Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-17
summer Hoo Pastures.

The farmer who ID 20 make HuSn
clear money from his hogs must have
some good pastures for them to run on
during late spring, summer ana early
fall. Not only will the pigs and hogs
do better on green pasture. but green
feed Is the best and most economlcal
feed that can be supplied. With II
pork can be produced for about cents
a pound, while with corn and other
similar high priced feeds the cost OF
producing pork will run at or above
cents pound. Dry grain feed In con-
nection with green pasture Is economi-
cal swine feeding. since the green 1or-
age makes the heavy grain more easily
digested. and both make more BAL
anced ration. Sows and growing pigs
should never be confined in narrow
lots on dry feed, except during the
coolest part Of winter when it would
not be well for them to be out on the
range Green forage and the necessary
exercise in securing it are vital factors
in securing health and thrift among
animals.
The more green pasture that can be
provided for hogs during the mild and
warm months the better will the hogs
grow and the more clear money can be
made for them. 1t is possible on every
farm to have green pasture for hogs
for all the months from April to No
vember, inclusive, in central ATTITUDES,
and for more of the year farther south.
With extra planning. good pasture can
be provided for all Of the year except a
few weeks In the dead of winter.
The very earliest pasture for hogs in
spring may consist Of an acre or more
Of winter wheat or rye. Some may
think that wheat is too good crop to
fence off for the pigs, yet at the pres
ent prices Of hogs they will turn the
wheat into more cash than can be Sc
cured by allowing the crop to ripen and
the grain to be sold, besides, there Will
be a saving in harvesting. A good
stand Of wheat that would make twen-
ty bushels to the acre will. with pigs
and intelligent handling, give re-
turn OF moro than 500.
As soon in spring as the ground can
he worked SOW a patch Of oats COM
mensurate with the number of pigs to
be pastured While the pigs are eat
ing down the patch of wheat or rye
the oats will be growing and will be
ready by the time the wheat is all eat
en- down. Then they are turned onto
the oats, which will furnish good pas
ture for several weeks.
A few weeks after oats are sown,
when the soil becomes warm, SOW
patch Of rape. This will grow and be
ready for pasturing when the oats have
been eaten down. Two or three patches
Of rape may be sown in the spring. 50
that as soon as one patch is eaten
down the pigs may be turned into an
other
Following the sowing Of rape, a
patch 9. two Of cowneas may be sown.
which will make good hog pasture from
midsummer till late fall. Some SOW
cowpeas in corn. both peas and corn
being used for hog pasture In late sum-
mer and fall. This gives large guam
tity of good feed. and there is no cost
in harvesting the crops and feeding
them out. The hogs do all the work.
In addition to these advantages. where
peas and corn are used as pasture in a
green state, all Of the waste products
are Immediately returned to the soil
without any expense OF handling. It
is one OF the best methods of cover
ing the soil with rich and even coat
Ing OF manure.
In different sections, with different
soils and other conditions, different
forage plants are best adapted for
summer hog pastures. Each farmer
must know his own conditions and plan
accordingly. Two neighboring farm
ers may use entirely different crops
and both be equally successful. Some
plant straight crops and others mix
lures. The thing to do is to plant
something In succession from early in
spring up to midsummer. something
that will grow quickly and make
large quantity Of green matter to the
area. OF course. II you have plenty Of
good clover or bluegrass, or both, there
will be no need Of bothering with rape
or oats. yet it is always a good plan
to have some extra green hog pasture
for late summer and fall, such as cow
peas or cane.