Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-12

In the proper spirit Is enhanced by over
coming some OF the difficulties which
each individual environment presents. II
viii not be possible In this paper, there
lions. but these suggestions cover the
principles involved in this method OF hog
raising, and II will take little ingenuity or
effort on the part Of the farmer to readopt
or devise q practice which will suit his
peculiar needs.
The amount of land to be devoted to
grazing crops viii depend on the number
OF hogs to be raised. Five acres will car
~ from twenty-five to fifty pigs with
their dams. 1t is true that some corn
may have TO be fed. perhaps five bushels
per head as a minimum. The amount OF
grain necessary will be influenced consid-
erably by the breed Of hogs used, as some
animals do not Craze as well as others.
Among the breeds suggested as useful for
grazing are the well known and widely
disseminated Berkshires, the Tamworths
or English bacon hog, and the Yorkshire,
white hog Of English origin, the merits
of which have not been fully tested in the
south as yet. Any of these breeds cross
readily with our native stock and effect
marked improvements therein. We are
experimenting with the Tamworth at the
State College of Agriculture and find them
very satisfactory grazers indeed. Some
VINO nave seen lncn LneN are lOO
long in the leg and have remarkably long
shouts for a breed which is considered so
highly improved. II is needless to point
out that the Tamworth owes its peculiar
conformation to the fact that IL gathers
such large proportion of its food In the
open. using the nose a great deal for root
ing, which causes an unusual develop
ment OF the bone and muscles OF the face.
AS a matter OF fact, the razor back hog
crossed with an improved sire makes an
ideal type of animal to be used where
the raising Of pork on soiling crops is
contemplated.
Any land may be selected for this work.
II should be well drained and situated
conveniently to the buildings and to
water so that a reasonably close oversight
OF the animals may be kept. This is
especially important at narrowing time.
Some shelter may be provided. This is
best made In the form of a sloping rooted
shed which protects the animals from the
sun in the summer. II an area can be
selected where there are a number OF
shade trees in the grazing lots, it will be
a decided advantage. Permanent fences
may be erected. though we have found
heavy Page fence or other wire fences of
similar construction. quite satisfactory
for confirming the hogs TO the feed lots.
We construct this fence so IL may readily
be moved from place to place. This ia
cilitates working the various lots and also
enables us to quickly and cheaply fence
up any particular area which becomes
ready for grazing in advance of another
section. The soil selected, varying as
Il probably will from stiff clay TO very
sandy in nature, will lend itself to differ
ent rotations which should be bassed on
the particular crops grown in that com
munity. II is desirable. of course. to have
legumes predominant in the rotation for
several reasons. First of all, they are
likely TO furnish the largest amount of
grain best adapted for the nourishment
OF young or rapidly-growing hogs. They
also have the power OF improving the soil
through gathering their own nitrogen
from the atmosphere.