INTRODUCTORY. 42^ 



ends from the house ? With the bedding he is able to collect, 

 valuable manure is made, and eventually the sides of bacon 

 embellish the interior of his cottage, and provide very often the 

 only flesh he can afford during the winter. 



The pig has acquired a bad name as a dirty, unwholesome 

 animal, whereas he is simply the victim of circumstances. He 

 is particularly clean in his habits, and has a more sensitive 

 nature than the other animals with which he is domesticated. 

 Confined in a small stye with an open court, the latter unpaved 

 or so badly floored that water accumulates, with little or no 

 litter, is it to be wondered at that the place is dirty, and that a 

 foul smell proceeds from it ? The stye is often close to the 

 house, not unfrequently in dangerous proximity to the well, and 

 the innocent and otherwise useful friend of the family may thus 

 prove the source of deadly disease. Fortunately, the recent 

 sanitary legislation is rapidly effacing a condition of things 

 disgraceful to the age we live in. The pigstye has to be removed 

 and properly drained. Unfortunately there is no legislation 

 against the open court, which we consider at the root of the 

 mischief. Let the pig have a roof over his head, and he is- 

 no longer the source of bad smells. The manure is doubly 

 valuable, the animal thrives much faster, being particularly 

 sensitive to cold, and less bedding is required. 



When only one or two pigs are kept, a building 8ft. by 8ft^ 

 is quite sufficient. On the south side should be placed the door, 

 and the wall adjoining need not to be carried up more than 4ft. 

 high, thus leaving open, along the south side a space of about 2ft, 

 from the top of the wall, and close to the plate —this ensures 

 ventilation. The floor may be laid with a slight fall to one side, 

 and an opening in the brickwork allows of the escape of any 

 liquid ; but if carefully bedded, there will be little or no waste. 

 A small tank outside is useful to catch the drainings, which 

 otherwise must be taken away to the nearest outfall. By 

 extending the building another 4ft. in the clear, making the 

 extreme outside dimensions 14ft. Sin. by 9ft. 6in., we can make 

 a convenient privy and covered ashpit, which for cottagers' use 

 is preferable to the earth closet. 



Were it only for its value to the poor man we should esteem 

 the pig as a most desirable acquisition to our domesticated 



