36 A MANUAL ON THE HOG. 



The first question to be considered in the discussion of 

 this subject is : 



WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS IN 



RAISING HOGS? 



I 



1st. Suitable Climate. It has been shown already that 

 Georgia is in the isothermal belt which passes through the 

 natural habitat of the hog ; and that previous to, and du- 

 ring, the late war, an abundant supply for home consump- 

 tion was raised in this State. It was not only raised, but 

 cured and preserved on the farm through the year without 

 difficulty. Hams, unsurpassed in quality, that were two 

 years old, raised and cured in Georgia, were of no uncom- 

 mon occurrence. As far as climate is concerned, then, 

 there is no difficulty either in raising, curing, or keeping 

 bacon. 



Id. Soil adapted to the production of suitable cheap food 

 for their consumption. Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennes- 

 see and Kentucky are the largest producers of pork, ac- 

 cording to the last census. 



Clover and Indian corn are almost exclusively relied 

 upon for the support and fattening of hogs in these States, 

 aided only by the gleanings of small grain harvest fields. 

 We have in Georgia all of these resources, besides a num- 

 ber ot other cheaper crops which furnish excellent food, 

 which the hogs gather from the fields. The sweet potato, 

 field pea, ground pea, chufa, etc., produce large crops per 

 acre, at vWy sniall cost. A variety of fruits, also, such as 

 plurps, blackberries and mulberries, which grow sponta- 

 neously, besides the peach and apple, are valuable aux- 

 iliaries. A very small quantity of corn is ^needed during 

 the growth of the hog, and, while fattening, only enough 

 just before butchering to harden the flesh. 



3d. Security from Theft,- There has-been much complaint 

 of theft during the last ten years, but there is less now than 

 formerly, due perhaps to a combination of causes, embrac- 

 ing a closer attention on the part of the farmer to his stock, 



