PASTURING AND SOILING 169 



observation of his ow.n situation for a season or two 

 lie will be able to arrange his crop areas according to 

 his individual needs and facilities. 



As indicated, it is desirable that the pasture shall not 

 1)6 too larg;e, and particularly when hogs are first turned 

 in, as their natural instinct for foraging will otherwise 

 induce them to traverse too much territory, thereby 

 injuring the crop and failing to reap its full value. This 

 may be avoided by using portable fences or hurdles 

 with which the proper area may be defined. If this 

 is done the hogs will clean up the crop to the best ad- 

 vantage as they go. If it is tubers, beans and peas, much 

 that would otherwise be destroyed will be utilized, and 

 the fences can be moved as occasion may require. Re- 

 striction of the hogs' roaming is not so necessary on 

 grass, clover or alfalfa pasture. Overstocking any pas- 

 ture is to be a\-oided. If too many hogs are turned in, 

 or, what is practically the same thing, the area is too 

 small, its vegetation may be entirely killed and the hogs 

 fail to thrive. 



EARLY PASTURAGE 



A bite of something green early in the year is relished 

 by swine of any age, and it offers qualities highly valued 

 by the farmer who understands the economy of feeding. 

 Some highly rated pasture plants are not available before 

 warm weather, although they may then be the chief re- 

 liance for grazing, hence earlier substitutes should be 

 provided. The matter of pasture or pasture substitutes 

 should, in fact, be taken in hand a year or two in advance 

 of the actual need. Blue grass and alfalfa are naturally 



