A MANUAL ON THE HOG. 63 



the concentrated food usually fed to them. Greasy slops 

 are peculiarly beneficial to hogs, and should be given to 

 them whenever accessible. If the incidental supply is 

 insufficient, a few cracklings, boiled with meal and vegeta- 

 bles, will make an excellent slop, and cost but little. Dr. 

 Hape, of Fulton county, has tested this, with very satis- 

 factory effects. When first turned into the field, planted as 

 above suggested, they should be allowed to remain only an 

 hour at a time, for the first few days, and the time gradu- 

 ally lengthened, until they become accustomed to such 

 abundance, when they may be permitted to feed at will. 



Hogs may have rings put into their noses, to prevent 

 rooting while running on clover qr rye pastures, but they 

 should be used*only when on such pastures. The Georgia 

 farmer will generally have little need of rings. 



If the system of having two litters a year, one in March, 

 and the other in September, is adopted, it will be necessa- 

 ry to winter only half the stock, and none, except the 

 brood sows, need be kept through more than one winter. 

 Tne September litter should be ready for the knife the 

 first cold spell, and the May litter reserved for a second 

 killing. There is economy in making two killings, in or- 

 der to utilize the scraps without waste. 

 BUTCHERING. 



There is usually suitable weather for killing pork about 

 the latter part of November, or first of December, which 

 is about the time which best suits the convenience of the 

 planter. His crops are then all gathered in, and if proper 

 attention has been given his porkers, they will then be 

 ready for the knife. Farmers should see to it that their 

 hogs are ready to be butchered the first suitable spell 

 that comes in the fall, so that they may not only avail 

 themselves of the best season for fattening, but of the cool 

 months for smoking. 



A very low temperature is not desirable, but it should 

 be cold enough to freeze at night, with good prospect for 

 a continuance of fair weather for several days. 



