176 Cows, Sheep, HogSj &c. [Part II. 



der whence are to come the mouths to eat the meat. 

 In France du lard is a thing to smell to, not to eat. 

 I like the eating far better than the smelling system ; 

 but ■when we are talking about farming for gain, we 

 ought to inquire how any given weight of meat can be 

 obtained at the cheapest rote. A hog in his third year, 

 would, on the American plan, suck half a dairy of cows 

 perhaps; but, then, mind, he would, upon a t/iird part 

 of the fatting food, weigli down four Long Island 

 *' shuts," the average weight of which is about one hun- 

 dred and fifty pounds. 



306. A iiog, upon rich food, will be much bigger at 

 the end of a year, than a hog upon good growing diet ; 

 but, he will not be bigger at the end of t%t:o years, and 

 especially at the end of three years. His size is not 

 to he forced on, any more than that of a child, beyond 

 a certain point. 



307. For these reasons, if I were settled as a farmer, 

 I Mould let my hogs have time to come to their size. 

 Some sorts come to it at an earlier period, and this is 

 amongst the good qualities of my English hogs ; but, 

 to do the thing well, even they ought to have txco years 

 to groAv in. 



308. The reader will think, that I shall never cease 

 talking about hogs ; but, I have now done, only I will 

 add, that, in keeping hogs in a growing state, we must 

 never forget their lodging ! A few boards, flung care- 

 lessly over a couple of rails, and no litter berealh, is 

 not the sort of bed for a hog. A place of suitable size, 

 large rather than small, well sheltered on every side, 

 covered with a roof that lets in no wet or snow. No 

 opening, except a door way big enough for a hog to go 

 in ; ami the floor constantly Avell bedded with leaves of 

 trees, dry, or, which is the best thing, and what a hog 

 deserves, plenty of clean straw. When I make up my 

 hog's lodging place for winter, I look well at it, and 

 consider, whether, upon a pinch, I could, for once and 

 away, make shift to lodge in it myself. If I shiver at 

 the ihovght, the place is not good enough for ray hogs. 

 It is not in the nature of a hog to sleep in the cold. 

 Look at them. You will see them, if they ha^e the 

 means, cover themselves over for the night. This is 



