1916.] SWINE RAISING. 61 



June sees a slight drop due to the pigs which w^ere born the pre- 

 vious fall coming to the market, and high prices as a rule come 

 in during August and September. While there is no definite rule 

 to go by and there are exceptions to these averages, yet it will pay 



the Eastern farmer to avoid competing with the Western farmer. 



» 



Feeding of Garbage. 



The feeding of garbage is advisable from the standpoint of 

 economy. In fact the majority of the hogs fed in the east are 

 garbage fed hogs. The value of garbage depends upon its quality 

 and the care in feeding it. Many feeders of garbage lose their 

 hogs, yet if due care is taken I do not believe any more cases of 

 hog cholera or disease results among garbage fed hogs than 

 amongst grain fed swine. 



Garbage should be fed fresh. Too often it has become de- 

 composed, especially during warm weather — daily gathering is 

 desirable in the summer. All the receptacles should be cleaned 

 from time to time and if possible garbage should not be fly blown. 

 It should be fed on clean platforms rather than on the ground and 

 no more should be fed than the hogs will clean up. 



The collector of garbage should insist upon the garbage 

 being sorted — that is orange, lemon, grape fruit and banana 

 peelings, soapy water, chicken and fish entrails, broken bottles 

 and poisonous substances that do go into the garbage can for 

 swine, should be put in a separate receptacle. 



If garbage were thoroughly cooked some of the trouble might 

 be eliminated, yet I know of those who cook garbage, yet lose 

 their hogs. It may be they do not cook it thoroughly. 



For the best quality of pork some grain should be fed to 

 supplement the garbage. Pregnant brood sows in particular need 

 the grain and fattening swine during the last two or three weeks 

 should receive grain, to harden their flesh. The flesh of straight 

 garbage fed swine is more watery than that of the grain fed. 



Diseases. 



Most cases of sickness amongst swine are due to neglect 

 or carelessness in method of handling. It is cheaper to prevent 

 than to cure. Two of the more common causes of loss are thumps 

 and hog cholera. Thumps attack little pigs 2-10 weeks of age 



