THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART XI. 649 



they weigh about 60 pounds. In this way the pig himself gathers the most 

 valuable part of the ration, viz., the protein part, and at the same time 

 fertility left where most needed, which in most cases is worth the rent of 

 the land thus used. 



Now, to balance in winter we have found sorghum very economical 

 and last winter, a year ago, had 27 brood sows which we fed in this way, 

 and as sorghum is wider or richer in carbohydrates, we then looked for 

 some feed narrow or rich in protein, so we took gluten meal, which 1 be- 

 lieve for most purposes to be most satisfactory. This we used, giving 2 

 pounds each per day with one-half bundle sorghum, and they came through 

 in good shape having good success with each one of them and saved 150 

 fine pigs, although they came in March. 



This winter we wintered 40 in the same way and first one so far far- 

 rowed yesterday, giving us 15 fine strong pigs. We have four fields about 

 four acres each on which we pasture the hogs, one a clover pasture which 

 we do not wish to plow at all, but can from this open into each of the 

 others at will. We now have two of these in rye, which we expect to 

 pasture until June 1st, when will plow and drill in 6 pounds of Dwarf 

 Essex rape to the acre and cultivate same as corn. We had double rows 

 7 inches apart. This will be ready to pasture m about five weeks and when 

 we take the hogs off the rye we turn them on the third field which we sowed 

 to rape, peas and oats as early in spring as we could, and turned on to when 

 5 inches high, then sow again the last of August. It is well to keep them 

 off the rape in wet weather. 



It is well to note with this system of pasture that the candidate for 

 the packing house is enabled to spend a large part of his short life in the 

 open air and gather at will from one-third to one-half of his sustenance 

 which makes a balanced ration and under such conditions our Canadian 

 friends believe we will lose all opportunity to learn anything by experience 

 at least of the ravages of the so-called hog cholera. 



THE HOG. 



W. W. Burns, before the Iowa County Farmers' Institute. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The subject assigned to me is 

 one of much importance to every farmer. There are a great many possi- 

 bilities and many probabilities in the hog business today. 



The hog is the poor man's friend. He is often and justly called the 

 mortgage lifter. He is at first small and weak as compared with many 

 other domestic animals. They will increase or decrease faster than the 

 larger domestic animals. The hog with careful attention and care Is the 

 renter's rent payer — is the debtor's debt payer — the mortgagor's mortgage 

 lifter — the farmer's true and valued friend and the up-to-date breeder's 

 delight. He will respond quickly to good care, will make money quickly 

 and fast if of the proper type and given the proper care. 

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