62 A MANUAL ON THE HOG. 



two acres ; ground peas, one acre ; and sorghum, one acrej 

 making ten acres in all, which, with average seasons, will 

 fatten from seventy-five to one hundred hogs, turned in 

 about the middle of September, and have them fat before 

 cold weather commences ; so that a week on corn will pre- 

 pare them for the knife. Ten acres in these crops will 

 fatten more hogs, and leave them in better health, than 

 fifty acres of corn, and save the labor of gathering the 

 crop. 



There are several great advantages in this system : the 

 hogs have a varied diet of natural food, which will not only 

 fatten, but secure health ; they will be fattened before 

 cold weather ; they gather their own food without much 

 traveling ; they are in a small enclosure, where they are 

 not exposed to thieves ; and, after the fattening hogs have 

 gathered the bulk of the crop, the sows and pigs will sub- 

 sist some time oif the gleanings. 



If hogs are fed, they should have their meals at regular 

 hours, and no more than they will consume at one meal. 

 Frequent small meals are better than excessive ones at 

 long intervals. 



Hogs on the farm should not be allowed to consume 

 carcasses, or any refuse animal food. There is not only 

 danger of communicating disease, but of inducing the habit 

 of destroying fowls, and even their own young. 



The practice of " gorging " hogs on corn, when first put 

 into the fattening pen, with a view to causing less consump- 

 tion of food afterwards, is most pernicious. It is true that 

 such a course reduces the quantity of food consumed for 

 some days, but the saving of food is at the expense of the 

 health of the hog. By overloading the stomach, it becomes 

 sour, and, consequently, destroys the appetite. So far from 

 "gorging," when first put up to fatten, they should be fed 

 moderately, and the quantity gradually increased as they 

 become accustomed to concentrated food, and roots, hay, 

 ashes, charcoal, and salt, given to relieve the ill effects of 



