324 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



be given to them. Never leave any milk to sour in the trough. 



In a few days a gruel of oats and wheat middlings may re- 

 place the milk. Later, corn soaked for twenty-four hours 

 may be placed in the trough. Never feed more than they 

 will clean up. Pigs fed in separate places in this manner 

 will make much more rapid growth. 



If pigs are free to run on the proper pasture in connec- 

 tion with the above feeding, the weaning process will take 

 care of itself and the pigs learn to "root for themselves." 

 "Pigs in clover" are contented and happy, but hog happi- 

 ness and prosperity may perhaps best be found with pastures 

 of alfalfa, rape, and clovers. Authorities say that cow-peas 

 supply the necessary balance to a corn ration for growing 

 pigs. If the father will allow the boy to sow an acre of 

 cowpeas or soy beans in May, they will have a good growth 

 for the spring pigs by the middle of July. Proper handling 

 from farrowing to fattening time should produce pigs weigh- 

 ing from ninety to one hundred and twenty-five pounds. Turn 

 the pigs on the cow-peas or soy beans two hours a day, grad- 

 ually extending the period for a week, after which they 

 may remain in the pasture all the time. The growing ration 

 fed before should be gradually done away with, and corn 

 should be supplied in connection with the pasture to fatten 

 them. One acre of the cow-peas or soy beans should supply 

 a dozen hogs during the seventy-day fattening period, at a 

 great saving of the amount of corn ordinarily required to 

 fatten hogs, and the hogs will have made greater gain due to 

 a better balanced ration. Tankage at the rate of 1 part to 



