314 COWS, SHEEP, HOGS, &C. [PART II. 



307. For these reasons, if [ were settled as a 

 farmer, I would let ray 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 two years to 

 grow in. 



308. The reader will think, that I shall never 

 cease talking about hogs; but, I have now done, 

 only 1 will add, that, in keeping hogs in a grow- 

 ing state, we must never forget their lodging! 

 A few boards, flung carelessly over a couple of 

 rails, and no litter beneath, 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 ; and the floor constantly well 

 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 hogs' 

 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 T shiver at the thought, the place is not good 

 enough for my hogs. Tt is not in the nature of 

 a hog to sleep in the cold. Look at them. You 

 will see them, if they have the means, cover 

 themselves over for the night. This is what is 



