20 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



[Chap. I. 



"Glenn's Falls, N. Y., Oct. 23, 18J8. 



"Sik: You tliink it iiiiijortant that fanners sliould know liow imich pork a 

 barrel of corn will make. It is an important question, and I am sorry to say 

 I think there are ten lawyers and mechanics to one farmer that can answer 

 the question correctly. I once made a very accurate experiment in JS'ew 

 York ; the first day of September I weighed into the pen two hogs, a year 

 and a half old, and three pigs, si.x months old. I measured old corn 

 accurately, and had it ground. At night I wet with boiling water (to a 

 consistency that would run freely) meal sufficient for the next day's feed. 

 The hogs had no slops from the house — nothing but the meal and water. I 

 killed them the iirst of December, deducted live cents per pound for what 

 they weighed the firet of September, and found, at six cents per pound for 

 the pork, they had paid ninety-eight cents jicr bushel for the corn, which 

 would give about sixteen and one third jjounds of pork to the bushel. One 

 year since I fatted fifteen old liogs and thirty-five pigs on India wheat and 

 potatoes. I measured the feed accurately, steamed the potatoes, and mixed 

 the meal in while hot, twelve hours before feeding. At live cents per pound 

 for the pork, they paid forty-two cents per bushel for the India wheat, and 

 fifteen cents for the potatoes. Of course the relative value of the wheat and 

 potatoes is guessed at in that experiment. I " worked" the hogs in the 

 manure business, carting in muck, weeds, etc. I got 15 cords of manure 

 although less pork — I suppose for the working the hogs. I would like nmch 

 to know if any one (esi)eci':x!ly in the Western States) has made the cxpci-i- 

 ment of turning hogs into the corn-field, with free access to water, and let 

 them lielp themselves. 



" If any other class of business men knew as few facts in regard to their 

 business as farmers do, they would all fail every year. New Maesh." 



A. G. Perry, of Newark (State not named), weighed a thrifty pig, five 

 months old, 150 lbs., and then fed it 50 lbs. cornmcal, mixed with hot water, 

 thin enough to answer for victuals and drink. This was eaten in six and 

 a half days, and the gain was 18 lbs. 



A correspondent writes from North Chatliam, Columbia Co., N. Y. : 

 ''The 2-4rth of August I put uj) a sow to fatten — a large proportion Suffolk 

 — her weight, 235 lbs. Price on foot, 4 cents i)cr pound. For food from 

 August 24th to October 4th, gave her 309 lbs. rye bran. Rye bran is worth 

 here $1 12i per 100 lbs. October 4th her weight was 205 lbs., making GO 

 lbs. increase from the bran. From October 4th until November 17th I fed 

 her 10 bushels, by weight 560 lbs., of marketable corn. Killed her Nov. 

 17th. Iler live weight, just beibre killing, M-as 413 lbs. Increase from the 

 10 bushels com (or 5G0 lbs.), being 118 lbs. pork— it taking a fraction more 

 than 4:^ lbs. cnm for 1 lb. pork — and is a fraction less than 12 lbs. pork from 

 1 bushel of corn, making the increase per day a little less than 22 lbs. The 

 present price of corn here is 70 cents per bushel, and the pork 7 cents 

 per pound, being barely a paying business." 



