FEEDING AND FATTENING 321 



when lost, but when discovered, her bones were barely 

 covered by skin. All traces of the litter of pigs had 

 disappeared. She is not able to stand yet, though 

 gradually gaining strength ; but it will be a long time 

 before she regains her normal condition." 



HOCiS EATIXG COAL AM) SAND 



Swine havmg access to it will eat soft (bituminous) 

 coal, and under some circumstances devour inordinate 

 quantities of it. The fact that they do this indicates 

 that some ingredient their systems require is lacking 

 from their ordinary food. Eaten too largely it tends to 

 constipation, but a consensus of breeders' opinions is that 

 in moderate amounts it is beneficial rather than harmful, 

 and as a corrective, tonic or condiment its use should be 

 commended. 



Sandstone or sand is sometimes eaten by hogs, and to 

 an injurious extent. As with coal small quantities do 

 no particular harm, but the fact that hogs crave such 

 unusual substances as food suggests their need of a dif- 

 ferent or broader diet. 



MISTAKES IT IS W^IAj TO AVOID 



A lifetime's experience as a raiser of swine has 

 prompted a successful Kansas farmer to record a list of 

 21 mistakes which he thinks others less experienced are 

 liable to make — at least in part — and these being of such 

 common occurrence and his counsel so pertinent they are 

 presented here. He says : 



"It is a mistake for one inexperienced to undertake the 

 business of rearing hogs unless he expects to make a 

 study of it and to profit by his mistakes. 



