PIG-RAISING IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 155, 26 March 1919, Page 10

PIG-RAISING IN AMERICA

. »AX AUSTRALIAN'S VIEW. ' While in America' (says tlie v "Argns") Mr. A. E. V. Richardson, Superintendent of Agriculture in Victoria, found that one of the greatest aids to the. teaching of agriculture in" the- elementary and high schools- were boys' and girls' clubs, which \wef.eL's6'!'popular' in the United Stales and Canada that over 300,000 members were enrolled in 191!).' By. these chite young persons profiled from farming by 'the practice of it iii competitive' grouos. under the. supervision '.of trained men. Attached to the clubs is the boys' pig club work, and Mr. Richardson con. eiders that the example set. by America could bo'followed with advantage in Australia. .....The boys are interested in swine' .production, including the improved methods of raising arid fattening hogs, the value of. forage, crops, and the home-cur-ing of me'ats. • The'pig club work is carried on in co-operation with the State agricultural colleges, each contributing towards the expense. The clubs are divided into counties. : The boy members are required to secure a pig and breed and care for it according to directions, keeping complete records of the amount of feed: consumed, the gains in weight, cost of the gain per lb., and breeding.re-i cords. "At the end of the year the members are required to send reports to the State Pig Club agent. ' The co-operation of school teachers, bankers, merchants, ■ni others who may aid in the work is solicited, and' the success usually is. in prc-portion to the amount of assistance received . from these sources. Pig club work means, much more than raising a few hogs, making money, and winning a feiv prizes. The educational feature is largely responsible . for tho position which it occupies with the boys. In addition, the educational value to the parents is so great that many farmers have changed their methods of handling hogs after seeing tho results of their sons' work as members of the dub. Mr. Richardson expresses the opinion that the extension of the pig industry could be greatly assisted by the more extensive use of pastures for grazing purposes, the more liberal use of Cape barley a? a supplementary grain feed, and by utilising the labour-saving "self-feedets' in association with tho pastures.