, 1919-02-27

crop estimates, there are So, 100000 hogs in the
United States. of which 29,651, 600 animals, or 45.5
per cent, are on farms in the six corn belt states
of Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, and
Ohio, while 21,756.O00 porkers, or 1874 per cent,
are located in the 10 Southern states, and the
remaining Pill per cent are distributed over the
remaining p states of the Union. Under pres
ent conditions the South ranks second only to the
corn belt as the leading pork-producing section of
the country. The remarkable fact about the
growth of the hog business in the cotton states is
that it has developed rapidly during the last five
years as a direct result of the untiring efforts of
county agents to popularize pork production.
Dramatically the South is the ideal livestock sec
ton of this country and present indications are
that 1t is en- route to come into Its own.
Indicative of the rapid rise of the pork indus
try, II counties of southern Alabama, although
they did not ship to market a single carload of
hogs during the year 1912-1913, marketed 1852
carloads of hogs during the period from April 1,
1917. to April 1, 1918. Mississippi exported 1924
hogs in 1914, while in 1917 she disposed of IS, 73O
fat porkers, an increase of 1924 per cent. For
the most part, the Southern hogs are developed
inexpensively, on such forage crops as soy beans,
peanuts, cowpeas, chufas, potatoes. native grasses
and clover, while corn is used as n finish feed to
firm, compact and bloom the flesh to the desir-
able market quality.
The hog supply has developed with the increase
in corn production. In 1909 North Carolina raised
34.0OO,0O0 bushels of corn, while in 1918 1t har
NtSttu otsDoD,OOO uohCi III idlNChth tDDbfOOO
hogs. Georgia produced approximately 29,475. 900
bushels more corn in 1918 than in 1909, and dur
ing 1913 handled 2,507, 900 hogs. Similarly In. the
case of the other Southern states, increased yields
of corn and pork have been Intimately related,
while the exigencies of wartime production have
speeded up the farmers and, largely in accord
with high market values. have expedited pork
manufacture. Similarly, as a result of greater
hay production, more cattle have been kept in the
South. In 1914 Mississippi marketed only SO. 229
for cattlp while in 1919 II Skinned 1E6 DIT anT-
mails to the st. Louis market. an increase of ISL
per cent. During 1915 Mississippi farmers sold
$3.50 head of sheep in st. Louis, while In 1917
they shipped 1897 sheep to the same market, an
increase of 232 per cent.
Reports show 1,470.40S women actively engaged
in regular and emergency war work in the South
ern states during 1917, while 980.272 girls assisted
along similar lines a total of 2,606.213 women
and girls worked to help win the war by garden
ing, poultry production. canning and drying fruits,
vegetables and meats, butter making and cheese
making. Their achievements are partially pic
tured in 200. 100000 cans of fruits and vegetables
now awaiting consumption In Southern store
rooms and pantries. Impartial opinion states that
during the last II months the Southern states
have canned and preserved 500 per cent more
fruits and vegetables than In any similar period
in the last half century.
The 62.227 women enrolled in 3,s12 Southern
clubs recently have put up 34,993.677 cans of
vegetables and fruits worth over S7,O00.O0O. In
addition they have prepared over 2750 tons OF
dried fruits and vegetables. and brined. picked
and stored 500 additional tons Of vegetables. The
1906 Southern girls engaged in regular club
work raised and canned 8.882,000 cans of vege-
tables worth S1,5oo,00O, as well as canning an adj
dItional 1861, 900 containers of fruits and vegeta-
bles which they did not raise themselves.
Boys club work has also developed on an amaz-
ing scale because of the persevering and con-
s~cientious work Of the county agents. During 1917