1>R0CEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 301 



quantity ground and fermented, 1*1^ pounds; the same ground, cooked and 

 fermented, 21 pounds. If the hogs run at large or in a small field, and are 

 allowed to root, about one-third more grain will be required to produce the 

 above result. As pigs less than four months old do not do well upon corn 

 alone, the above experiments were conducted upon older hogs, and their 

 weiglit or value at the commencement of the experiment taken out of their 

 weight at the time they were butchered. From the above facts the cost of 

 pork can be readily ascertained anywhere, and under almost all circumstances, 

 by knowing the value of the corn fed. The value of the manure should be 

 considered, as paying more or less toward taking care of them, which 

 value will vary considerably in diflerent localities, but it is quite valuable 

 even here in Kane county, Illinois." 



Mr, John G. Bergen — This is a valuable letter. Something will alwayg 

 be due to the comfort of the hog-, as to the gain he will make upon a given 

 quantity of feed. In fatting four hogs lately, I have found that they gained 

 faster upon corn meal than upon whole corn. This man makes them gain 

 more than twice as much upon cooked meal as upon whole corn. At first 

 view it would strike an inexperienced person as decidedly economical to 

 prepare the grain in this way, yet it would require very nice experiments, 

 varying with the circumstances of each person, to know which plan would 

 be the most economical. In Illinois, hogs are frequently turned into the 

 corn field, because it is not economical even to harvest the corn, much 

 less to shell and grind it. 



Mr. Geo. Bartlett. — The Massachusetts Stale Agricultural Society offered 

 a prize for the best conducted experiments in feeding pigs, and the report 

 <5f the trial upon which the prjze was awarded to some one in Springfield, 

 demonstrated that pigs gained in weight faster upon uncooked food than 

 upon cooked. 



Magnesian Lime Injurious. 



Mr, Hiram Walker, writing from Salem, Washington county, N. Y., says 

 that he found, upon a visit to Chester County, Pa., that' all the farmers used 

 lime with the most beneficial eifects. Upon stating to them that lime which 

 he bad used did not prove beneficial, he was told that it was because the 

 lime contained magnesia, and that they carefully avoided the use of such 

 lime, having it tested by a competent person, and if found to contain mag- 

 nesia, it was always rejected. If this is a fact, all farmers should know 

 it. Can the Club or any other person, give any information ? Mr. W. says: 

 " Some years ago, I sowed three bushels of winter wheat. The first bushel 

 I rolled in plaster, the second I sowed dry, and the third I rolled in lime. 

 It all winter-killed alike badly, leaving not more than one-third standing. 

 Now for the result. The plastered stcod its head above the dry; the dry 

 Stood its head above the limed. It all had an equally good berry." 



Mr. M. E. Thompson. — In New Jersey, there is a great deal of magnesian 

 Erne; I have seen good effects on some crops from its use. 



Mr. Solon Robinson said that if composted within highly fer- 

 mentable material, like horse or yard manure, it will first appro- 

 priate all of the elements of decomposition of such manures and 

 finally generate so high a degree of combustion as to dissipate a large 

 proportion of its most valuable properties. This is, in my view, 



