PIG FARMING UNDER MODERN CONDITIONS.

Shannon News, 4 September 1925, Page 3

PIG FARMING UNDER MODERN CONDITIONS.

"In our methods of pig-farming in this country \ve are getting too far away from nature," said Mr Fred Discombe, the well-known pig breeder from the Cambridge district, to an Auckland Star reporter, when discussing tiie subject recently. "The pig was never meant to be led on slop," he continued. "The snout was given for a purpose and the pig is never happier, arid certainly never healthier, than when digging-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 a remarkable way. We are holding 500 pigs, at Lucerndale, at present, most erf which are pedigree. We have nine acres and this area will be increased to fifteen this winter. There have been failures with tins 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 resist 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." Mr Discombe went on to say that his artichoke crop was replanted every other year, replanting being done with seed from the heaviest yielding part of the previous season's crop. He gave •an interesting piece of information concerning what artichokes could do to produce pork. At the Hawkesburv College, New South Wales, one acre produced, in six weeks, 3276 pounds of pork, which, at sixpence per lb., worked out at approximately £BO. Mr Discombe assured the Star reporter that similar results had been obtained here.

"During the summer months," said Mr Discombe, "when there is a plen- I tiful supply of whey, of skim milk, and good pasture, 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 in the winter when the rooting is much softer. This crop can be planted from now on and and it requires similar treatment to potatoes, The rows are planted three feet apart and 18 inches between tubers. The best results • have been obtained at Lucerndale with the use of bonedust and basic-superphosphate, equal parts at the rate of scwt. 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 cwt. of seed will usually plant an acre." Ih conclusion Mr Discombe said: f 'l have gone more fully into the growing of this crop because it is so little known in this country. I have grown it for six years and each year the area has been increased."