Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-04
Pigs and Poultry

"A penny saved is d penny earned,
says the proVcrb; out in year OF food
s. arcity like the present it is worth
while to ask whether the penny saved
upon the farm may not be better used
there as capital 10 earn another penny.
The secret of farm economy is not
merely in avoiding waste bat in the
profitable use of by-products With
that fact in view county agents are
urging farmers to keep more and bet
tel pigs and poultry. Swine and hens
together may he made to turn to profit
able account all the waste of the kitch-
c1l and OF the garden. even many Of the
weeds that infeSt it-for example, purs-
lane. Pigs and poultry viii thrive on
vegeta hles that are too small or i'm
perfect to market-eSpeclaHy II the
vegetables are we'll cooked and they
will eat other field produce that is often
quite dsresarded. When tho sweet
corn is thinned out in the hill. or when.
later. stalk refuses to bear ears. in
stead Of pulling it and leaving it to dry
upon the ground. let the gardener try
the experiment q cutting it up and Of
fcrinS it to his hens. He may be sur
it is attacked even where the fowls
have a grass run
Meanwhile. the pigs. if they are put
ting on fat from farm produce fed to
them, are returning at present prices a
very substantial dividend upon their
owners investment. and can often be
made to earn considerable part of
their own living. The day is coming
when the sly with its filth will be alb
olished, and the Eastern like the West
ern farmer will realize the worth Of
range and pasture fo. swine. From the
pig that is allowed to feast on the
acorns of the oak grove are derived
ham and bacon Of the finest flavor and
the pig is delighted to gather them for
himself if he has the chance. He is
equally glad to work over forage
crop like dwarf rape sown early for
summer and late for fall feeding. and
IT. the process he will profit not only
himself but the field in which he pas
lures. Geese, for a similar reason, are
likely this year to be highly profita Bile
to such farmers as have pasture for
them and foresight enough to provide a
little green forage for their use. The
residue Of these green crops after af-
fordlng pasture to swine or poultry in
the fall, may he ploughed in when win
ter is over. to the profit of the soil
But u must be repeated that true
economy always dictates the keeping of
good instead of poor stock Wcll-pro-
portoned and we!lbred pigs are the
cheapest in the lonS run. They cat no
more than scrub stock. and they COM
mand ia" better market. Moreover.
when ne shhors cooperate and an in
telhsent county agent advises. they are
rot difficult TO procure The same thing
holds true Of fowls. The farmer can
not afford to keep unproductive hens:
and in these days Of trap nests the hen
that pays for herself can readily be
separated from icr sister that ought to
be hurried to market
The manufacturer long ago learned
that the use or waste Of by-products
often determines hts surplus or deficit
at the end Of the wear. There i a
lesson here for the farmer: and in a
time when both labor ard supplies cost
so much I Is imperative that il be dill
gently studied.-The Youths Cornpan
ion