STOCK FEEDING. 28 



make a very satisfactory ration for a brood sow. A few days 

 before, and a few days after farrowing, the ration should be 

 rather light, but thereafter it should be gradually increased as 

 the young pigs demand more and more milk. 



FEEDING YOUNG PIGS. Wean the x pigs when about two 

 months old. For about a month after weaning, the young pigs 

 should receive all the skim milk they will drink with wheat 

 middlings or rice meal additional. If there is a lack of skim 

 milk, wheat middlings may be fed instead. After the pigs have 

 passed the third month, their main feed should consist of suita- 

 ble forage crops, supplemented with grain suited to the period 

 of their growth. 



GRAZING CROPS. Rape (Dwarf Essex) is an ideal hog feed, 

 and, when sown in the fall, makes excellent late fall and early 

 spring grazing. Rape may also be sown in the spring. Crim- 

 son clover, rye, oats and vetch can be used successfully for 

 grazing swine during the fall, winter and spring. During the 

 early summer Bermuda pasture will maintain swine in an ex- 

 cellent growing condition. Later in the summer grass should 

 be supplemented with sorghum and cowpeas, two excellent 

 feeds for swine. Sorghum furnishes an enormous yield of 

 forage to the acre and is highly relished by hogs. 



During November and December, when March shoats should 

 be fitted for the block, they should be turned on to patches of 

 artichokes and Spanish peanuts, which make an excellent com- 

 bination of feeds, and, moreover, have the advantage of en- 

 abling the hogs to do the harvesting. Sweet potatoes and 

 chufas may be fed as substitutes for artichokes, but on account 

 of the watery condition of the potatoes and artichokes, they 

 should never be fed alone, but in conjunction with more con- 

 ' centrated feeds, like peanuts, peas, corn and grains. 



Clovers and alfalfa make excellent grazing for swine and 

 should be grown wherever possible. 



By feeding forage crops in proper succession, hogs can be 

 grown and fitted without any corn whatever, though it is always 

 desirable to feed some corn a month previous to slaughter to aid 

 in firming the flesh. 



SALT AND WOOD ASHES. These should be freely supplied to 

 swine, especially young growing swine. Pigs have a great 



