FOOD FROM FIELD ROOTS AND TUBERS 337 



be profitably fed. It is not probable, however, that they 

 will ever be much grown as food for cattle because of the 

 labor required in handling them for winter feeding, when 

 they are more valuable relatively than at other seasons. 

 They furnish good food for calves, for store cattle in win- 

 ter and for cows in milk, also for cattle that are being fat- 

 tened, when they can be spared for such feeding. 



For sheep, both the roots and tops of the plants may 

 be used in providing food. Sheep soon come to be fond 

 of both, but, of course, they do not consume the woody 

 portion of the stalk. Store sheep and breeding flocks will 

 be much benefited from supplementing the other dry food 

 fed with 2 or 3 pounds of artichokes per day. The less 

 cost, however, of handling field roots, will to a great ex- 

 tent, preclude the growing of artichokes as a food for 

 sheep. 



For swine, the best and chief use of artichokes con- 

 sists in furnishing them with food. They may be fed to swine 

 at any age subsequently to the weaning period. When used 

 as a part of the fattening ration, they may be fed in the same 

 way as potatoes, that is cooked and fed along with meal. 

 (See p. 334.) But their highest use in feeding swine is 

 found in the food which they furnish to growing swine and 

 brood sows when harvested by these. Ordinarily the labor 

 of harvesting artichokes by swine that are being fattened is 

 so much that it would so far prove adverse to laying on 

 flesh. This labor, however, is very beneficial to brood sows, 

 especially when they are pregnant. It furnishes them that 

 degree of exercise which tends so much to promote stamina 

 in the young animals when born. Swine that are being 

 grown will be much aided in their development by having 

 access to a field of artichokes, but a grain supplement is 

 necessary to promote quick growth and it is also nec- 

 essary though not in quantity so large for brood 

 sows that are feeding thus on artichokes. The milder 

 the climate, the more prolonged may be the feeding season, 

 because of the shorter period during which the ground is 

 frozen. 



