General Care of Swine 27 



well for a part of the floor, but in those parts in which 

 the animals sleep and in which young pigs are kept, 

 a well -matched plank floor is better. Young pigs that 

 are kept on cement floors are likely to suffer from 

 lameness and enlarged joints. 



When a large number of swine are kept, it is best 

 to have them divided into separate lots, and not to 

 confine very many together. They should be given 

 a variety of food and allowed access to fresh, clean 

 earth. There is often noticed in swine a disposition 

 to eat dirt; this indicates a craving for mineral sub- 

 stances. This appetite can usually be satisfied by a 

 mixture of one part of common salt, two parts of air- 

 slaked lime, one part of sulfur, two parts of charcoal, 

 and one part of wood -ashes. This mixture should be 

 placed where the swine can get it freely. In case 

 garbage or swill from cities is used, care must be 

 taken in its feeding, as such material is likely to con- 

 tain substances that are poisonous. Garbage or animal 

 food that is badly decomposed is also likely to contain 

 poisons. Swine need clean wholesome food, as well as 

 other animals. 



In case swine are confined in permanent buildings 

 during the winter, the quarters should be thoroughly 

 cleaned, disinfected and whitewashed as soon as the 

 animals can be turned out to pasture. 



It is often an excellent plan to have some rubbing- 

 posts in the yards where swine are kept. Old cloths 

 tied to these posts and kept saturated with crude petro- 

 leum furnish excellent means for ridding the hogs of 

 lice. 



