60 A MANUAL ON THE HOG. 



Where the necessary attention is given, either by a re- 

 sponsible agent or the proprietor, there is generally very 

 little theft, and disease is diminished just in proportion as 

 the food supply and bedding of the hog is adapted to his 

 nature. As before remarked, our peculiar advantages of 

 soil and climate enable the Georgia farmer to supply the 

 natural food of the hog both in variety and abundance. 



As nearly all the hogs raised in Georgia are intended for 

 bacon, the subject will be discussed with this constantly in 

 view. Sows which do not bring two litters of pigs a year, 

 in our climate, should be rejected as breeders and con- 

 verted into bacon. If a regular system is adopted (and but 

 little will be accomplished without it), the best is to have 

 one litter come -in March, and the other in September. 

 The September pigs will have the run of the pea fields, and 

 potato, chufa, and ground-pea patches, and thus get a 

 good start off at very little expense, and go into winter 

 in fine, thrifty condition. The ground-peas and chufas will 

 afford some food until late in the winter. These with a 

 little corn, fed daily, and a run upon green oats and rye, to 

 which only the shoats should be admitted, as the sows 

 would be apt to injure the stand by rooting, will keep them 

 in a thrifty and healthy condition. In addition to these, 

 turnips or sweet potatoes and a few peas, or a little corn or 

 oatmeal, boilded and fed to them once a day, will carry 

 them through the winter with very little cost, and so vary 

 their diet as to insure health. A little salt and copperas 

 should be occasionally mixed with the slops, and, less often, 

 a small dose of flowers of sulphur. As spring advances, 

 the principal reliance must be the rye pasture, and more 

 corn will be needed. In no event should shoats be allowed 

 to become poor, but should be kept constantly in a healthy, 

 growing condition. 



The spring litters should be pushed forward as rapidly 

 as possible, to prepare them for the slaughter pen the 

 following winter. This is more profitable than to half 



