304 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



Pigs require plenty of good water, and also plenty of 

 mineral matter. Besides the mineral matter in the feeds 

 they should be supplied with charcoal, wood ashes, common 

 salt, sulfur, saltpeter, and air slaked lime. These may 

 be kept under cover where they have constant access 

 to them. 



Hog Cholera. Swine production is much hampered by 

 the disease known as cholera. This is very contagious, and 

 is most common in the corn belt. It is spread from place to 

 place in several ways, as by running streams, by buzzards, 

 crows, dogs and other animals, and on the shoes of men. 

 Care must be taken to prevent the disease from spreading 



FIG. 188. A form of brood house for sow and pigs. Easily removed to a clean 

 place to prevent disease. 



in any way (Fig. 188). A special form of vaccination to 

 prevent hog cholera is now being used by some large growers. 

 Farmers have come into the practice of selling pigs before 

 they are very old. The prevalence of this disease has been 

 one of the causes of this. 



EXERCISE. Feed and Age of Pigs. Let students tell 

 of the methods of feeding swine which they have learned 

 from older people. Let them also tell at what ages market 

 pigs are usually sold. 



EXERCISE. Breeds of Swine. A visit should be made 

 with the class to places where good types of fat or bacon 

 pigs are kept. If there are pure breds or high grades in the 

 vicinity they should be used to show breed characteristics. 



