THE PIG AS A MANUFATURER.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 884, 21 February 1878, Page 3

THE PIG AS A MANUFATURER.

In the decline of the manufacturing interests aud the want of employment m the older States, let us no', overlook th<* humble operative-; winalways makes staple goods and sends them to a ; hungry marker. He works upon coarse raw material. and manufactures pork, lard, anri fertilizers, articles for which then is always a good demand on even farm, «nd a ready sale m the village markets. One effect of the large increase m the circulation of our agiic ltuwil journals has been to raise the price of fertilisers. Thidemand is especially lively m our large towns iand . their sub.irbs, where market gardening is followed, and more money is made from ten acres well tilled, than from many large farms. Six to eight dollat b a cord is a common price for stable manure m these localities, but it is often much higher and: sometimes not to be had a t all. In the flash times through which we have passed, many villagers ceased to mako their own " pork, and, even upon the form, flear- good markets, it has been a question whether there was any profit m keeping pigs.- In the olden time, it was a main resource, and the corn crib and pigstye were as indispensable as; the. barn aud the cow-yard. The l«est manure upon the farm was the, pro due' of the pig-stye. It made its mark upon the coir. -field, and the effects were seen, for years after, iv the oats an< l grass. After many years of experience wi'h :home-mad-manures and the juaiinfaoiured article, we h»ve come to the conclusion that no cultivator can A&yd to dispense with the labours of thtv pig as a njHi.uftcturej: of fertilisers. It is lhe x most satisfactory way of filing the* pork barrel, and the 'laid keg. even if there be littl. economy mit Swine pay largely m mixing and composting the contents of the barn c Her thnf receives the manure of cattle kepi m the stHi.les above. We have noticeil this feature m the niHiißgenient; o' the most thrifty farm* Tecently visited. Pigs me kept ai work from their b rlh to their slaughter. AH refuse from the farm and garden goes to the bain celler. Absorbents m the shape of weathere peat and muck, head lands, swamp buy, salt marsh gra.«s, sea weed,, eavir dus., Wv*s = I roni' the woods, were frequently added to keep the swine busy, and tv prevent all bad odours. The sty, which i* so often a nuisance, by the ase oi absorbents, may be kept enti.ely inoffensive. The pigs not only thoroughly compost a thi- materi .1 thrown into the cellar, but by the 'tramping of their feet prevent ejccKSeive fermentation after it is m:x'd, The pig is especially valna 1 le to thp villager who is occupied as a laborer or mechanic during the day. He has his acre or two of laud, his vines «nd fruit, trees, which can be made to supply his table with comforts and luxuries the year round. "The profit of his garden and fruit -yard will depend almost entirely opon the, free, use of fertilisers. It is practicable ho keep his soil m a high state of productiveness with fertilisers made on the premises. It we* made the most of our, home resources to fill the larder and store the fruit room, there Would; be no complaints as to bad times^- ' American Agriculturist.'