Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1877 — Sulphur for Swine. [ARTICLE]

Sulphur for Swine.

Whether hogs lequire sulphur as an essential to health or whether it is sought by them as a condiment may not be discovered. But one thing is true, they devour it with greed whenever it is to be found. 'lt is for this purpose probably that they will eat large quantities of soft coal, which contains a large amount of sulphur. Perhaps this is the most economical method of supplying hogs with sulphur during winter, when they require a great deal of carborn. But in summer it is best to feed it to them in substances which contain less carbon, on account of their producing less heat. Mustard is one of the best things for this purpose, and some of it should be sown in every pasture into which hogs are turned. It hogs are kept in sifTall vards, it is well to supply them with wild mustard, that grows in the fields or highways, or to cultivate some of the best varieties for them. They will eat its leaves, its flowers, seeds and stalks. Some years ago we had occasion to buy a large quantity of Hocking Valley (Ohio) coal. It was stored in a lot in rear of a factory, easily entered by the neighbors’ hogs, which were permitted -to"* run at large in the town. On several occasions these hogs were observed to be eating the coal, and became such a nuisance that they were excluded. They appeared to select the purest lumps, or those which on the fire would yield the most tar —melting, so to speak. These hogs were many of them very fat. not seeming to require food. —Louisiana Home Journal.