6 BULLETIN (18, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



crop. To some this may appear to be a wasteful practice. Under 

 good management, however, it is a very satisfactory and economical 

 method of utilizing limited areas of these crops. 



ADVANTAGES IN HOGGING OFF CROPS. 



Some of the advantages in hogging off crops are (1) the cost of 

 harvesting and marketing the crop is saved, (2) the labor of caring 

 for hogs is greatly reduced, (3) the vegetable matter in the soil is 

 increased, (4) the droppings of the animals are distributed quite 

 evenly, and (5) the hogs are given exercise. It costs from 15 to 25 

 cents per bushel to harvest and market wheat in the greater part of 

 the wheat belt of the Pacific Northwest, the cost varying with, the 

 yield, the method of harvesting and thrashing, and the distance the 

 wbeat is hauled to market. In some of the more arid wheat-growing 

 districts of both Oregon and Washington the yield of wheat is fre- 

 quently as low as 6 to 8 bushels per acre. The cost of harvesting and 

 marketing such crops runs from 35 to 40 cents per bushel. The cost 

 of harvesting and marketing barley is approximately the same as 

 that of wheat. When the hogs are so managed that the crop is 

 thoroughly cleaned up, hogging off the crop practically saves the cost 

 of harvesting and marketing. In the case of Hght-yielding crops this 

 saving is considerable. 



Most of the crops that are suitable for hogging oE are utilized 

 during the busiest season of the year, i. e., at a time when it is very 

 desirable that the hogs require as little attention as possible. If 

 turned into a mature field of wheat, peas, or corn and provided with 

 water, shade, and salt, the hogs require very little other attention. 



Most of the arable lands of the Pacific Northwest would be mate- 

 rially benefited by the addition of more organic matter. When the 

 crop is hogged off, the straw, pea vines, or cornstalks, as the case may 

 be, are left on the ground. By cutting this material thoroughly in 

 the fall of the year with a sharp disk harrow and plowing it under, the 

 soil is enriched in vegetable matter. This, in turn, greatly reduces 

 the tendency of the soil to wash. The washing of soil due to the 

 burning of straw and consequent lack of humus is well shown in 

 figure 3. 



In hogging off the crop, the droppings of the animals are scattered 

 quite evenly over the field. 



USUAL GRAIN CROPS HOGGED OFF. 



The Pacific Northwest is peculiarly adapted to the hogging off of 

 crops. The wet season occurs during the winter months and the 

 dry season during the summer. This gives a long period in which 

 crops may be used in this way. Th(> principal crops that are suitable 

 for hogging down are wheat, field peas, corn, and barley. 



