l8o SWINE IN AMERICA 



ROTATION OF PASTURAGE 



The question of early pasturage is really involved in 

 a much broader one — that of the proper rotation of pas- 

 ture crops. A comparatively limited area will grow all 

 the green feed that hogs can utilize, and it is of much 

 greater importance to know how to supply economically 

 such feed continuously through as much of the year as 

 the climate will permit than to furnish a large quantity 

 at one period and scant, woody grazing a little later, A 

 well-arranged rotation will involve some additional ex- 

 pense and labor, but where hogs are raised in numbers, 

 the better condition and growth, especially of breeding 

 animals, and the saving in the more costly feeds will 

 f)rove an ample recompense. 



Professor W. M. Hays, when connected with the Min- 

 nesota experiment station, gave considerable attention to 

 discovering the best system of pasture-crop rotation, 

 and has presented the most sensible plan so far worked 

 out, at least for the northern section of the United 

 States. It gives, as he expressed it, "an outline of how 

 land can be used for continuous hog pastures : 



"The land is divided into four fields and fenced hog- 

 tight. If practicable, a lane connects the hog-house with 

 each of the four fields, and small inexpensive hog-houses 

 or hog shades in the field are almost necessary. Some of 

 these may be portable. Such small fields, 4x10 rods, may 

 seem ridiculous, but most farmers have more than an 

 acre for their hogs, and this plan will apply even if there 

 are 80 acres devoted to growing hog pasture. 



"Figuring out rotation is a little like a game of chess, 

 but it can be learned, as my classes in field crops and field 



