288 Animal Husbandry 
other farm animal. Since the common pasture plants are not 
available before warm weather, it is often of advantage to pro- 
vide an earlier forage. Rye sown somewhat early in the fall makes 
an excellent substitute for pasture grass, early the following spring. 
Among the permanent pasture grasses, blue grass comes on very 
early and provides much succulence throughout the season. 
Clover, alfalfa, and cowpeas are unexcelled as swine pasture in the 
regions where they thrive. For a quick growing crop, rape is prob- 
ably to be accorded first place. 
468. Roots for swine. — Roots are valuable as a food for swine 
during the late fall and winter months. They are mainly desired 
because of their stored succulence and to serve as a substitute 
for pasture. In the United States, roots have not been so com- 
monly used as in Canada or the Old Country, though of late years 
they have increased in favor, and their usefulness, especially in the 
corn-belt, is being recognized. Sugar-beets, mangels, ruta-bagas, 
turnips, and carrots are grown as food for swine. Of these, many 
prefer mangels largely because of their high yield per acre, although 
they will not give as good results as sugar-beets. 
469. Pumpkins and squashes. — These are much relished by 
swine in the late fall and early winter. In addition to their suc- 
culence the seed is very rich in protein; thus they make a very 
good supplement for corn. Pumpkin seeds are a natural vermi- 
fuge. When many pumpkins are fed, the animals should be 
watched closely to see that they do not get an overfeed of seed 
and digestive disorders follow. 
470. Feeding the herd in winter. — More care must be given the 
feeding of the herd in winter than in summer ; although if roots or 
other succulent food has been provided, the matter will be less 
difficult than if the farmer is obliged to rely entirely on dry feeds. 
The cheapness and the great abundance of corn really adds to the 
difficulty of wintering the herd. The great temptation all threugh 
the corn-belt is to feed a too exclusive corn ration. This difficulty 
is increased by the fact that no food equals corn in the fsttening 
