SWINE. 367 



knife, fork, or spoon, no napkin or tablo-clotli ; but, as lias well 

 been said, " he likes a clean plate." 



The hog-pen is quite as important to the swine, as the dining- 

 room, parlor, or bed-chamber to man. There is more ignorance 

 and unpardonable animal abuse on this subject than on almost 

 any other; we do not now speak of the yard, which should bo 

 large and roomy, but the pen should be well built, dry, airy, 

 well floored and roofed, and constantly supplied with fresh 

 litter. It is indispensable that hogs should have a clean, dry, 

 comfortable, wholesome lodging place. 



On the subject of food, no uniform rule can be laid down. It 

 must depend upon the situation and circumstances of each par- 

 ticular case. Corn will, of course, always be an important ele- 

 ment in the food of fatting hogs ; but apples, boiled and mixed 

 with meal, or boiled potatoes, will be found very nutritious and 

 profitable, especially where orchards are so abundant as they 

 are with us. Store hogs will eat almost any and every thing; 

 and the proper and profitable management of them will tax the 

 ingenuity, patience and industry of the farmer; weeds, corn- 

 stover, the wash of the dairy and the table, small potatoes, 

 windfalls and other poor apples, beets, and corn, unfit for other 

 purposes, may all be turned -to the best account with store 

 hogs. 



Manure is one of the most important objects in the business 

 of swine rearing. This is the great point where so many of 

 our farmers fail. By proper management store pigs will pay 

 for their keeping by the manure they make. Why so many 

 barren, unproductive farms ? What need of such scant crops 

 of hay and grain, within a stone's throw of your hog-pen and 

 yard? None, whatever. If the hog-pen cannot be constructed 

 to connect with the barn, stable, and yard, then build a good 

 large yard to connect with the hog-pen ; cart in muck, peat, 

 leaves, straw, dirt, and refuse, and decayed vegetation of all 

 kinds ; repeat the experiment as often as it will answer. Let 

 your young litters in upon it, to practice the maxim, " root, pig, 

 or die ;" and as the sports and pleasures of pighood begin to 

 decay, and the sober realities of hoghood and old age come 

 stealing on, let the older members of the family understand 

 that life to them is short, and whatever they do, cither for their 



