170 Missouri Agricultural lieport. 



is desired on the same ground the next year, the hogs should be re- 

 moved before the tubers are all eaten, thus leaving the land seeded. 

 Next year this land will be cultivated and another crop raised without 

 reseeding. Artichokes may be planted in rows twenty-one to twenty- 

 four inches apart, and eighteen inches apart in the row, and cutivated. 

 One acre will pasture fifteen to twenty-five hogs from October until the 

 ground is frozen. The artichoke is superior to common beets or 

 turnips. Results from the Oregon Experiment Station show that, com- 

 pared with grain alone, ihe artichokes effected a saving of nearly two 

 pounds of grain per pound of gain on the hogs. The hogs fed on 

 artichokes are also healthier than when not receiving any green feed. 



WINTER AND EARLY SPRING PASTURE. 



There is probably no greater loss to the hog raisers of the State 

 than the lack of a suitable pasture for hogs in Avinter. Of course, there 

 are times during the winter when it is entirely impossible for hogs to 

 get anything green to eat, but during a large part of the winter the 

 weather is such that it is possible for them to graze upon some kind 

 of pasture. One man in northeast Missouri says: "I have made a 

 specialty of growing crops for winter and early spring pasture, and 

 have had good results. Hogs having access to the winter pastures 

 have made double the amount of gain over the ones without pasture, 

 and on one-half the amount of corn eaten." Pasture in winter and 

 early spring serves not only the purpose of furnishing a green feed, but 

 also induces the hogs to take exercise, which they would not otherwise 

 do, both of which Avill tend to keep the shoats in a healthy, vigorous 

 condition. With some kind of green forage to pick at, pigs Avill take 

 sufficient exercise that i)ractically all danger of thumps will be re- 

 moved. As is well known, two of the worst things that the hog raiser 

 has to guard against in winter are thumps and constipation, both due, 

 to a large extent, to a lack of exercise and some laxative food, and 

 which can be remedied by a green pasture during as many of the 

 winter months as possible. Of course, it is impossible to furnish the 

 best of pasture for three months, from December 15 to March 15, but 

 even during three months a field of rye, wheat or bluegrass makes an 

 excellent place for hogs to forage. 



For early winter pasture, the succulent forage may do well until 

 freezing weather. Clover, alfalfa, etc., if of good growth, may last 

 that long. Rape will nmke good pasture sometimes as late as 

 Christmas. Cowpeas can be pastured late in the fall, and give a large 

 amount of forage ; but from freezing time until grass comes in spring, 



