Feeding and Management of Swine. 615 



for this craving may be intestinal worms, which are checked 

 or destroyed by some of the substances consumed. Unsatisfac- 

 tory or incomplete as such explanations may be, the fact remains 

 that the pig seeks out these unnatural substances and greedily 

 consumes them. The feeder would best supply what the pig 

 craves in this direction and search for explanations later if he 

 wishes. 



Ashes either from wood or coal will always be in place in the 

 feeding pen and even in the feed lot. It is surprising how much 

 of these will be consumed by a bunch of pigs. Feeding trials 

 show that pigs when confined to an exclusive corn diet are 

 greatly benefited by ashes, this substance causing the feed to be 

 more effective and adding to the strength of the bones the 

 latter result probably being due to the lime in the ashes. (114) 

 Bone meal is another substance useful for strengthening the bones 

 of pigs. By saving the droppings, substantially all the value of 

 this high-grade fertilizer may be secured for field and garden 

 after it has served its purpose with the pigs. 



935. Corn-cob charcoal. Corn cobs are abundant in districts 

 where swine feeding is largely practiced. They can serve no 

 better purpose so far as needed than in producing charcoal for 

 use in the feeding pens. 



The following directions for reducing cobs to charcoal are given 

 by Theodore Louis, l a breeder of high repute in the Northwest: 

 "Dig a hole in the ground five feet deep, one foot in diameter at 

 the bottom and five feet at the top, for the charcoal pit. Take 

 the corn cobs, which have been saved in a dry place, and, start- 

 ing a fire in the bottom of this pit, keep adding cobs so that the 

 flame is gradually drawn to the top of the pit, which will be 

 thus filled with the cobs. Then take a sheet iron cover, similar 

 to a pot lid in form, and over five feet in diameter, so as to 

 amply cover the hole and close up the burning mass, sealing the 

 edges of this lid in turn with earth. At the end of twelve hours 

 you may uncover and take out a fine sample of corn-cob charcoal." 



Charcoal so produced may be fed directly, or, better still, com- 

 pounded as directed by Mr. Louis in the following manner: 



1 Farm, Stock and Home, July 15, 1894. 



