FARMERS' REGISTER, 



21 



it shall be going on successfully in did'erent sec- 

 tions oi" the union, we shall siili hear the prcilic- 

 tion oC iaiiure. " You may hold out for a short 

 peiiod, hut it will be deinoustrated in ihe end that 

 you cannot compete successfully wiih other na- 

 tions," and long after this, when all doubt as lo our 

 ability to produce and manuli^cture silk profitably 

 shall be removed, it will be said, "soon the mar- 

 kets of the world will be oversiocked, and the 

 price so low, that the business will be unprofi- 

 table." Layton Y. Atkiks. 

 Stafford county, Va., Nov. 1S39. 



FOOD FOR HOGS. JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES 

 AND GROUND PEAS. 



From the Mississippi Farmer. 



In the last Farmer, over the signature of 'An 

 Inquirer,' the altenlion of the public is dirrc(ed lo 

 some of the articles which may be raised as food 

 for hogs. This is one ot ihe most important 

 items m farming; and I would gladly see the ex- 

 perience of our olil planters on the subject, given 

 to the public. To be able to raise our slocks of 

 hogs in good order, without feeding on an article 

 costing so much labor as corn, is certainly a great 

 desideratum — yet one which I am persuaded could 

 be measureably attained, were the proper atten- 

 tion and pains given to the subject. It is merely 

 as /ti'nis, which I hope mayelicict moresaiislactory 

 communications, that I propose to give to the rea- 

 ders of the Farmer the remarks which follow. 



One of the cheapest articles which can be raised 

 as food for hogs, a little experience has proven to 

 me to be the common ground artichoke. This 

 sweet and nutritious root is so thrifty in our cli- 

 mate that it may be produced abundantly with no 

 other trouble than that of planting if. Indeed so 

 thrifty and hardy is it known to be, that I have 

 heard several farmers insist that it yielded better 

 without, than with cultivation. It may be propa- 

 gated either by the seed or the root, though by 

 the root most speedily and safely ; on examination 

 of one of the roots, it will be found covered with 

 germs, or 'eyes,' and from each, if planted sepa- 

 rately, there will spring a stalk. Hence one of 

 the roots may be cut into a great number of small 

 pieces for planting; and from the rind pared off by 

 the cook when the vegetable is used f^)r the table, 

 (where it is very fine) the plant will spring as well 

 as from the whole root. The manner of produ- 

 cing the artichoke which I would recommend — 

 although a very slovenly one — is, that the farmer 

 would plant with it in the spring the corners of 

 his fences and the waste spots through his fields. 

 By this means, with no further pains v.'haiever, 

 except (of course) to keep his fields closed, there 

 will be produced by the i'all, when he opens his 

 farm to his stocic, enough of these roofs to keep 

 his hogs in food through the winter. Nor would 

 there be a necessity for replanting in the succeed- 

 ing spring ; for though hogs are remarkably fond 

 of the artichoke, and will root to a considerable 

 depth for them, yet they seldom exterminate them 

 from a spot on which they have once taken hold ; 

 and the young plants often spring up on the suc- 

 ceeding sprins after all their depredations, thicker 

 than ever. The artichoke is so produciive that 

 nearly half a bushel of roots may sometimes be 

 gathered from a single stalk. 



Another excellent plant for hogs, and one easily 

 cultivated, is the pindar or ^gouber pea.'' The 

 yield of this pea is most aslonishin<r, being at the 

 rate of from six to eight hundred bushels to the 

 acre, if properly cultivaicd. A venerable and ex- 

 experienced planter oI'Madison county, Pvlnj. Vick, 

 as i Irave understood, has been lor a number of 

 years practising what cannot be an excellent sys- 

 'em in the cultivation of this plant. He plants it 

 wuh his corn, between the hills, and after the same 

 cultivation, leaves it untroubled to turn his hogs 

 upon in the fiill. The advantages which I con- 

 reive this pea to possess over any others, are these: 

 it is more productive ; it does not rot on the ground 

 (as the pea forms itself on a stem which runs 

 under the ground ;) and what is of jireat moment 

 to many ol us who have thin lands, the rooting of 

 the hogs ibr the pea turns under the grass and the 

 vines which make a fine manure ; besides which, 

 this roofing is almost as good as the fallowing so 

 much esteemed in the best farming sections ol the 

 world, and leaves the ground mellow and loose and 

 in a fine state for the succeeding crop, if Maj. 

 Vick will give to the public through the columns 

 of Ihe Farmer, the results of his experience, I 

 have no doubt the attention of many of our citi- 

 zens, would be beneficially directed to this plant. 



I have also heard the planting of slips of the 

 yam potato in the same manner (with corn) spo- 

 ken of; and it doubtless would produce many of 

 the same advantages, as it is known that few 

 trrowths are more manuring, on being turned in, 

 than potato vines. 



But from all accounts, I have no doubt by far 

 the most abundant and cheap food we could raise, 

 not only for hoirs but for almost every other kind 

 of stock would be the carrots. It is said to suit 

 best a light sandy soil, as do nearly all the esculent 

 roots, and would therefore do well in our country. 

 The yield has been known lo be upwards of eight 

 hundred bushels to the acre, and two hundred is 

 as lov.' as the most indifferent soil and cultivation 

 are said lo produce. In the 15th vol. of 'The Li- 

 brary of Entertaininnf and Useful Knowledge,' 

 published at Boston, there is a strong recommen- 

 mendation of this vegetable, from which I make 

 the following extract : 



"Besides their use as human food, carrots are in 

 some places ijrown largely Ibr the consumption of 

 stock, especially for horses. It is affirmed that 

 cattle, which have once tasted them, prefer them so 

 much to turnips as with difficulty to be made to re- 

 turn to the latter. The milk of cows fed on carrots 

 never acquires any unpleasant flavor, while at the 

 same time the quantity produced is increased. 

 Calves thrive admirably, and bullocks are speedily 

 fattened on this food. Carrots are equally beneficial 

 as nourishment for sheep, and are devoured 

 with avidity by swine. In the short space of 

 ten days a lean hog was fattened by these roots, 

 having consumed during that period 196 pounds. 

 Its fat proved very fine, white and firm, and did 

 not waste in the dressing. Horses receiving no 

 othersus'enance, perform their work as usual with- 

 out any diminution oftheir sleekness." 



As a demonstration cf the vast productiveness 

 and nutritive strength of the carrot, the fbllowjnfj 

 from the same article is also added : 



"At Parlinston in Yorkshire the stock of a farm, 

 consisting of 20 work horses, four bullocks, and 

 six milch cows, were fed, from the end of Scptem- 



