SOLON ROBINSON, 1846 45 



York State the past summer, is far nearer the truth. I 

 don't believe the average of the Union is greater than 

 that of the State of New York. 



Pigstyes. — Very good — much like mine — nothing new. 

 My plan better. Excuse an old sea-captain who is in the 

 habit of speaking positive. My floor falls each way from 

 the centre, two inches in ten feet, so that the wet cannot 

 run into the beds. My troughs run the whole length of 

 the front, and have horizontal doors so hung, that when 

 swung back, the latch falls on the inside edge of the 

 trough, which leaves it for cleaning or filling on the out 

 side of the pen. When the food is in, raise the latch and 

 the hogs push the door forward until the latch falls on 

 the outside of the trough, and holds it there until you 

 want to feed again. The advantage besides the conven- 

 ience, is, that all the hogs come at once to the feed and 

 share it more equally. And you know, in spite of all 

 education, hogs will be hoggish, as well as folks, about 

 their eating. 



Shoiv of the Berkshire Agrictdtural Society. — This 

 comes from a ready pen,^ the traces of which I should like 

 to see oftener in your pages. It also reminds me of home, 

 though I would not from this have your readers think 

 that I am Berkshire born. This, I believe, is the oldest 

 Society of the kind in the United States, and like some of 

 my friends, it grows better with every year. May the 

 Spanish salutation apply most particularly to it ; and may 

 all its doings tend to 



"Variegate, adorn, 

 And make the farmer's home delightful." 



The Alpaca, No. 1. — This No. is the most interesting 

 of the series, though there is that in it which looks rather 

 discouraging to those about engaging in the importation 

 of Alpacas into the United States. I am more and more 

 convinced, that if the attempt is made to bring them 

 around Cape Horn, a large portion of them may be ex- 



^ W. Bacon, of Mount Osceola, Massachusetts. 



