134 



FARM CROPS 



Just as easy to prepare land for a subsequent crop 

 after a corn crop has been taken by hogs as when 

 corn was removed in the ordinary way. Nor have 

 I found that hogs waste a bit more grain by hog- 

 ging off than there is lost by ordinary husking. 

 Hogs pick just about as clean as buskers. 



The labor item is not inconsiderable, either. A 

 five to ten-acre field of good corn will carry 50 to 75 

 hogs from the shote to the finished period. Of 

 course, the nature of the corn — whether the crop is 

 heavy or light — will govern the number of hogs 

 that can be fed in this way, but you can be certain 

 that the total quantity of pork produced from a 

 given acreage when hogged off will be greater than 

 when husked ears or snapped corn is fed in pens. 



Young hogs, weighing 80 to 125 pounds, are best 

 to use in the green cornfield. At this age they are 

 mature enough to do their best ; they possess good 

 frames and carry enough flesh to fatten in a few 

 weeks and at the same time be just ready for mar- 

 ket. Of course, brood sows will make good use of 

 green corn also. When thin from suckling or for 

 any cause unthrifty, they will quickly flesh up and 

 improve and be ready for market in from 30 to 

 50 days. 



While corn may be hogged off at any period, it is 

 best to let it mature somewhat. Then you get all 

 there is in the crop. If the ordinary summer pas- 

 ture is short, give some additional feed like shorts 

 and middlings in slop to tide along until the corn is 

 fairly well developed. When it has passed the milk 

 stage, and is somewhat dented, turn in; the hogs 

 will do the rest. 



Movable fences are to be desired that the hogs 

 may be kept from running over the entire field. 



