The Neshoba Democrat., 1910-03-31
Why We Should Raise Hogs.

There is no more important matter
confronting the people of Mississippi to-
day than that of producing at home the
meat we consume. The Farmers Union
has been waging a campaign of educa-
ton along that line that is beginning to
show results of substantial character.
The following essay, written by Miss
Ella Tulos, of Magee, on the subject is
worthy of reproduction in every news
paper in Mississippi:
Il have tried to prepare short paper
on meat production, and trust that what
have to say will be the result of some
good to members of our noble order. 1t
is subject worthy of the efforts of
those much better qualified than | to
handle, but will cheerfully do my best.
If my labors only result in the slightest
good to the smallest number, | will feel
that they have not been in vain.
"For a great number of years the lee
turers sent out from the department OF
state government to talk to farmers have
consistently urged the Importance and
necessity of living at home-producing
what we consume within the bounds of
our own state. They have presented I'M
answerablc arguments to prove their con-
tention, and | regret that the result has
not been just what might have been de-
sired. Now comes the union, our own
great organization, and takes up the slo-
gan of Live at Home and is carrying
it to every community in the state. |
am willing to aid this great movement in
my humble way, and thus write this
paper.
"lf it was necessary that we try to
live at home and stop sending multiplied
thousands of dollars out of the state
every year for things that we could grow
at home few years ago, it is doubly
so now. Our great money crop, cotton. is
threatened by an enemy that will greatly
reduce its production in the future, and
it will no longer be necessary to raise
cotton to buy the things necessary to
sustain life, as we have been doing in the
past. 1t is now absolutely necessary that
we raise more of the things consumed at
home.
"One of the most important of these,
and one that we can easily produce, is
onr meat. We have been depending upon
the Armours, the Cudahys and others too
long to supply this necessity. We have
laborcd hard and long to raise three bales
of cotton and turn right around and
tNn ho oln- Of TO b,,,,
and feedstuffs that we could have raised
ourselves. We must raise the things
for which the two bales was spent. and
make the other bale surplus crop,
thereby receiving a much better price for
it. Meat is one of the largest items OF
the three, and one that be cut off the
easiest
1T has been proven, time and time
again, that here in Mississippi we can
raise good meat for about cents per
pound on foot, almost a cent less than
1t costs the man in Iowa and other meat
raising states that today supplies our
wants along that line. Then why con-
tlnue to send this man money for some
thing that we can make for less money
than it costs him? There is possibly
nothing that is a quicker crop than
hogs. In this day and time we do not
wait for the razor-back to get to be 3
years old before fattening to weigh 200
pounds, but we have Poland China or
Berkshire that will dress the 200 pounds
at 10 months old.
Good hogs are good money, and equal
ly as quick as a cotton crop Then, to
certain extent, they are little or no ex
pense. | mean by that that any farmer
can raise a few for practically nothing.
and if he provides pastures according to
up-to-date methods, and feeds little,
they cost comparatively small amount.
when everything is taken into considera-
ton. The diseases that have made the
business somewhat hazardous in the past
are now easily controlled by recently dis
covered methods. Cholera can be pre-
vented for minimum cost, and the
legislature has made an appropriation for
the use of the State Live Stock Sanitary
Board in this work.
vi course, some care and attention is
necessary to insure satisfactory results
but the farmer would hardly miss the
time require. Pastures for use THROUGH.
out the year are possible right here in
Mississippi, and the amount of grain
necessary to be fed is small indeed. Bull
letlns fully explaining this can be had bv
writing to the agricultural department
jackson, Miss. L hope that our people
Will take up this subject and after in
Vest'gatlon fully resolve that Simpson
county, after this year, will not buv n
pound OF meat from outside our state
This can be done, and when If ia
done we will make less cotton. get n hot.
ter price for what we do make and have
the satisfaction of keeping the money we
get Tor it. 1t is one of the things wc
must do to meet new conditions now
confronting us, and I feel satisfied that
many OF the people here today will mako
that resolve before they leave for their
homes. am always willing to add nv
mite to the success of any movement fos.