THE PIG : TO RAISE AND USE HIM. 207 



they have done their work satisfactorily, the pen can be 

 moved onward and onward, as required. The advantages 

 of this method are that it fertilises the land for grass or 

 crops, destroys weeds and insects, and mixes and fertilises 

 the surface of the soil about as well as it can be done. 

 Even ferns and small brush are effectively destroyed. 

 Worms and caterpillars are available food for the pig, and 

 it is not the least of the benefits t at small stones, if they 

 are in the soil, are brought to the surface, where they 

 can be seen and removed. The keeping of pigs gives 

 opportunity for disposal of produce in times of nlenty, 

 when it does not pay to send maize or wheat to market. 

 It is advantageous at such times to turn the grain into 

 pork or bacon. Many of the farm products which otherwise 

 might not pay may be utilized by having the pig among 

 the live-stock as part of the system of the Australian 

 agriculturist. 



The Pig a Factory. Provide him with a good feed and 

 he makes good bacon ; but if stinted, no matter how 

 perfect his breed, his form, and fattening qualities, he 

 cannot make flesh. A badly-fed sow cannot have vigorous 

 healthy pigs of good size, with a tendency to grow rapidly 

 and mature early. Thrifty pigs should weigh at four 

 months 701b. to 801b. During two months of that time 

 the pigs get most of their living from the sow, and during 

 the next month they eat far less food than older pigs. On 

 most farms a suitable patch can be laid out where sorghum, 

 pumpkins, sugar beets, chicory, carrots, or mangold- 

 wurzel will grow. These, with a little corn, make splendid 

 bacon-yielding material. 



Pigs on Grain Stubble. Possibly we do not in all cases 

 utilise the pigs as much as we might do by turning them into 

 the stubble to pick up the shelled grain, though, of course, it 

 is not always expedient to let them roam over stubbles. In 

 some cases want of suitable fences to restrain the pigs and 

 other reasons may prevent this practice being followed out, 

 but it could certainly be more generally pursued to good 

 advantage. Especially is this the case during a dry 

 season. In a wet time, when the stubble is lightly 

 ploughed soon after harvesting, the shelled grain would 



