf Essex rape and blue-grass
but even here many have much to learn
of the relative values of food. Most OF
us feed too much corn to growing and
breeding stock.
At weaving time young pigs will be
eating freely. and IL fed wheat middlings
slop and oats literally and some corn,
they will hardly notice the absence Of
their mothers.
In preparing hogs for market, I give
them all they will eat of shelled corn
on ground in dry weather and in trough
in wet. When / have an abundance of
milk. I grind corn in the ear and soak
with water twenty hours; then make a
thick slop with sweet milk I give all
weekly II charcoal is not available,
give soft coal broken into bits.
The feeding pen for fat hogs should
have a concrete floor and each hog
should be allowed ten square feet of moor
space. This floor must be kept clean.
Char the cobs and feed to the hogs, and
collect the other litter for fertilizer.
Give United States government hog
cholera cure occasionally as a preventive
Of disease. Keep the pens clean for the
hogs sake: then. too manure is valu-
able for making big corn. Thoroughly
whitewash inside Of all hog houses twice
annually.
For lice, make rope by twisting bur-
lap or gunny-sacking. saturate with
kerosene and tack where hogs scratch
II intending to cater to the trade as a
breeder compete at nearby fairs. One
may get premiums and make good sales
West Liberty, Iowa.