Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-14

The high price Of corn makes the pro
auction OF cheap pork difficult mat
ter in the south unless IL be raised
under the grazing system. When this
method Of practice is followed. pork
NAV be made very cheaply, and there
are few localities which compare with
the south in the ability to produce pork
at a minimum cost. This is largely at
trfbutable 10 the fact that not only
cowpeas and other legumes thrive. but
the king OF all these 'crops-the pea
nut, may be cultivated so extensively
and Yields an abundance OF the most
nutritious food, not only for hogs, but
for other classes Of farm animals as
well The food value Of the peanut is
clearly set forth by the following data:
The kernels OF this crop contain 26.6
per cent OF protein. 1871 per cent OF
carbohydrates, and ~ per cent OF fat
Corn meal, on the other hand. con-
tains 90 per cent OF protein, 6s.T per
cent OF carbohydrates. and SIS per cent
OF fat Consider these figures for
moment. The peanut contains almost
three times as much protein as corn.
and nearly Il times as much fat The
whole peanut plant contains 1s.4 per
cent OF protein. 4e.1 per cent OF carbo-
hydrates. and ais per cent OF fat Com
pared with timothy hay, IL is seen to
tains only IL per cent OF protein. SIS
per cent OF carbohydrates. and 2 per
cent OF fat Peanut vines contain 10
per cent OF protein. AZ per cent OF car
bohydrates, and 3.5 per cent OF fat
Glover hay. which Is considered a
STANDARD hay for the United States. con-
tains only 12.s per cent OF protein, ass
per cent OF carbohydrates. and 81 per
cent OF fat
Here is a crop which produces ker-
mel OF remarkable richness in food con-
stituents. and a hay which compares
favorably with that obtained from
clover and other Iegumes- Naturally,
hogs will not eat q large per cent OF
the vines: therefore. these may be cut
and cured fof hay without much diffi-
Guilty, and the nuts harvested by the
hogs. The hay makes a splendid food
for horses and mules. and beef and dairy
cattle, as has been amply demonstrate
ed by the experience OF many south
ern farmers. The value OF the nut as
q food for hogs has been demonstrat-
ed over and over again. Just why this
crop is not utilized on something like
the scale it's merits Justify is one Of
those curious situations which can new
er be explained.
In grazing hogs on this crop one OF
two methods may be followed Either
the animals may be turned on the pea
nuts and kept there for so to so days,
depending on the age and size Of the
animals used to harvest the crop, and
then finished on corn: or, some grain
may be fed throughout the entire graz
ing period. II requires about three
weeks feeding on corn alone after graz
ing on peanuts 20 make the flesh hard
and firm II some corn is fed through
~srN hm N fnH he Il
will generally be In good condition to
slaughter upon its conclusion. From
five TO ten hogs may be fattened on an
acre OF land This will depend much,
OF course, on the season, character OF
soil. and the yield obtained Instances
are on record where as many as 200
hogs have been fattened on from IS TO
so acres OF land. At the Arkansas ex-
pertinent station. hogs pastured on ripe
peanuts made a gain Of 1,252 pounds
from each acre: on an acre OF corn the
gain was AS pounds. In Texas a pound
of gain was obtained for every three
pounds OF peanuts fed TO hogs weigh
ing from 40 TO so pounds. Under IA
vOrsble conditions IL is not unreason-
able 70 anticipate n return OF 1000
pounds OF pork per acre from peanuts
This would be at the rate Of $50 to
S100 per acre. depending on the price
obtained for the hogs. and surely. there
IS no easier way OF finishing this class
OF live tsock than on peanuts, since
they harvest the crop for themselves.
Moreover, they viii keep in better
health and condition from the exercise
entailed in gathering the crop than
where they are penned. The peanut
provides them with a greater variety
OF food and makes a ! better balanced
ration than corn alone Corn can not.
however, be ignored in finishing hogs.
as already pointed out
In some instances peanuts have been
harvested and the whole crop fed to
horses. mules and dairy cattle. This.
Of course. is an unusual practice. but
the use Of the hay can especially be
recommended. and a few experiments re-
corded where the hay sad nuts have
ben fed together would indicate the de-
STABILITY OF this combination as a raE
ton. especially for dairy cows Where
the crop Is 20 be harvested for feeding
10 this class OF animals. IL Is best TO re-
move the moldboard from a small turn
ing pillow and run Il beneath the row
az sufficient lepth 10 cut the tap roots
The vines and ntus may then be raked
together in winrows. II a potato digger
Is available. II makes an excellent i'm
plement for harvesting the peanuts since
II shakes the dirt or the roots. and
leaves them on top OF the ground in
ideal condition for gathering Up or stack
ing When the peanuts are left attached
TO the vines some hand labor IN harvest
ing the crop Is necessary. The best
method Of harvesting and curing Is TO
take q stake about seven or eight feet
long and two or three inches in dame
ter. and drive IL in the ground 20 a
depth OF one foot Nail two 1xS's 20 II
at right angles about one foot above