lly
considered to be equal to the old system recommended. It is that of
feeding pigs of the kind mentioned on vegetable food, and a mixture of
palm nut, cocoa nut, ground nut, or linseed cake. The proportions fed at
the Cambridge University Farm are mangolds 20 lbs.; a mixture of two
parts palm nut cake, and one part cocoa nut cake, 2 lbs.; linseed cake,
2 lbs.; and ground nut cake, 1 lb. The two former were fed in the
morning and evening, and the other two at midday. The various cakes seem
to have been fed in a dry condition, but other pig feeders have found it
beneficial to soak the cake in water for some twelve hours. This view
seems to have received support from the practice at Cambridge, which was
to mix the cake with the cut mangolds twenty-four hours before being fed
to the pigs so that at least a portion of the cake would become softened
by the mangold juice. Almost any kind of vegetable matter containing a
fair amount of nutrition would be equally as suitable as mangold, indeed
more so during the period from October to April. In the winter months
cooked potatoes; kohl rabi, swedes, parsnips, cabbages, artichokes,
etc., fed raw; and in the summer grass, lucerne, clover, vetches, rape,
or almost any kind of vegetable food will be readily eaten by the pigs.
Even where the wasteful practice of peeling the potatoes before being
cooked for the household is still followed (and just how wasteful this
old-fashioned plan is has been lately proved to be a loss of nearly one
quarter of the nutriment)--it is advisable to boil the parings and then
mix the whole with the pig's food.

It cannot be too strongly impressed on pig keepers that a certain
proportion of vegetable food is most beneficial for pigs of all ages, as
not only is a saving in cost effected, but the pigs will continue in a
more healthy condition than when fed solely on meal or other
concentrated food.

* * * * *

[Illustration: LARGE WHITE BOAR. The property of the Author. The Winner
of many Prizes.

To face page 80.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Photo, Sport and General._

TAMWORTH SOW, "QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES."]

CHAPTER X

WEANING PIGS

There are few points in connection with the breeding and feeding of pigs
on which there is a greater diversity of opinion and practice than on
the question of the weaning of the young pigs.

For instance, take the age at which it is most satis