128 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



such valuable crops as corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, 

 chufas, the small grains, and a number of clovers and 

 grasses, without which we could not profitably graze 

 swine. 



Leguminous forage crops. — One of the greatest oppor- 

 tunities offered by a system of swine production is that 

 means are provided whereby the fertility of the soil can 

 be not only maintained, but very rapidly added to. This 

 would result from the use of leguminous forage crops, 

 which are both valuable as a feed and for the fixing of 

 nitrogen in the soil. The South is extremely fortunate 

 in that practicall_v all legumes do well. Cowpeas, soy 

 beans, vetches, velvet beans, peanuts, clovers and alfalfa 

 all thrive in most places. Legumes, as a rule, not only 

 possess greater feed value than non-legumes, but the 

 residual effect on the soil is an added advantage which 

 our farmers have failed to take proper advantage of as yet. 



Available feeds. — Of necessity, forage crops must play 

 a most important role in any extensive system of swine 

 feeding that may be developed in the southern states. 

 We can secure and properly manage swine with which 

 to grow pork, but the greatest problem is and always 

 will be that of adequate food supply. What the hog 

 grower wants to know is, How can he economically pro- 

 vide the feed to grow and fatten swine and be assured of 

 profits from his undertaking? It can be done and is 

 being done in many places. It is never done without 

 considerable effort and planning. A careful study of the 

 characteristics of the different feeds and their values will 

 assist the swine grower in providing the proper feeds for 

 his swine. 



