62 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



will always pay to sell the second grade, but never the pick of 

 the flock or litter. 



With the general increase in consumption of pork, there-opens 

 before the man who grows his stock on roots, vegetables, forage 

 crops and home-grown grain, the opportunity for increased 

 profits because of the absolute freedom from taint of city swill. 

 Such meat becomes at once the sweetest, cleanest, healthiest of 

 all meat products and the fact of its quality once established will 

 insure a price above market quotations. 



From every standpoint this method of growing pork presents 

 positive attractions, and the limit is bounded only by the skill, 

 energy and attention of the owner. There is no reason why 

 Maine should not produce its own pork, hams, shoulders, salt 

 pork and breakfast bacon, as well as by-products, and stop this 

 enormous drain for the western-grown hog. By doing this 

 millions would be added to the annual income of our farmers, 

 and no man would be the loser. We have the pasture ground, 

 can readily grow the forage crops, and, out of the improved 

 manure piles resulting from the work of the hogs in winter, 

 without detracting from the supply for other crops, grow the 

 corn with which to fatten the yearly surplus. Commencing with 

 the rape, clover, barley and peas, on which the pigs can feed at 

 will, it may be found most profitable later on to allow them free 

 range on the pumpkins and com, thereby saving all labor of 

 harvesting. Western growers declare that the loss by tramp- 

 ling is comparatively small, but whether this practice be appli- 

 cable to Maine or not must be determined by experience. It 

 is so contrary to our accepted ideas of economy that only the 

 actual test can determine its cost or saving. One fact is cer- 

 tain — that but little or no loss was sustained in allowing the 

 herd to have free run over the rape, clover and barley, while 

 the amount of valuable food produced on an acre was surpris- 

 ing. As the barley which came first was eaten down the rape 

 came, and as this was devoured the clover was coming, so that, 

 when the pigs turned to this, the rape quickly threw out new 

 leaves, thus keeping the field green and inviting through the 

 season. The old idea that rutabagas are chiefly water and 

 therefore of little value may well give place to a better concep- 

 tion of their worth as a steady article of diet for anv animal ; 



