ARTICHOKES FOR PIGS.

Shannon News, 10 August 1923, Page 2

ARTICHOKES FOR PIGS.

All daily fanners who go in for feeding pigs on skim milk or whey generally find in the autumn, when the cows are going off their milk they have a shortage oi feed for their pigs and start to look around to see what they can give them. The fortunate ones, who have made provision for their pigs, can hang on till the spring comes and milk iB available to finish them off. The farmer who never looks ahead in the way of providing suitable food has to sacrifice his pigs at auction, and buy again in the spring when they are dear, and a good demand exists. With future prospects of an export of pork it will devolve on farmers to go in more for the business of pig raising, 'and a,t the same time to supplement the skim milk by growing suitable food for fattening pigs. Artichokes in future will play an important part as <a winter feed.. Planted in September or October like potatoes and given similar cultivation, they are ready to turn pigs on to about April. An acre will keep six or eight sows with their young for four months or more. The

young pigs thrive well on this vegetable. This was my experience this winter with, a quarter of an acre. I would advise farmers to pick out as dry a piece of ground as possible, manure well, preferably with farm manure; plant rows 2ft 6in. apart, and sets about Ift., which qould be cult. Artichokes will not rot in the ground, but bagged will not keep for any length of time. Ridge up in same manner as potatoes, and give plenty of cultivation till plants are a foot to 18in. high. They will grow to six or eight feet, high with many tubers to a root. Not only are pigs very fond of them!, but calves and cows also. It will be impossible for the pigs to get all the artichokes, so by ploughing the ground again in spring and cultivating, will again carry on for another season. Another crop worthy of attention are peas, which are easily • grown and harvested with the horse rake (without cutting) are stacked. The peas are then fed out to the pigs who will do their own threshing. The straw also makes good bedding. It is surprising what a difference the pea-s make when fed in'"conjunction with milk. Pigs fatten in half the lime and consume less milk per day. Horse beans could also be grown and fed m the s'ame manner.