58 FORTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE OF A PRACTICAL HOG MAN 



especially where hogs are kept in separate lots and could not be 

 placed in a pasture. Besides there would be no waste from soil- 

 ing as none of the feed would be injured by the animals walking 

 over it. We have never practiced this system to any extent, but 

 believe it could be made one of the best ways of handling green 

 feed where one did not have suitable pastures for each lot. 



Roots could be handled in this way also, but would not be neces- 

 sary except for winter, when green forage was impossible other 

 than alfalfa, cowpeas and clover. 



How to Make Cob Charcoal. As charcoal is a very desirable 

 supplemental food for pigs, it is well to know how to make a 

 good article and cheaply, particularly in the cornbelt where there 

 are more or less cobs after corn shelling season. 



Dig a hole in the ground about six feet deep, and four or five 

 feet across, bricking it up with fire brick so there will be no 

 danger of its caving in or becoming broken up. Build it up to a 

 level with the ground and have a heavy galvanized iron cover made 

 large enough to cover the pit tightly. Then take a double wagon 

 box full of dry cobs and start a little fire in the bottom of the pit, 

 adding a few cobs as fast as those in the pit begin to burn and come 

 to a red glow actually burned to a charcoal yet looking bright 

 red. As fast as this condition appears in the pit add a few more 

 cobs, until the entire pit becomes filled to the top with a glowing 

 mass of burned cobs. Then have handy a few barrels of water in 

 which salt is dissolved and sprinkle it on this pit of burning, glow- 

 ing cobs until the fire is entirely extinguished. Then cover the 

 pit with the iron cover, packing a little dirt on the edge so no 

 air can get in the glowing mass, and leave it until the next day, 

 when the fire will be all gone and the pit full of charred cobs in 

 a condition where they can almost be crushed with the thumb and 

 finger. Let it stand until you know it is absolutely cool before 

 feeding, then put a bushel basket full in every lot where there 

 is a sow and litter or where there are eight or more pigs. It will 

 be surprising to you to see how eagerly this is eaten by pigs and 

 hogs of eve.ry age and condition. They seem to relish it very 

 much and it acts as a corrector of acidity. This is a good thing 

 to have on hand at all times if possible. Good charcoal cannot be 

 made by raking up cobs from the feed yard and burning them in 

 the open air, for the reason they will either all burn up to ashes, 

 or if put out with water, will leave many of them simply scorched 

 and not burned to charcoal. 



Pig Meal. For many years we have been experimenting with 

 different rations for pigs, and are now perfecting a pig meal which 

 is giving splendid results, and can be fed not only to young pigs 

 but to older animals as well. 



Housecleaning. Besides the matter of keeping all sleeping 

 pens and feeding places clean, it is well for the breeder to look 



