Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-24

he causes which has given a new impe-
tus 70 hog production In the south. An
sther reason is the variable price Of cot
ION. A third Is the invasion OF con-
siderable section BY the boil weevil. ne
sessitating greater attention being PAID
10 crop rotation. fourth cause Is the
growing appreciation Of the value OF
grazing crops In the production OF pork
For years Il has been the custom Of the
soutern farmer TO buy the greater part
1f his supplies OF meat, which he could
do Al a reasonable cost in view OF the
low price Of corn and the widespread in
terest in hog breeding In the middle west.
There was also an impression that IL was
cheaper 70 buy meat so as 20 reserve all
the energy possible for the cultivation
OF cotton Fortunately. this theory Is
now not regarded with general favor
In a number OF southern states farm
ers have found II necessary TO change
their system OF cropping to meet the new
conditions imposed by the advent OF the
hou weeviI. AS the hog Is not attacked
By the cattle tick and as the original IN
vestment Is small and the returns quicker
than from any other class OF livestock
IL - not surprising that many farmers
have turned their attention 10 this line
Of animal husbandry as the most prom
have chosen wisely was demonstrated
upou thousands Of mortgaged farms ana
ranches IN the west when that country
was first being settled I'd. The soori-
quet applied to the hog Of being a mort
gage litter Is certainly deserved so far
as American agriculture is concerned
Now that a break has been forced in the
practice OF the southern farmer IN
many states. and is bound TO come In
many others as a result OF the spread OF
the boil weevil. the hog business prom
lses 70 do for the southern states what
h did many years ago for the western
states
In no other section Of the country can
80 great a variety OF crops especially
wel ADAPTED for the production OF pork
under a grazing system be raised win
economy as in the south Rape. coWpeass
SOW beans. peanuts. artichokes. chufas,
and al the cereals may be utilized with
advantage. OF course, some OF these
crops are more valuable than others,
and probably the peanut deserves the
palm in this respect. though there Is
some objection 10 Il owing 20 the fact
that II produces a soft and rather oily
nork. Since this difficulty may be over
come BY from two 20 four weeks OF pen
feeding on corn. il Is not serious OBJ
stacie TO progress for on every farm
where q rational system Of crop rota-
ton il instituted and followed. enough
corn win be available TO finish off as
many hogs as the average farmer Is
likely to raise for many years 20 come.
The one drawback 20 the hog industry
In the south lies in the prevalence Of
hog cholera. and 20 the fact that the
buzzard IL protected by law under the
mistaken notion Of his value as a scav-
engsr. 1t Is true that he iz useful in
certain particulars. but he probably Off
sets any advantages he may enjoy In
this respect by his tendency to distribute
the germs OF hog cholera. II is diff
cult 70 see how the continued protec-
ton OF the buzEard can be OF any ad-
vantage 70 livestock owners. Since sew
eraI states in the south have taken up
the manufacture OF hog cholera serum
through their colleges Of agriculture and
experiment stations. Il now seems that
az a very early date a means Of COM
batting this destructive disease will he
placed within the reach OF the major
ity OF southern farmers. There Is there
fore no real obstacle in the way OF sys-
tematfc progress I'm pork production
Thenext question arises as to the
best breeds 20 select TO meet southern
conditions. There has been a preju-
dice against white hogs in the south
for many years. and there seems TO be
some foundation for this objection. II
f. claimed that they sunscaid mare
~-adiIy TEan ar iHsIs with red y block
HAIR As a matter OF fact. there al .
50 many breeds possessing the desir-
able Qualities as to color OF hair that
il makes little difference whether the
white hos be introduced or not at the
r. ssent time.
AmonE the breeds which have heen
tested and found OF great value I'm the
south are the Berkshire. Poland-China,
Duroc-Jersey. Tamworths ana Essex.
This list is not Intended to be compls.s
IS individuals OF ether breeds are found
i'm isolated localities Probably the
Berkshire has the widest dissemination
OF any breed, and IL is regarded with
favor by the majority OF our hog rails
ers. This is due TO its many very de-
sirable qualities For instance, he is
rather active, crosses well with the ma
tive stock. produces a good ham and
shoulder and is fairly prolific. The
grazing qualities OF the breed are very
good and they have a wide adaptability,
Their color is attractive and they have
the advantage already mentioned OF
being widely distributed and fayorably
known on that account
It is difficult 10 say which breed