Ch. XLI.] 



THE PIGGERY, 



527 



By means of a yard constructed somewhat in that manner, Arthur 

 Young is said to have fattened eighty-eight hogs in one spring, with the 

 attendance of only one man ; whereas perhaps three miglit have been re- 

 quisite if it had not been so conveniently arranged. The total expense 

 of such a piggery, if constructed economically, would not, as he conceives, 

 amount to more than 150/.: it is, however, obvious that the size is onlv 

 calculated for persons who carry on the business of feeding to a larae ex- 

 tent ; but, " whatever might be the cost, the governing idea," he justly 

 observes, " may be followed in a stye of 201." His opinion, that it should 

 be built in a complete circle, would, however, if acted upon, have the dis- 

 advantage of not exposing the frontage of all the sties to the sun ; which is 

 an object of importance, as pigs are great lovers of warmth. 



Upon whatever scale the piggery is to be erected, it should be raised 

 upon a little declination, so as to allow of the drainage of the urine to keep 

 the animals dry, and divided into styes of between six and seven feet in 

 width, and fourteen or fifteen feet long ; the back part of which should be 

 covered with alow roof, and sufficiently large to allow a fattino- hoo- to lie 

 down conveniently. These styes are sometimes left open in front ; but 

 although ventilation should be attended to, yet, in cold weather, they 

 should be boarded nearly to the top, allowing only of a door to enter, and 

 a couple of inches open space at the bottom to carry off the urine. The 

 boards, if placed in a groove of the frame-work, can be removed at plea- 

 sure, either to clean the sty or to render it cool. The uncovered part, 

 which is used as a court for the animal to feed in, should be boarded in 

 front by a low paling, so as to admit the sun and air, and the trough for 

 the victuals placed in one corner ; but, as he is very apt to put his feet 

 into the trough, thus soiling and wasting his food, hinged shutters, pro- 

 vincially termed " witches," which give way to the pig's snout and close on 

 his withdrawing his head, are by some persons fixed before the trou"hs in 

 order to prevent him. Bars are also occasionally nailed at stated dis- 

 tances across the top of the trough, so as to confine each pig separately to 

 his food, without being able to drive away his fellows. A better mode, 

 however, is to place the trough outside the front paling of the pen, with a 

 hole in it only just large enough to admit of liis head ; by which means 



