Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-02-27
Machias Boys Raise Pigs.

Washington County boys and girls
carried of good share Of the honors at
the State Contest OF Boys and Girls
Agricultural Clubs In 1915. Norris Bry-
ant Of Aachias was the Pig Club mem
Der chosen to read his story before the
audience of club members and friends.
The story follows: =
HOW I RAISED NY PIG
Last November when the local con-
test was held here, Mr.. Mitchell, State
Leader Of Agricultural Work for Boys,
told as that II he could get six boys to
join they would organize Pig Club In
Machias. Eight Immediately joined.
Howard Thsxter was chosen presi-
dent. Mr.. Burleigh Tompson kindly 40.
cepted the position of Local Leader.
The boys who Joined and raised pigs
are as follows: Frederick Chandler,
Gordon Marston, Julian Merrill, Howard
Thaxter, Ulmer Davis, Earl Tompson
and myself.
I bought my pig of Mr.. Thomas Foss
Of Machias, the Goth of May, paying Ave
dollars for him. He was born the 20tb
Of April. His father is . registered full
blood Chester White, and his mother
partly.
He weighed 10 pounds when I bought
him. built small pen In the barn for
him, and the first three weeks fed him
on milk and refuse bread.
1t is q common saying that pig likes
dirt and will 90 where It is dirty every
time; but this is not true. II you give 3
pig clean chance to stay you need not
worry about him trying to get where it
is dirty.
So Icleaned my pig pen out at the end
Of every week.
/ moved my pig out Of doors In Au-
gust so that be could get chance to be
on the ground. and eat grass, which he
did eat in large quantities. As this 10 q
good cleansing food I liked for him to
eat all be could.
made the pen IA II. by IA It. 80 that
he could have good chance for exer
else. I put large door In the pen and
set 1t upon stakes three feet from the
ground for shade, and dry goods box
for him to sleep in nights always keeping
plenty of straw in the box.
I kept trough of water in the pen all
the time and fed him wood ashes once in
while for cleanser.
When my pig was nine weeks old be-
gan feeding him q mixture OF two parts
middlings, part corn, part milk, with
little salt. I fed him this ration for
four months increasing 1t with bis
growth, slowly dropping ont the milk
and using more water.
The Machias Fair offered good
chance for us boys to make some money
besides showing our summers work.
1t offered special prizes for the Boys'
and Girls Clubs. On the pigs there
we're prizes for the best all around club
pig, and for the best Chester White.
Ulmer Davis got flrst for best Chester
pig, and second for best club pig. Julian
Merrill got first prize for best club pig
and second for best Chester pig. I got
third for best Chester and fourth for
best club pig.
The flrst Of October I moved my pig
into the barn to get him away from the
cold, and to fat him.
For thiss used cracked corn and
water. The instruction sheet says to
use white middlings with this.
I have fed my pig 8 bags Of middlings,
l bag of cracked corn, 1Oc worth of swill,
81. 90 worth of milk. I have spent Is
hours time on him.
have not weighed my pig yet and so
do not know how much he is worth,
but estimate him worth $2S 100. 1t he
is worth that much have made profit
Of $7.65.
The Pig Club is the best I have ever
joined, andI shall join 1t again next
wear,