An Important Industry.

Manawatu Herald, 4 March 1899, Page 2

An Important Industry.

The. Standard says:— We would again draw attention to an industry that is too much negleoted by farmers M

in this district. We refer to the breeding and fattening of pigs. Two successive dry seasons in Canterbury have resulted in pig stock there being •bort of requirements and there are four Christchurch buyers of store md fat pigs now in the North Island. Such a demand as this, added to that if the factories we have in Wellington and elsewhere, should induce farmers and dairymen to nuke the iiohd of their opportunities. Pigaining is the proper adjunot to but v er making. The best authorities iave agreed that one of the finest naterialß for feeding pigs is skim nilk. mixed with some such food*

tuff as barley, and that such nutri*

nnt produces better bacon than can >f ppcured by any other method.

Moreover, the raising of pigs will oikw ihe other industry pay better, ■'he skim milk from one cow pro* lucca 80a a year if used as pig food, vih pork at 8d per Ib— a handsoflHL profit ia itself. All butter-maki^

Should grasp their present opportunities by increasing their stock of pigs and by growing beans, peas, or barley every year to finish off the milkfed pigs so as to compete with Canterbury bacon. Unfortunately, up to the present many have regarded the production of pigs a3 a foim of drudpAry. r""-'ns little attached to it in the shape of reward. But with the spread of. the custom of close farmIng we look for a vast change in this respect. Considering the suitability of the climate, the richness of the laud, and the amount of dairying in this district, we tree no reason why ManaWAtU and West Coast bacon Bhouid not one day attain the reputaalready gained by " Prime Canterbury "" mutton.