SOIL SURVEY OP PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA. 



13 



An active cow-testing association is maintained, in which the 

 average production per cow per year in 1915 was 7,366 pounds of milk, 

 containing 283 pounds of butter fat. These figures show an increase 

 over the results of the first year's work of the association and equal 

 the best records made by any such association in Indiana. Dairies 

 belonging to the Porter County association are located almost entirely 

 north and west of Valparaiso. Other dairy herds are found south- 

 west of Valparaiso, but few are located in the southeastern part of 

 the county. 



Porter County ranked fifth in the State with a total of 18,577 

 cattle of aU kinds in 1914. There are a few breeding herds of the 

 beef type, which, like the dairy herds, are headed by purebred bulls. 

 Feeders are obtained from these herds, from the steer calves of the 

 dairy herds, and from the feeder market in Chicago. The fattening 

 stock is grazed largely on marshy pasture lands and finished with 

 hay, ensilage, and corn. The 1910 census reports an expenditure of 

 $84,599 for feed on 809 farms in 1909, but it is probable that more 

 of this was used for stimulating milk production than for fattening 

 stock. 



The hog-raising industry is well distributed over the county, but 

 is most important where corn is plentiful and beef cattle are kept. 

 The hogs are a source of meat on the farms, and in some cases the 

 chief source of income. 



Several thousand sheep are handled each year in Porter County, 

 but relatively few of them are raised here. Feeders are brought in 

 to fatten on stubble land and other pastures. They are given little 

 additional grain feed and are returned to the Chicago market. 



Although a source of some income, poultry production usually is 

 only incidental to other farm operations. Most of the feed is gleaned 

 from the waste in grain fields and around the granaries. There are 

 very few poultry fanciers or egg producers in the county. 



There is an average of two teams of horses or mules of the ordinary 

 work type per farm in Porter County. 



The relative value of farm products, as reported in the 1910 census, 

 is given in the following table: -r. 



Value offarra products, arranged by classes. 



Cereals 



other grains and seeds 



Hay and forage 



Vegetables 



Fruits and nuts 



All other crops 



$1,491,867 

 1,523 

 473, 420 

 116,019 

 56,065 

 56, 361 



Live stock and products: 



Animals sold and slughtered 



Dairy products, excluding home 



use 



Poultry and eggs 



Wool, mohair, and goat hair 



Total value 



f 576, 935 



527,133 



190,196 



7,209 



13,496,728 



