Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers

1948 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Irish Independent, 11.11.1948

Pigs And Bacon

Sir. "A Poor Man” writing in the Irish Independent of 20th ultimate states that he made a profit of £15-9-0 in cash (not to mention the manure) from two pigs which he bought on April 2, 1948, and sold on August 27, 1948. He also states that the costings for keeping these two pigs were as follows: Purchase price for the two pigs, £10-16-6. For the four weeks of April they used 4 stones of maize meal; for the four weeks of May 4 stones of meal; month of June 11 stones of meal, and month of July 11½ stones of meal. This 30½ stones of meal cost him £5-13-6 and separated milk cost him 5/-, or a total of £16-15-0 altogether. He sold the two pigs for £32-4-0, leaving him a nett cash profit of £15-9-0.

I would be much obliged If he would let me into the secret of where this wonderful breed of pigs can be bought in Limerick, for surely they must be wonderful pigs to grow to 13 stone weight each in 21 weeks, and, seeing that he only fed them on 30½ stones of maize meal for 17 weeks, as he does not mention having fed them for the month of August.

Of course, there was the 5/- worth of separated milk to cover the period, but, counting 1d per gallon as the cost of the milk, it would only come to 60 gallons, which would be less than a half a pint of milk per pig per day. Also he does not mention having fed any potatoes, cabbage or roots, nor put down the cost of preparing food or time taken to feed daily, and to clean out stye.

Elizabeth F. Bobbett, Springfield, Wicklow.

(Note: We have received several letters from other readers expressing similar views on a “A Poor Man’s” letter)