1908. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
866 
HOGS IN AN APPLE ORCHARD. 
We once knew a pugnacious but 
harmless little fellow who could carry 
an argument up to a fusing point, where 
the warmth of the feeling was so real 
and great that a general clearing for 
action seemed to be in. order. Then of 
a sudden the superior proportions of 
his opponent would dawn upon him, and 
down would go the little fellow’s hat 
on the ground and after jumping on it 
with both feet he would find relief for 
his feelings by contemplating his loss. 
This nearly illustrates our feelings, we 
being the little fellow, in taking excep¬ 
tion to the statement of a certain per¬ 
son, unknown to us, who wrote, “We 
are well satisfied with hogs in an or¬ 
chard where there is plenty of water. 
They tear up the ground, destroy grubs 
and leave the soil in a fair condition for 
seeding to clover and rye in the Fall.” 
When I read these lines about hogs 
in an orchard I felt like going in the 
front room, getting our new Spring hat 
and crushing it. I believe that a hog 
is just as poisonous to an apple tree 
as poison-ivy is to a man. I would just 
as soon have the poison-ivy running up 
the side of my bedroom and a few rattle¬ 
snakes under the bed for good measure 
as to have hogs running in an orchard 
under the conditions mentioned. That 
the hogs will tear up the ground and 
destroy grubs there is no doubt. Neither 
is there any doubt in my mind that they 
will destroy all the roots which they can 
reach. I have seen them biting at sticks 
and stones, and even carrying old iron 
around in their mouths, and who is 
there who will believe them capable of 
resisting the temptation to try their teeth 
on any green root which happens to 
come in contact with their nose? .Some 
are not even content until they have 
formed the habit of barking the bodies 
of trees as well. I am aware that an 
orchard can survive this rooting and 
barking for one season, but I claim 
that the trees are damaged nevertheless. 
I have in mind an orchard that has been 
subject to this process for several 
seasons, and has been gradually pass¬ 
ing into decline. Time and again have 
I seen trees around the feeding trough 
die. If anyone is skeptical on this 
point let him fence a few trees into the 
feed lot and then watch them die a lep¬ 
rous death. 
The filthiest and most offensive part 
of this hog in the orchard business, and 
the one which we believe plays an im¬ 
portant part in the destruction of the 
trees I have yet to mention, namely, 
with or without running water in an 
orchard, and even when there are 
rings in the hogs’ noses, even on the 
highest ground we will find mudholes. 
During a rain some little water will 
collect in a slight depression, the hogs 
will start rolling in it, and working it 
out larger, until it is of sufficient size 
to hold water enough to last till the 
next rain fills it again. These wallows, 
containing at first water and earth, be¬ 
come impregnated with excrement, and 
when decomposed in the sun become 
offensive to man and all animals except¬ 
ing the hogs, which persist in taking a 
daily bath in it and then rubbing the 
filth off their own bodies on to that of 
the trees. Let some of this mud dry on 
the back of your hand and then guess 
whether or not it is good for the sensi¬ 
tive bark of a tree. I would as soon 
have the poison-ivy rubbed all the way 
round the body as to have our favorite 
tree surrounded with a band of this 
composition. We might tolerate the 
hogs in the orchard for a short time in 
the Fall to pick up the early drops, and 
even then we would give them a close 
watching. It is my firm belief that God 
never intended these filthy creatures 
should be harbored under trees bearing 
this universal and favorite fruit. 
READER. 
R. N.-Y.—We do not know what 
breed of hogs these were, or where 
they got their training. Certainly our 
Cheshire's do not act like that. We have 
an orchard in which hogs have run for 
the past five Summers. It is not dead 
but in fine condition. The proportion 
of wormy apples has steadily declined 
since the hogs ran there. They tear 
the ground but have not injured the 
trees, which are old ones. A little brook 
runs through this orchard. There has 
been no trouble thus far from hog 
wallows. Formerly we had some 
trouble from the hogs gnawing the 
younger trees, but this has been avoided 
since we have kept wood ashes and bone 
meal before the hogs. We keep the 
hogs well fed on grain. A hungry hog 
will do far more mischief than one that 
is well fed. Having kept several dif¬ 
ferent breeds we know that some are 
far quieter than others. 
Experience from Iowa. 
We find hogs in the orchard a benefit, 
especially shotes and during the shote 
period. But sleeping places, feeding lots 
and pens are apart from it, and hogs 
are allowed only to make a run of 
the orchards. If hogs damage trees it 
is because of improper feed. This is a 
hog and corn and cattle section, and the 
ration hogs get is the best and properly 
balanced, and with side dishes, as they 
graze only, and gather vermin and 
wormy and cull apples. If they start at 
it with dams when pigs they take up 
all waste apples clean. The manure is 
distributed, and with clover and hog 
waste supplemented with regular barn¬ 
yard manure our orchard soil gets best 
of feed- I do not advise turning a large 
number of hogs in a small orchard; this 
will not do, as they soon by excessive 
tramping harden soil and eat it bare, 
and leave a bare solid surface that runs 
off * water and is a damage where 
seasonal conditions are on the dry side, 
as in this part of the West. Shotes to 
be a success must be fed heavily, full 
feed of slop twice a day, two to one 
shorts and oil meal, with all the soaked 
corn they will clean up, with side dishes 
of wood ashes and salt, and be dipped 
every two weeks in coal-tar dips. That 
is a very important factor to keep them 
clean from vermin, mange and in 
healthy growth and to prevent them 
from excessive rubbing. 
Iowa. W. M. BOMBERGER. 
STONE OR WOOD FOR BARN? 
I want to build a barn 40x60, and as 
I have plenty of stones and gravel that does 
not sell very well I thought perhaps I 
could build with these materials cheaper 
than of lumber. I have plenty of standing 
timber, but must draw it three miles to 
saw mill and return ; timber salable. Port¬ 
land cement $1.60 per barrel f. o. b. here at 
station. Common labor $1.50 per day. One 
good mason to keep us plumb and level 
would be all skilled labor needed. I have 
a pair of growing steers to help do the 
heavy work, also two horses. Which would 
be cheaper? Can we get structural steel to 
use instead of wood timbers? 
Massachusetts. M. A. E. 
THE OUTLOOK FOR HOGS. 
We know from our own experience and 
from the experience of farmers about us, 
that there is more money in hogs than 
any other live stock raised on the farm; 
however they must be the right kind and 
stuck to through “thick and thin.” By 
that we mean always to have a good stock 
on hand, not to increase or diminish the 
herd as the market rises or falls. We 
could mention many instances where hogs 
have been the mainstay of the farmer, but 
one in particular in our neighborhood of a 
man who 15 years ago had practically 
nothing but lots of faith in hogs and a 
goodly amount of horse sense. He saw the 
difference in breeds of a swine, and selected 
the right kind, the kind that puts on more 
weight for the amount of feed consumed 
than any other. This man to-day owns 
two good farms, has money in bank and 
a good lot of hogs ready to unload on the 
present rising market. Owing to the 
slaughter of breeding stock during the last 
year, the cause of which is well known to 
everyone, we look for good pork prices for 
months to come. In regard to our own 
business we have no reason to complain of 
the past year, and the outlook for the 
sale of breeding stock this coming season is 
very good. The large number of inquiries 
we get is a good indication of the interest 
being taken in the purebred stock. The 
wise farmer sees the advantage of it, and 
when he stacks up again he will have the 
best if he can possibly afford it. 
rEXX. BERKSHIRE CO. 
What’s the use of a roof you have to keep 
tinkering ? 
Genasco 
Ready Roofing 
puts an end to your roof troubles. 
It is made of Trinidad Lake Asphalt, the natural water- 
proofer. It gives you absolute weather-protection years 
after ordinary roofing has “ passed away.” Guaranteed 
in writing, and backed by a thirty-two-million-dollar 
organization. 
Ask your dealer for Genasco; and don’t be humbugged with a 
“just as good’’ kind. Mineral or smooth surface. Look for the 
hemisphere trade-mark. Write us for Book 10 and samples. 
THE BARBER ASPHALT 
PAVING COMPANY 
Largest producers of asphalt, and largest 
manufacturers of ready roofing in the world. 
PHILADELPHIA 
New York San Francisco Chicago 
A FEW REASONS WHY 
ERGO P0RT0RIC0 MOLASSES 
DESERVES YOUR CONSIDERATION 
It Will Reduce Your Feed Bill At Least 25%. 
It Will Put Your Stock in the Best Possible Condition. 
It Will Increase the Milk Yield. 
It Abolishes Colic and Improves the Digestion. 
Produces a Shiny Coat and Gives Vigor and Strength to the Animals. 
“ERCO” is high testing pure, unadulterated molasses and when 
mixed with grain and by-products of the fapn makes a perfect ration. 
1 housands now use it with marked success. Make your own molasses 
feed, save the manufacturers expense and know what you are feeding. 
Write for booklet giving full information. 
THE AMERICAN MOLASSES COMPANY OF NEW YORK, 
111 WALL STREET, NEW YORK. 
The 1908 Improved 
u. s. 
CREAM 
SEPARATOR 
Meets every emer¬ 
gency in the Dairy 
It has a solid, low frame; waist low 
supply can without the back breaking low 
I crank; simple yet thoroughly efficient bowl, 
holding World’s Record for cleanest 
skimmingis thoroughly lubricated, as 
gears run in a pool of oil, and has ball 
bearings at high speed points, making it the 
easiest running separator made. 
Do not delay longer in the purchase of a 
separator and buy no other until you have 
seen our catalogue No. 69, to any 
address on receipt of a postal. 
Vermont Farm Machine Co., Bellows Falls, Vt 
602 
Prompt deliveries from 16 distributing 
warehouses in the U. S. and Canada 
jYgsoF 
BINE 
will reduce inflamed, swollen Joints, 
Bruises, Soft Bunches. Cure Boils, Fis¬ 
tula or any unhealthy sore quickly: 
pleasant to use; does not blister 
under bandnge or remove the hair, 
and you can work the horso. $2 per 
bottle at dealers or delivered. 
Horse Book 7 D free. 
AbSORCINE, JR , for mankind, 
$1.00 per bottle. Reduces Varicose 
i- 1 Veins, Varicocele, Hydrocele. 
fejt Goitre. Wens, Strains, Bruises, 
stops Pain and inflammation. 
YOUNG, P.O.F., 88 Monmouth St„ Springfield, Mass. 
Death the Stomach 
Worms Guaranteed 
Via will sent! you 100 lbs. of DR. 
HOLLAND’S MFDJGATKD STOCK 
SALT on 60 daya’ trial freight 
prepaid. If you derive no benefit, 
It costs you nothing; if you do, it 
8 you $5.00. Give us your or¬ 
der at once. 
The HOLLAND STOCK REMEDY 
COMPANY, Wellington, Ohio 
WARRINER’S H ^ G STANCHION 
I. B. Calvin, Vice-Pres¬ 
ident, State Dairy Asso¬ 
ciation, Kewanno, Ind., 
says; 
“I think them 
PERFECT.” 
Send for BOOKLET. 
W. B. CRUMB, 
73 Main Street. 
Forestville, Conn. 
CHAIN HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION 
The Most Practical 
CATTLE FASTENER 
ever invented. 
Manufactured and for 
sale by 
O. H. ltOBERTSON, 
Forestyille, Conu. 
ALFALFA MEAL 
Do you know that a cow will produce at least 
25% more milk when fed ALFALFA MEAL 
than when fed bran ? SHE WILL. 
Let us sent! you our circular on Alfalfa Meal. 
ALFALFA MEAL COSTS NO MORE THAN BRAN. 
AMERICAN ALFALFA MILLING CO., 
612 New England Building, Kansas City, Mo. 
Meal, coarse or tine, for Poultry. 
Balanced Rations for Horses and Milk Cows. 
Write for Alfalfa literature aud quotations. 
F. A. LAWRENCE, 
1 liroadwny ... New York. 
TRYON STANCHIONS 
SIMPLE, DURABLE AND SAFE. 
A trial order will convince yon that 
we have a stanchion that combines 
the good qualities of all other makes, 
without the objectionable features 
of any of them. 
Write for booklet. 
TRYON SPECIALTY CO., 
Le lloy - • New York. 
OODWARD’S WATERING BASI 
A STABLE necessity, see what others say of it. 
Irculan Free. i. 8. WOODW ARD A SON, LOCK PORT. N.Y 
3^2 to 200H.R Saw Mill. Out fits. 
Steam.Gasolineor Water Power ‘ 
Planers. Shingle Mills,*Corn Mills. I 
ZiroX. DtL0ACHM,LLhANUr f CT URlNGCo SLNorcm 
Bridgeport, Ala. 
WAGON SENSE 
Don’t break yourback and kill your 
horses with a high wheel wagon. 
For comfort’s sake get an 
Electric Handy Wagen. 
It will save you time and money. A 
set of Electric Steel Wheels will 
make your old wagon new at small 
cost. Write for catalogue. Itlsfree. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO.. Bol SO. QulttE. 10. 
A HENDRICKS HAY 
for $175 
D. B. Hendricks & Co.. 
Orr N o. 0 U pright Press 
for only §175 is the 
greatest bargain in Hay 
Presses ever offered. It 
will earn its cost in one 
season. I f not as repre¬ 
sented money refunded. 
Send for free catalog. 
Cornell St., Kingston, N.Y. 
* M«ke “farmers’ Favorite” 
Money 
with a 
Feed Cooker and Boiler 
by feeding cooked feed to your 
horses, cows, hogs, and poultry. 
Kconomical, well made, inexpen¬ 
sive. Handy for boiling sap, 
heating watei, rendering lard, 
canniug fruit, etc Needed in 
every feed room on every farm. 
Illustrated circular free. 
LEWIS MFG. CO., Box C, Cortland, N. Y. 
