THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 363 



weeks before they are to be marketed, when we would increase the corn 

 and diminish the lighter feeds except the grass, and would feed entirely 

 for fat; and no feed has yet been found for this purpose that takes the 

 place of corn. 



At what age to market is another point each person must determine 

 by conditions that prevail in each particular. We believe with the ordinary 

 or small farmer who does not feed cattle, the better way is to have the 

 pigs farrowed rather early in the spring and market them when seven 

 or eight months old, and sell whenever they are fit to go no matter what 

 the price may be. 



We would observe the following rules: Give them a good pasture 

 with good, clean grain and plenty of it, ground or whole, cooked or raw, 

 as the conditions warrant; set the dog on all venders of stock foods and 

 quack doctors with their wonderful cholera cures, and. in the words of 

 Shakespeare, "throw physic to the dogs,'' use brains instead of drugs. 

 In short, feed your hogs nothing you would not be willing to eat yourself; 

 by this we mean feed clean grain and water and avoid the old-time swill 

 barrel that is never quite empty, and by all means shun the ordinary 

 house slop pail as you would a pestilence as it is too often the dumping 

 place of nameless filths and is worth more on the compost heap than any- 

 where else. Finally, let us know our business, tend to our business, love 

 our business, and success will follow. 



CARE OP BROOD SOWS. 



Forest Henry, in 2V T . W. Agriculturist. 



First of all, the brood sow needs plenty of exercise in the pure air 

 and sunlight. This costs the farmer nothing and is of the utmost impor- 

 tance in keeping the sow healthy and vigorous. 



If the sows are given warm sleeping quarters they are apt to make 

 the most of it n they have nothing to induce them to take exercise. If 

 they are allowed to do this they are apt to give us no end of trouble at 

 farrowing time. The pigs come weak and sickly, and if the farmer suc- 

 ceeds in pulling them through they are only an excuse for a healthy pig. 



To avoid this give the brood sows the barnyard to run in. They will 

 work for hours rooting over the manure when otherwise they would be 

 lying idle in the nests. This not only does the sows good, but has a very 

 beneficial effect on the manure as well. They also get a considerable 

 amount of feed that would otherwise be lost. 



After the breeding season is over, the brood sow should have very 

 little corn only in cold weather. Her feed should be very large of that kind 

 that will promote bone, muscle and nerve growth. This can best be sup- 

 plied on the farm by using bright clover hay, oats and wheat bran. The 

 oats should be thinly scattered over the smooth ground or what is still 



