FOOD FROM FIELD ROOTS AND TUBERS 343 



them with much freedom. They will be found of much 

 value in promoting development in lambs kept for breeding 

 uses. 



To swine, pumpkins are frequently fed with new 

 corn. When so fed, they correct impaired digestion 

 and improve the appetite. The portion of the crop that 

 is immature is more commonly fed to swine than to other 

 stock, as swine will consume pumpkins even when in partial 

 decay which would be rejected by other farm stock. The 

 practice which grows low-growing varieties of corn that 

 produce ears abundantly, with pumpkins plentifully inter- 

 spersed, and which consumes both crops with swine, is to be 

 commended. It is labor saving and the combination makes 

 excellent food for fattening swine. 



By horses, pumpkins are much relished but they 

 are seldom fed to them, as it is usually more con- 

 venient to feed them to other classes of live stock. In the 

 absence of other green food, they render good service when 

 fed to weanling foals. They must, of course, be fed with 

 some caution to horses at work, as they may relax the bow- 

 els too much when fed over freely. 



Squash. This plant, commonly grown to provide food 

 for man, is in some instances grown to specially pro- 

 vide food for swine. On ground properly prepared, when 

 all the conditions are suitable, many tons may be grown on 

 an acre. Preference should be given to the soft shelled va- 

 rieties when of suitable size, otherwise the rinds may prove 

 so hard as to make it difficult for animals to consume them, 

 unless they are first softened by cooking. As considerable 

 care and labor are involved in storing them so that they will 

 keep into and through the winter months, and as they are 

 easily injured by frost, the aim should* be to feed them in the 

 autumn, and to feed first any that may be immature, as they 

 are the most perishable. Unless when feeding them to 

 swine, it is necessary to slice or break them open as with a 

 spade, and even when fed to swine, the hard shelled varie- 

 ties should be thus prepared. When squashes are fed to 



