FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 1 February 1915, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

MONEY IN PIGS. HOUSING AND DISEASE. j The rearing of pigs was the subject of an interesting paper read by Mr F. Gamlin recently before the members of i the Otakeho branch of the Farmers'l 'Union. Pigs have the reputation of he- j ing dirty animals, said Mr Gamlin, but if properly housed and looked after, i are one of the most .profitable, as well ' as the most interesting, products of the ' farm, and it is surprising how few< farms have really well-equipped piggeries. It seems where flic pig is concerned "any old tiling will do." The extra profit -will soon repay tho small expenditure on a good, comfortable house. For general requirements, I consider that a building 30ft hy 7 feet, with a wide floor divided into four compartments, three for breeding sows, each Oft by 7ft, a rail placed about lOin out from the wall and the same distance above the floor, is necessary for preventing the sow overlaying her young. The remaining space, l*2ft by 7ft, 1 use for a fattening pen, each compartment having a .pen in front, for which a concrete floor with good fall is absolutely necessary. The concrete should be continued 2ft fiin round the outside, forming a path. In this district, where shingle is easily obtained, the outlay is not great. About three yards of shingle and cement costing £2, is all that is needed. A lean-to joined to above the floor kept dry and well-bedded, will servo as sufficient shelter for store pigs. I consider that 90 per cent of the disease in pigs is due fo "improper housing and feeding. Some ten years ago, Messrs Thomas Borthwick and Sons, of Waitara, obtained from us a; trial shipment of pork—9o pigs. They were slaughtered under veterinary inspection, and not one," or any part of one, was condemned, a fact which I attributed to the proper housing and feeding, particularly during the early months of life. j 'With reference to the breed, I pre- i for the Berkshire-Tamworth first cross. As a mother, I consider the Taimvorth; unequalled. They have goojjk litters, which mature quickly, and arc in great demand by bacon companies. During farrowing, especially in cold weather, I find it invigorates the young pigs considerably if placed in the warmth of a fire and fed frequently with warm, new milk for a few hours. '.The sow should be carefully bedded, and for the first few days fed only on soft digestible food. After the pigs are a few days olet, it is imperative that the sow is not kept enclosed. A board nailed across the bottom of the door,way will keep the young ones in, while ,the sow can wander to and fro at will. The young should be early encouraged to drink from a shallow trough such food as milk, pollard, or boile'd potatoes, but on no account give barley meal till about three months old. If well looked after, they should be ready to wean at six or seven weeks. I may say tliaT tllis spring I sold pigs ; eight weeks old for 21s Cd while at the same sale pigs seven weeks older (which, had Keen neglected) sold for 15s 63. Before and after the young pigs are weaned, the sow should be fed liberally until pregnant, to on&urc coming to profit quickly, as neglected feeding is the main cause of lengthy periods between litters. Pigs, if well-grown, should be ready for the fattening pen at from five to six months. For the final top-ping-off, meal well soaked siioulcl be given liberally. A good plan i 3 to have two barrels, using from one while the other is soaking. The trough should never be empty, and under normal conditions a pig should increase in weight a pound or more a day. To save pay-' * ing out for grain, I would suggest \vhon ! sowing down pasture to broadcast a bushel of barley per acre with the grass seed. We have sown several paddocks in this way, and have a splendid take of grass, besides cutting about forty! or fifty bushels of barley per acre. In 1 some parts to cart grain would Ira ground takes a considerable time. I'■ would suggest to farmers suffering from , ' this inconvenience to club together and ■ i instal a grinder. I have found one a t capital investment. Nothing is more ; objectionable than to see paddoelcs root- ; ed up by pigs, as is so often the case. 1 Wire such is as used for binding cheese | cases makes the best rings.

fIEOW MORE WHEAT. URGED IX VICTORIA. In. the Victorian Journal of Agriculture, for December, Mr A. 35. V. Richardson, M.A., B.Sc., brings forward weighty reasons to convince growers of the* advisability of their sowing an increased area in wheat during the , coming season, both from patriotic and financial considerations, lie points out that during every great war wheat has risen in price, and lias usually kept, lip for several years; that in most of the ivheat-growing countries of Kuroee. either through the fields being the actual battlegrounds of the contending armies, or through the, withdrawal of men and horses through mobilisation, (in neutral countries), a large shortage in European production is inevitable; and that, though every country outside Europe will endeavor to sow as much wheat as possible, there was sufficient time between the outbrea7c of hostilities and seeding of wheat in the Northern Hemisphere to permit more than flic usiisual acreage being prepared. On the other hand, .Australia has five clear months before the sowing season, which gives ample time for thorough preparation. It is noticeable, that Mr Richardson gives as one of the most helpful factors in inducing farmers to sow larger areas a positive assurance from the. Government that the price of wheat will not be fixed. This can be heartily endorsed. The urgent need for thorough cultivation of the ground is pointed out. The, growing crop of wheat needs 4in of rain to pass through "Eo it to produce a 12-bushel crop; and every extra inch of rain which can be conserved by careful cultivations means at least an extra hng to the acre.