ROOT CROPS. ^19 



climate. In any climate, ordinarily, it ought to 

 begin as soon as the crop has matured for the season. 

 But in cool climates it is especially important that 

 it shall begin early, for as soon as the ground freezes 

 the foraging must cease until the following spring. 

 It may then be resumed if the ground is not too 

 moist, but generally the season for spring foraging 

 is very brief, as the value of the tubers for feeding 

 is much impaired after they begin to grow. 



When swine are foraging on artichokes, they 

 may be given access to them at will. But when 

 practicable it will also be better to allow them the 

 option of feeding on other pasture, on the principle 

 that a variety of suitable foods is beneficial. Whether 

 they should be given additional grain food will 

 depend upon the age of the pigs and the object 

 sought in feeding them. Young pigs should be 

 given additional grain food, as shorts, for instance, 

 but brood sows will not usually require a grain por- 

 tion. The exercise which the sows get in foraging 

 for the artichokes is very beneficial to them, and 

 more especially when they are pregnant. Pigs that 

 are being made ready for fattening will do well on 

 artichokes supplemented with grain, especially corn. 

 But swine that are being fattened should not be 

 required to labor so hard for their food. However, 

 when they have been reared chiefly on a corn diet, 

 such exercise, when not excessive, will tend to keep 

 them in a healthy condition. 



Observations. — i. When artichokes are grown 

 for successive years on the same land, well rotted 

 manure may be advantageously applied to them by 

 incorporating the manure with the soil while the 

 land is being leveled in the spring. 



