258 SWINE IN AMERICA 



moreover, have the adxantage of enabhng the hogs to do 

 the harvesting. Sweet potatoes and chufas may be used 

 as substitutes for artichokes ; on account of the watery 

 nature of potatoes and artichokes they should never be 

 used alone, but in conjunction with more concentrated 

 feeds, Hke peanuts, peas, corn and grains." In Canada 

 artichokes seem to find favor. Tlie pamphlet on bacon 

 production issued by the Ontario agricultural college 

 (Bulletin No. 129) says: "In some sections this crop is 

 very popular as a hog food. It is suitable, however, only 

 for somewhat light, sandy soils. Artichokes may l3e 

 planted in the late fall or early spring, in rows 21 to 24 

 inches apart, and from 12 to 18 inches apart in the rows. 

 They are usually ready for feed about September 15. 

 Artichokes have a little higher feeding value than pota- 

 toes, and hogs are very fond of them." In Oregon the 

 yield was found by the experiment station to be 740 

 bushels per acre. An experiment there (Bulletin No. 54) 

 with artichokes used with a small quantity of chopped 

 (coarsely ground) wheat and oats resulted in an average 

 daily gain of .81 pound each by swine weighing from 

 117 to 215 pounds. "The pigs were healthy and vigor- 

 ous during the feeding period." says the report. "It does 

 not cost much to raise a small area of artichokes. A 

 small acreage might be profitably employed by any 

 farmer who expects to make his own bacon or supply 

 the market with a superior grade of pork products. 

 Artichokes do best in rich, loose soil, where there is an 

 abundance of decayed vegetable matter." 



At the Central experimental farm of Canada (Annual 

 Report of Experimental Farms, 1900) one-sixteenth of 



