HOGS — HORSES. 743 



enrich the farm faster than other stock, dropping tlie manure 

 mostly on the highest places, where it is needed, and return the 

 most money for labor expended. Every farmer should keep a 

 few sheep anyway, as they are good to kill weeds and briars. 



HOGS. 



Although hogs are the most prominent in all the rich corn 

 growing regions of the West, and will return more money, they 

 require much more labor. It is hard work from beginning to 

 end, and is very exhaustive to the land. A man that has but 

 a small farm Avill do better to produce hogs only. The Poland 

 China and Berkshire are the leading breeds. 



HORSES. 



A bank or basement stable is not a healthy or fit place to 

 keep horses. My stable is at the south end of the barn, with 

 half doors in the south to let the rays of the sun in and for 

 ventilation, and to throw manure out. The floor is two feet 

 above ground, and is kept clean, with plenty of straw for bed- 

 ding, — the manure pile being hauled away as fast as made. I 

 never tie my horses up, or imprison them in any way, but turn 

 them all together, with the stable door left open, and give them 

 all the liberty of the barn-yard, straw-stack, and water trough, 

 and they are always peaceable and happy, and ready for their 

 feed. I feed my horses what fodder or hay they will eat, twice 

 a day, with two ears of corn twice a day, increasing the feed 

 as the working season of Spring approaches, but never feed- 

 ing over nine ears. Change their feed often in hot weather, 

 and give them a tablespoonful of salt, with hickory wood aslies 

 every other day in the corner of their trough, but never on 

 their feed. Never keep more horses than you need. I keep 

 from ten to fifteen head, and give them no condition powders, 

 or other poisonous drugs, and have never had one of them 

 sick. A barn-yard well, that takes in all the filth of the barn- 

 yard, is a source of disease among stock. I always warm the 

 bridle-bits before putting them in the horses' moutlis. If you 



