Historic, archived document Do notassume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. © ~~~ ; a BULLETIN OF THE yy fp USDEPARTNENT OPAGRICULIURE & No. 68 AR PRE Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief. February 25, 1914. PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. By Byron Hunter, Agricul/turist, Office of Farm Management.! INTRODUCTION. This bulletin deals specifically with crops and systems of cropping that may be used in economical pork production in the Pacific North- west. Scattered here and there throughout the Northwest are men who are successfully producing pork. They have been visited, and their methods, crops, and feeding systems have been studied. This bulletin makes the practices of these successful men available to all. Owing to the rapid growth in population of this section during the last decade, the demand for pork has increased faster than the sup- ply, and there is little reason why hog raising should not become a more important industry in the Pacific Northwest. Although there have been some outbreaks of hog cholera, the Northwest has been remarkably free from this. disease. The larger cities have well- equipped packing houses, and modern union stockyards are in opera- tion at Portland, Oreg. During recent years a large percentage of the neegs slaughtered in the cities of Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane have been shipped from east of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to this, enormous quantities of eastern bacon and lard are annually consumed by the Pacific Coast States. MANAGEMENT OF PASTURES. Since economical pork production depends largely upon the con- sumption of a great deal of cheaply grown feed, the pasture should be so managed that the forage produced will be clean, tender, and palatable. In practice, hog pastures are generally managed in one of three ways: (1) Continuous close grazing, (2) alternate pasturing of equal areas, and (3) pasturing the meadow. Note.—This publication is intended to encourage hog raising in the Pacific Northwest; it is especially adapted to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 1 Mr. Hunter is now State leader in charge of Farm-Management Field Studies and Demonstrations in the State of Washington, and is employed cooperatively by the United States Department of Agri- - culture and the State College of Washington. 23557°—Bull. 68—14——_1 2 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONTINUOUS CLOSE GRAZING. The method in most common use is to turn in all the hogs the pas- ture will support, leaving them in the field during the entire season. Usually the pasture is kept closely grazed. Too often it is overgrazed, the plants being cropped so closely that the stand is soon ruined. The pasture then becomes little better than a dry lot, and the hogs make unsatisfactory gains. When the feed in the pasture becomes scarce, either the number of hogs per acre should be reduced or other forage provided. ALTERNATE PASTURING OF EQUAL AREAS. One of the most satisfactory ways of managing a pasture is to divide it into two or more fields of equal area. These fields are then used alternately, the hogs remaining in each about a week or 10 days. In the case of clover and alfalfa the growth is allowed to become 3 to 4 inches high before the hogs are turned in to eat it off quickly. When the pasture consists of such crops as rape, kale, and vetch, which will not. stand close grazing, the growth is permitted to reach a height of 8 or 10 inches before the hogs are turned in. Changing the hogs from field to field gives the pasture a period of rest, during which the plants recuperate and grow rapidly. When the stock is returned to the field the forage is clean, tender, and pala- table and large quantities are consumed. Owing to the rapid growth made while at rest, a pasture that is subdivided and the areas grazed alternately is capable of carrying a much larger number of hogs per acre, other conditions being equal, than one that is continuously pastured. Hogs usually graze a pasture somewhat unevenly, some areas being eaten off much more closely than others. To keep down the weeds and make the growth come on evenly, the pasture is clipped with a mower immediately after the hogs are removed. Hogs are inclined to root when the surface of the ground is wet or damp. For this reason the pasture, if under irrigation, is irrigated just after the hogs are changed from one pasture lot to the next. This gives the surface of the ground time to dry before the forage is large enough to be grazed. PASTURING THE MEADOW. Many successful hog raisers prefer to use such crops as clover and alfalfa for both pasture and hay at the same time. The number of hogs turned into the field is so limited that the usual crops of hay are made. ‘The chief advantages of this method are (1) the presence of an abundance of feed, (2) the meadow is not grazed closely enough for the stand to be injured, (3) it is not necessary to subdivide the pasture into smaller areas for alternate pasturing, and (4) the changing of the hogs from one inclosure to another is obviated. a ee 22 hl re PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. 3 When the number of animals pastured is so limited that the usual hay crops are made, the growth becomes so coarse and woody that they do not consume as much forage as is desirable for economical gains, as the hogs relish the young shoots best. When the forage becomes too large to furnish desirable feed, an area near the watering place is clipped with a mower. This should be large enough to - furnish the desired amount of pasture. In a few days the clipped area produces a vigorous growth of new shoots, upon which the hogs feed without materially disturbing the rest of the meadow. If the area first mowed is not sufficient to furnish the required feed, more of the meadow is clipped, as necessity may demand. To prevent the Fic. 1.—Hogs on alfalfa pasture without other feed. Note their thin condition and ungainly shape, espe- cially the older hog on the left. stand of these clipped areas from becoming injured by overgrazing, different portions of the meadow are used in this way from year to year. GRAIN RATION WHILE HOGS ARE ON PASTURE. While the cost of producing pork may be reduced materially by the use of such roughage as alfalfa hay, roots, or green-pasture for- age, it is desirable to feed grain or other concentrated feed in addition. Mature, dry brood sows are sometimes maintained in an apparently satisfactory condition on good pasture alone. Young growing hogs, on the other hand, usually become ungainly in shape, big bellied, and thin in flesh or stunted when compelled to subsist on pasture alone. Figure 1 illustrates the condition of hogs run on pasture without other feed. hess 4 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. _ Hog growers differ quite widely regardmg the quantity of grain that should be fed while on pasture. Some feed a full grain ration, i. e., all the grain the hog willconsume. Others feed a medium ration, _ one that is equal to about 2 to 3 per cent of the live weight of the hog. Still others prefer a light grain ration, one that is equal to only about 1 per cent of the live weight of the hog: Occasionally men are found who run young shotes on pasture without other feed. This is a mis- take, for it almost invariably results in a stunted hog. No fixed and fast rule can be laid down, for the supplemental grain ration which should be fed in conjunction with green pasture depends upon a number of factors, the more important of which are (1) the age at which the hogs are to be marketed, (2) the price of grain, and (8) _the plentifulness and quality of the pasture. RATIONS FOR HOGS OF VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND MARKET AGES. If hogs are to be marketed when 7 to 9 months old, it is necessary to feed them about all the grain they will consume, in addition to the pasture, in order to make them reach the weight demanded by the market, 170 to 225 pounds. Hogs that are marketed when 10 to 12 months old are usually maintained on pasture alone during the graz- ing season. If fed at all, the grain ration isvery light. This results in a slow daily gain, but a greater percentage of the growth is made from the cheaply grown forage. The added cost of maintaining a hog until 10 to 12 months old, however, usually more. than equals the saving of the grain ration. Mature breeding stock that is not expected to make any gain in weight requires but little, if any, additional feed when on good pasture. Hogs that are thin in flesh and nearly grown may be expected to make small daily gains without other feed when on the best of pas- ture. Pigs and small shotes usually become stunted when on pas- ture unless given a liberal quantity of additional feed. Young hogs should be so fed that they grow rapidly instead of becoming stunted. During the fattening period, hogs on pasture should be fed all the grain they will eat up clean three times a day. THE PRICE OF GRAIN. Owing to the fluctuation in the price of hogs and of grain, the sup-— plemental grain ration is sometimes expensive. Under such cir- cumstances there is great temptation to place the hogs upon an exclu- sive pasture ration. This seldom pays, for it usually takes approxi- -mately as much concentrated feed in the end, and much more time, to fit for market hogs which have been on an exclusive pasture diet as is required for hogs fed liberally while on pasture. Under extreme circumstances mature breeding stock or hogs which are nearly grown may be carried on good pasture until cheaper concentrated feed can be obtained. PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. 5 QUALITY AND ABUNDANCE OF PASTURE. The composition of pasture forage is quite variable. Alfalfa, clover, vetch, peas, etc., furnish feed that is much richer in protein than most other crops. Generally, therefore, hogs which are feeding upon leguminous pasture require slightly less concentrated feed than when grazing upon nonleguminous pasture, such as timothy, orchard erass, bluegrass, or the cereals. It frequently happens that a farmer has more hogs than his pasture is capable of supporting. When such is the case the pasture will go ‘much farther if a full grain ration is fed. The more grain a hog con- sumes the less he will feed upon the pasture. In general, pigs and shotes should be kept in a thrifty, erowing con- ion at all times. It never pays to allow them to cease growing Fic. 2.—A herd of brood sows on pasture. They were fed enough grain to keep them in good condition. and become stunted. Brood sows, likewise, must be kept in good flesh (not fat) if large litters of strong, healthy pigs are to be expected. Figure 2 shows a herd of well-kept ioecod sows on pasture. In gathering the material for this bulletin it was quite generally observed, on the one hand, that the men who are enthusiastic pork producers feed a liberal supplemental grain ration to young, growing hogs when on pasture. On the other hand, those who think there is little profit in raising hogs run them very largely on pasture without other feed during the grazing season. | HOGGING OFF CROPS. Turning hogs into a standing field of mature or nearly mature wheat, barley, peas, or corn and allowing them to feed at will until the crop is consumed is called “hogging off” or “hogging down”’ the 6 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. crop. To some this may appear to be a wasteful practice. Under good management, however, it is a very satisfactory and economical method of utilizing limited areas of these crops. ADVANTAGES IN HOGGING OFF CROPS. Some of the advantages in hogging off crops are (1) the cost of harvesting and marketing the crop is saved, (2) the labor of caring for hogs is greatly reduced, (3) the vegetable matter in the soil is increased, (4) the droppings of the animals are distributed quite evenly, and (5) the hogs are given exercise. It costs from 15 to 25 cents per bushel to harvest and market wheat in the greater part of the wheat belt of the Pacific Northwest, the cost varying with the yield, the method of harvesting and thrashing, and the distance the wheat is hauled to market. In some of the more arid wheat-growing districts of both Oregon and Washington the yield of wheat is fre- quently as low as 6.to 8 bushels per acre. The cost of harvesting and marketing such crops runs from 35 to 40 cents per bushel. The cost of harvesting and marketing barley is approximately the same as that of wheat. When the hogs are so managed that the crop is thoroughly cleaned up, hogging off the crop practically saves the cost of harvesting and marketing. In the case of light-yielding crops this saving is considerable. | Most of the crops that are suitable for hogging off are utilized during the busiest season of the year, 1. e., at a time when it is very desirable that the hogs require as little attention as possible. If turned into a mature field of wheat, peas, or corn and provided with water, shade, and salt, the hogs require very little other attention. Most of the arable lands of the Pacific Northwest would be mate- rially benefited by the addition of more organic matter. When the crop is hogged off, the straw, pea vines, or cornstalks, as the case may be, are left on the ground. By cutting this material thoroughly in the fall of the year with a sharp disk harrow and plowing it under, the soil is enriched in vegetable matter. This, in turn, greatly reduces the tendency of the soil to wash. The washing of soil due to the burning of straw and consequent lack of humus is well shown in figure 3. In hogging off the crop, the droppings of the animals are scattered quite evenly over the field. USUAL GRAIN CROPS HOGGED OFF. The Pacific Northwest is peculiarly adapted to the hogging off of crops. The wet season occurs during the winter months and the dry season during the summer. This gives a long period in which crops may be used in this way. The principal crops that are suitable for hogging down are wheat, field peas, corn, and barley. | PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. 7 Wheat.—Wheat is generally used from the time the first spots in the field are nearly ripe, about the stiff-dough stage, until the stubble field is open or until field peas or some other crops are ready for use. It will be seen, then, that the season for using wheat is from four to six weeks. If used during a longer period, there may be considerable loss from shattering, and the autumn rains in some localities may also damage the crop. A soft variety of wheat with a smooth club type of head is best suited for hogging down. The club head does not shatter so readily as most other types. The true hard and bearded varieties, such as Turkey, are not suitable. The kernels become so hard and the beards are so severe on the hogs’ mouths that they do not eat enough to make economical gains. Fic. 3.—Soil washing near Dayton, Wash., in the spring of 1910. This land was summer-fallowed during the season of 1909 and planted to winter wheat. _ On the farm of W. H. Steen, Umatilla County, Oreg., 90 hogs pas- tured from July 17 to August 24 on 11 acres of ripe standing wheat, estimated to yield 15 bushels per acre, made an average gain in weight of 160 pounds per acre, worth $14.40. In another instance M. E. Schreck, of Whitman County, Wash., pastured 109 head of hogs on 7,3; acres of standing wheat and 1 acre of pasture from July 30 to August 17. The hogs made a gain of 212 pounds per acre and gave a net value per acre of $15.73. The net returns from 44 acres of wheat alongside, yielding 19? bushels per acre, were only $8.04 per acre. Field peas —The field pea is one of the most satisfactory crops to harvest with hogs. The quality of feed-furnished is of the very best, hogs are very fond of the mature peas, and under good management 8 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. the crop is gathered with but very little waste. Most varieties of peas are comparatively large and difficult to cover. What is shat- tered usually lies on the surface of the ground until picked up later. The hogs are turned into the field about the time the last peas are nearly mature. In most districts they may be used until about October 1, or until there is danger of the crop being damaged by wet weather. A protracted autumn rain fallmg upon a heavy crop that the hogs have not cleaned up may cause the peas to sprout. To prevent this the vines are sometimes burned as soon after the rain as they are dry enough. Burning the vines leaves the peas lying upon the surface of the ground. It is not necessary to burn the vines, however, if a movable fence is used and the hogs are made to clean up the crop m small areas that will last from two to three weeks each. Since ripe, mature peas are rich in protein, green succulent feed in addition to the peas will help to balance the ration. Corn.—Where corn is successfully grown it is an excellent crop to hog down. Carefully conducted tests at the Mimnesota experiment station show that hogs waste no more corn in the field than when fed in lots, and that they gather it as clean as most men do in husking.1 Farm experience also bears out this conclusion. Corn is advanta- geously used from the time the ears are well glazed until the weather becomes unfavorable and the ground muddy. In some districts of the Northwest, where the rainfall is scant, corn can be hogged off far into the winter. There is slightly less waste if a movable fence is used and the hogs are not turned mto more corn than they can consume in 15 or 20 days. Especially is this true when the ground becomes wet and muddy. Barley.—As a crop to hog off, barley is used durmg the summer, autumn, and winter. Because the beards, when dry and hard, are so severe on the mouth of the hog, the common beardless barley is generally used during the summer and early autumn. The bearded varieties usually outyield the beardless considerably, and for this reason the former are generally preferred for late autumn and winter use. There are some, however, who prefer the beardless varieties for all seasons. | If sown very early in the spring, beardless barley generally ripens about ten days or two weeks earlier than winter wheat. This makes it one of the first crops available for hoggmg off in the early summer. The hogs are turned into the field when the first patches are ripening, or when the kernels are in the stiff-dough stage. Hogs do only fairly well on mature bearded barley when the beards are dry and stiff. After the autumn rains have softened the beards and kernels, however, they take to it readily. For late autumn and 1 Gaumnitz, D. A., Wilson, A. D., and Bassett, L. B. Pork production. Minnesota Agricultural Ex- periment Station, Bulletin 104, p. 63-119, 9 fig., 1907. PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. 9 winter use the bearded varieties are allowed to stand in the field until the fall rams have set in well. This usually gives plenty of time after harvest for the hogs to glean the stubble field. Blue barley, a bearded variety, is generally sown for late fall and winter use. When allowed to stand in the field it does not shatter and sprout nearly so easily as wheat or the so-called winter varieties of barley. On a farm in Umatilla County, Oreg., during November, 1910, 80 hogs were pastured 18 days and 98 hogs 10 days on 11.4 acres of bar- ley on a steep hillside. The gain in weight averaged 230 pounds per acre, having a value of $18.35 per acre. The estimated yield of Fic. 4.—A hillside on the farm of W. H. Steen, Umatilla County, Oreg., too steep for the use of a binder, but satisfactorily harvested by hogs. The shotes in the picture are gleaning the barley after the fattening hogs have taken the greater part of the feed. barley was 21 bushels per acre. Figure 4 shows the hillside with shotes gleaning the barley after the fattening hogs have taken off practically all the feed. DETERMINING THE AREA TO BE HOGGED OFF. In order to reduce the waste to a.minimum, the area of each crop hogged off must be thoroughly cleaned up. Owing to the variation in crop yields and the quantity of grain that hogs of different sizes will consume, it is not always easy to determine the acreage of each crop to be used in this way. Suppose a portion of the main winter- wheat crop is to be fenced and hogged off from the time the grain is just past the stiff-dough stage, say July 10, until the stubble field is open, August 15. What area of the winter wheat shall be set aside 23557°—Bull, 68—14—_2 10 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. to be used in this way? This may be determined in two ways, as follows: (1) When the first spots in the field are nearly ripe or when the kernels have just passed the stiff-dough stage, measure and fence a small trial area, enough to last the herd of hogs for only a few days. From July 10 to August 15 is 36 days. If a trial area of one acre lasts the herd 6 days, as many acres of wheat must be reserved as the number of times 6 is contained in 36, or 6 acres. (2) By the second method, the yield of the crop per acre and the quantity of feed that the herd of hogs will consume per day are estimated. Suppose that the yield of wheat is 30 bushels, or 1,800 pounds, per acreand the herd of hogs will consume 400 pounds of wheat per day. Ii 400 pounds of wheat are consumed in one day, an acre, or 1,800 pounds, will last 4.5 days. Ii one acre lasts 4.5 days, 8 acres will be required to last 36 days, 1. e., from July 10 to August 15. The quantity of wheat that the herd of hogs will consume per day can be determined quite accurately by weighing their feed for a few days just before they are turned into the field. In the case of growing hogs, they will consume a little more each day as they grow older. THE AREA OF GRAIN TO HOG OFF AT ONE TIME. Crops are hogged off in two ways: (1) By subdividing the field with a movable fence into small areas that will last the hogs from 10 to 20 days and (2) by turning the hogs into the entire field in the begin- ning. No data are at hand showing which of these methods is more economical. While both are used in the Pacific Northwest, the latter is the one generally practiced. Where crops are used in this way during the late fall and winter in ihe more humid portions of the wheat belt and west of the Cascade Mountains, where the autumn rains are frequently heavy, the area should probably be limited so that it will be cleaned up in 15 or 20 days. In the arid and semi- arid districts or when used during the dry season in the more humid localities, there is probably no good reason why the area hogged off should not be all that the hogs will clean up nicely during the season. Much larger areas doubtless can be hogged off on sandy or gravelly soils than on clay soils that become sticky when wet. . CROPS SUITABLE FOR PASTURE AND HOGGING OFF. The three Pacific Northwestern States to which this bulletin ts primarily applicable may be divided into three distinct agricultural districts: (1) Western Oregon and western Washington—that portion of these two States lying west of the Cascade Mountains, (2) the wheat belt, and (3) the irrigated valleys. Because of their great variation in topography, elevation, rainfall, soil, temperature, etc., these three districts present a wide range of agricultural possibilities. For this reason the crops that may be used in economical hog production in each area are discussed separately. PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. ita CROPS FOR WESTERN OREGON AND WESTERN WASHINGTON. The moist, mild climate of this district makes it possible to provide an abundance of cheaply grown forage for hogs throughout the entire year. The number of crops which may be used for this purpose is very great. The growing of most of them is discussed im detail in Farmers’ Bulletin 271 of this department, ‘Forage Crop Practises in Western Oregon and Western Washington,” to which the reader is referred. Only such points of information as can not be easily found elsewhere are presented here. USE OF VARIOUS PASTURE CROPS. Table I shows suitable pasture crops im western Oregon and western Washington, with the dates of planting and use. Tasik |.—Pasture crops for western Oregon and western Washington. | | Number of hogs Crops. | When planted. Approximate dates when used. | an acre | will | pasture. ! ClOV ER te eee ae 2k AST CVIOUSHVCATaeee sa a aes | April 1 to November 1......... 8 to 16 GAN Pat eevee eae seu wre cS Se GOERS tage Saber eee aeoe Oe Sh Ga eer es 8 to 16 VapednnOwseess- secs mec - es ATI am dia Olan ee June 1 to November1......-.-. 8 to 14 Rape anGdiOats=-—4 esses <2 April-25 to May 15.22/22 5.22.22 June 25 to November 1......-- 6 to 15 Rape andscloverrecseae= 222 Ma yatosto: Jimme pl eeesnen 2 JulyalstorNovember ls 22... 6 to 15 RG DC re Ace a see aoe ones July (in corn at last cultiva- | October 1 to Aprill........... 5 to 8 tion). Vetch and wheat, vetch and |...-. GOs see as ee peeaeeon Cl Oneee ce 5a weet areas 5 to 8 oats, or vetch alone. ; Vetch and wheat or vetch and | September (on spring stubble).| November 1 to April1l...-..... 5 to8 oats. : a” English rye-grass...........-- Early spring or early fall.....- | November 1 to July 1......... 5 to 14 Wantenwheates ---=-- 88 -e September 1 to October 15....) February, March, and April... 6 to 12 We tchi== sac a5 cone Seplemibe near esas = sas noe jeMiarchstoOnubyell= eepeey eee ee 8 to 16 1 The number of hogs that can be pastured per acre depends upon (1) the productiveness of the soil, (2) the variation of the season, (3) the management of the pasture, (4) the size of the hogs, and (5) the kind and quantity of other feed the hogs receive in addition to the pasture. From a study of Table [it will be seen that pasture may be provided for swine in western Oregon and western Washington throughout the entire year. It is not intended that all of these crops shall be used on any one farm. The purpose of the table is to assist the farmer in the selection of pasture crops which may meet the needs and condi- ‘tions of his farm. If intended for late fall, winter, and early spring use, a pasture ‘should not be grazed during the autumn, in order that a large amount of forage may accumulate. This is necessary with almost all winter forage crops, for growth practically ceases when winter begins. The forage that is allowed to accumulate during the autumn is grazed during the winter. It must be understood also that there are times during the winter When most soils west of the Cascade Mountains become so wet that the tramping of the hogs does a great deal of injury by puddling the soil. For this reason it is zenerally considered best to remove the hogs from the pasture when a heavy rain fails. This is not always 12 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. necessary, however, as, for example, on sandy soils and pastures with a close grass sod. Clover-—Of the legumes, red clover for well-drained soils and alsike for wet lands are generally the most satisfactory. The clovers make their maximum growth durmg the months of April, May, and June. When the summer drought comes on, the quantity of forage produced gradually decreases. If a clover pasture is utilized to its fullest capacity during the spring and early summer, it is necessary to provide additional green feed for the dry season. This may be done by grazing the clover meadow during the summer after removing a crop ‘of hay. Alfalfa. —Alfalfa is not used so paises as clover for hog pasture west of the Cascade Mountains. It has been tried in many localities with varying degrees of success. It has given best satisfaction on the sandy or loamy soils along the watercourses where the water table is at least 4 feet below the surface. Alfalfa is highly successful in the Umpqua and Rogue River Valleys on irrigated and subirrigated land. Under conditions favorable to its growth, it produces an abundance of feed from early spring until late in the fall. Rape in cultwated rows.—lf grown in rows and kept well cultivated, rape furnishes excellent green forage during the dry season when clover pasture is cut short by the summer drought. In growing rape in rows the land is prepared early and kept in good condition until planting time. The best results are secured by making three plantings on approximately April 1, 15, and 30. These three areas are then pastured alternately, the hogs being changed from one to the other. By thorough cultivation rape can be kept growing allsummer. It is usually large enough to pasture with light hogs in 6 to 8 weeks after planting. Before brood sows and other grown hogs are turned on the rape, it should be large enough so that they will feed upon the leaves instead of biting off the stem or pulling up the plants. When the fall rains come, rape makes a vigorous growth and can be used until the ground is so wet that the soil is injured by the tramping of the hogs. Rape and oats—Summer pasture is also provided by sowing 1 bushel of oats and 4 pounds of rape seed per acre during the latter part of April or early in May. If sown too early in the spring the rains pack the soil so hard that the rape does poorly. Oats and rape pasture is used from the time the growth is 5 or 6 inches high until winter begins. When hogs are pastured on rape and oats they do not work on the latter very much (unless the pasture is grazed closely) until the oats are nearly ripe. In stripping the ripe grain from the straw considerable is dropped on the ground and covered by the tramping of the hogs. The grain that is covered in this way germi- nates when the fall rains begin. Both the oats and rape then grow vigorously and make excellent fall and winter pasture. PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. he Winter pasture is also provided by sowing rape with oats intended for hay or grain. When sown in this way the rape grows but little until after the oats are harvested and the autumn rains have begun. Rape and clover.—One of the most satisfactory ways of providing summer pasture is to sow rape and clover together late in May or early in June. For the details of this method, see Farmers’ Bulletin 271 of this department. Rape wn corn.—From 3 to 4 pounds of rape seed per acre are some- times sown in corn during July, just before the last cultivation. If the corn is planted on a well-prepared seed bed and kept thoroughly cultivated, so that the soil will remain moist, the rape usually germi- nates in about five days. It then furnishes excellent green succulent forage during the autumn while the corn is being hogged off. If the Fia. 5.—A one-horse disk grain drill used for planting grain between the rows of standing corn. corn crop is husked or cut and removed from the field and the rape allowed to grow until late in the fall, the rape furnishes good pasture ' from November 1 to April 1. Vetch and wheat, or vetch and oats, or vetch alone.—Vetch sown alone or with wheat or oats in corn at the last cultivation or in the early fall on spring-plowed stubble land furnishes pasture for hogs during the late fall, winter, and early spring. “One bushel of vetch and a bushel of oats or 40 pounds of wheat are used per acre. If sown alone, from 90 to 120 pounds of vetch seed are required per acre. The seed is either planted with a one-horse grain drill which runs between the rows of corn or it is sown broadcast from the back of a horse. Soko o es. cse April 1 to to November 1....-- 10 to 20 Alfalfa is most generally used for hog pasture under irrigation. There are many who prefer clover, however, especially in the moun- tain valleys, because it starts growth earlier in spring and is less in- jured by fall frost than alfalfa. The two crops are sometimes grown together. It is claimed that a mixture of the two will carry nearly one-third more hogs per acre than either grown alone. ° In the mountain valleys where the cereals are important crops, clover fits into the rotations better than alfalfa. In the Powder River Valley, Oreg., red clover is grown in a 2-year rotation with wheat, oats, or barley. The clover is sown in the early spring and after the grain is harvested makes excellent pasture until winter. The following | June acrop of hay is cut. About the middle of July, when the second crop is about 10 inches high, the clover is plowed under and the ground worked down immediately. The following spring the land is again sown to clover and wheat, oats, or barley. Where there is plenty of water for irrigation throughout the season, the clover sod is not plowed under until during the autumn. | WINTER FEEDS. TABLE X.—IWinter feeds in the irrigated valleys. Crops. : When planted. When used. A ialia Nay 55027 osaae see ee ee ee A PIeVi0lS Veal sss" =. eo ace November 1 to April 15. EVOOL ClOpPS 32 tes. Be ee A priland® May: 0M 22. ee es Oo. Bundle or headed wheat.........-- Rall Or Spring ce ie a ee ee ee Late fall, winter, and early spring. acid Meas: yee ea be ee Marly Sprine: sie eee eee Do. ‘ PSEIICHOKES Bose Soe Sots See April (same as potatoes)........| November 1 to April 15. 1 Artichokes are best adapted to the lower irrigated districts, where the winters are open enough to permit the hogs to work on the tubers. They are used from the time ‘that alfalfa pasture fails in the autumn until it is available again in the spring. Even in the lower valleys there are times during the winter when the ground is frozen too hard for the hogs to root out the tubers. Alfalfa hay, roots, or other feed must then take the place of the artichokes. A discussion of the use of these crops will be found under “ Winter feeds,’’ pages 21 to 23. PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. Dut CROPS TO HOG OFF. TaBLE X1.—Crops to hog off in the irrigated valleys. Crops. When planted. Approximate dates when used. iBeandilessibarley.e