FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 371 



while that fated with beans will shrink much in boiling, will 

 lose much of its fat, and be of interior taste. The cause 

 of meat sometimes shrinking very much, and losing much 

 of its oils in cooking, seems not to be well understood; 

 though the knowledge necessary tor preventing it would be 

 highly desirable. Generally speaking, it is believed, that 

 the more fully any animal is fated, the less its meat will 

 shrink and part with its oil in cooking. 



Mr. Peters says that Hogs, while fating, should- constant* 

 ly have some dry roten wood kept in the pen, which they 

 will eat occasionally ; and that he finds it very beneficial to 

 them, for the purpose of keeping them in a proper condi- 

 tion tor fating. He also says that food, when soured by a 

 proper degree ot fermentation, is much the best for fating, 

 and that oue gallon of sour wash will go as far as two of the 

 sweet, tor this purpose. He disapproves ot soiling Hogs, 

 and says the clover- pasture is much the best for them. 



Whatever method of fatcning Swine may be adopted, it 

 is essential that they be kept warm and clean, by having 

 plenty of litter, particularly when tne weather becomes 

 colder, and by having the sty frequently cleaned; and, that 

 they should have as much solid tood and drink as thty re- 

 quire. Their meals should also be regular, and as nearly 

 equi distant in point of time as possible. 



In the work last meiuioried, it is observed, that where 

 many Hogs are put up together to faten, ihey will fall away 

 at fiiii, it ever so well ted; which is atiributed to the noise 

 and contusion produced among them, by this new state of 

 keeping ; that, in sucn cases, it is not unfrequent for one ok 

 the iamiiy to become so much the object oi hatred to the 

 rest, as eventually to be killed by them; and, that it is 

 much the better way to have them in a number ot small 

 companies, detached from each other, so ihat the noise 

 and bustle will be less, and in order that they may more 

 unmoiestedly enjoy that repose which is most suitable to 

 their drowsy faculties. For this purpose, the sty should 

 have a number of distinct apartments, separated by close 

 partitions from each other, and where the inmates of each 

 can come forward separately to the general feeding-trough, 

 and retire separately again to rest. 



Where a Hog has surfeited itself by eating too much, 

 give it halt an ounce ot fl >ur of sulphur in some wash, 

 once or twice a duy, for two or three days; by which time 

 its appetite will be restored. Mr. Dcane advises, that posts 

 be set up in the sty for them to rub against, as they are 

 usually much inclined to rub themselves. 



The business ot fating Hogs should be begun so early in 

 the Fall, as to be completed before the cold weather sets in; 

 as atter this they will faten very slowly. Let it be com- 



