^68 SWINE IN AMERICA 



"6. The strength of the Ijones may \)e reduced one- 

 half. 



"We may conclude that a system of feeding which 

 robs the hog of half its blood and half the natural 

 strength of the bones, and produces other violent 

 changes, is a most unnatural one, and must, if persisted 

 in, end in giving us a race of animals unsatisfactory to 

 all concerned. From parents thus weakened must come 

 descendants that will fall easy victims to disease and dis- 

 aster. Knowing the facts as here set forth, can we any 

 long-er wonder that our hogs are weak in constitution and 

 easily break down when attacked by disease? Nor is 

 this all ; the meat from such animals can hardly be of 

 flavor and composition satisfactory to the consumer. 



"Shall we raise less corn, then? Not at all. The 

 corn crop is the best of all we raise, and let the word hQ 

 'more' rather than less. We need it all, but we must 

 not forget that protein is somewhat lacking in corn. We 

 may compare our corn to the bricks which go into a 

 building, and the protein food to the mortar which ce- 

 ments the bricks together. He who would lay up bricks 

 without mortar builds foolishly, and his house will tum- 

 ble. Sliould he find out his mistake, such a man shoulcj 

 not from that date neglect the bricks and turn his whole 

 attention to the mortar. Plenty of good strong mortar 

 and an abundance of bricks are what he needs. We 

 do not want less corn, but we want more clover, more 

 shorts, more bran, more peas, more skim milk, and 

 more alfalfa to bring- the highest results." 



