PIG-FARMING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18410, 17 June 1925, Page 13

PIG-FARMING.

UNDER MODERN METHODS. "lu our methods oi* pig-farming v.i this country wc are getting too far away from Nature," said Mr Fred. Diseombe, the well-known pig-breeder from ihe Cambridge district, to ;tu Auckland "Star" reporter, when dismissing the subject recently. "The pig was never meant to be fed on slop."' he continued. "The snout was given ' for ;> purpose and the pig is never happier, and eortahily never healthier, than when.diggiiig-in. The artichoke is the richest vegetable known, and will yield up to 40 tons to the acre. The pig'does its own feeding and enriches the soil in :; remarkable v.-.-iy. 'We are. holding 50l> pigs at Lucermlale at present, most of which are pedigree. Wc liavo nine acres, and this area will be increased to fifteen this whiter. There have been failures with this crop, and on* making investigations I found that the cause was due to inferior seed. There are several varieties on the market, and too much care cannot be taken in securing from a crop that is of the proven variety. Some do not Tesist drought or blight, and others, while they are not affected by these, do not- . yield the weight, per acre, nor is the feeding value the same." Air Diseombe went- on to say that his artichoke crop was replanted every btlior year, the replanting being done with seed from the heaviest yielding part of the previous year's crop. He gave an interesting piece of information concerning what artichokes could do to produce pork. At the Jlawkesbury College, New South Wales, one acre produced, in six weeks, 6'ilQ pounds of pork, which, at sixpence per lb, worked out at approximately £BO. Air Bis- | combe assumed the "Star" reporter that similar results had been obtained Itere. "During the summer months," said Mr Diseombe, "when there is a plentiful! supply of whey, or skim milk, and good pasturer- the pigs do very little rooting, and usually one ring will stop this. On the other hand, it will not prevent' them from doing .justice to the artichoke crop in the winter, when the rooting is much softer. This crop can be planted from now on, and it requires similar treatment to potatoes. The rows are planted 3 feet apart and IS inches between tubers. The best results have been obtained at Luccrndalc with the use of bonedust and basic-super-" phosphate, equal parts at tho rate of oewt per acre. After the first year no manure is required.' An occasional application of'ground burnt lime tends to sweeten the soil and corrects the acidity that- sometimes follows the heavy stocking with pigs. Six hundred- ' weight of seed will usually plant an ' acre." «> In conclusion, Mr'Diseombe said: "I have gone more fully into tho growing ! of this crop because it is so little known in this cou|ntry. I have.grown it for j six years, and each year tho area has'l been increased." j