THE HOG. 211 



a clean and dry state, and to preserve tlie valuable liquid manure, which 

 comes from the animals you keep. Some will probably inquire whether 

 it would not be better to suffer the moisture to soak into earth or straw, 

 or other substances on the Jloor of the inclosure, and then to clear all 

 away periodically, than to drain off the liquid into a tank. By drawing 

 off the liquid you add to the cleanliness of your swine, and, in pro- 

 portion, to their health and capacity for thriving; and the collection of 

 the liquid manure into tanks is less troublesome than the removal of 

 substances saturated with it, from the Hoor of the fold, would be. 



The sties should be so constructed as to admit of being closed up 

 altogether, when desirable ; for swine, even the hardiest breeds, are 

 susceptible of cold, and if exposed to it in severe weather, it will ma- 

 terially retard their fattening. The sty should be kept constantly sup- 

 plied with clean straw. The refuse carted into the tank will, in the form 

 of manure, more than repay the value of the straw. It has been asserted 

 that swine do not thrive if kept upon the same ground in considerable 

 mimbers; this assertion rests on a want of ventilation and cleanliness. 



As to troughs, let them be of stone or cast metal ; — if of wood, the 

 pigs will soon gnaw them to pieces; — and let them be ke2:)t clean. Be- 

 fore each feeding, a pail of water should be dashed into the trough; 

 this may be deemed troublesome, but it will confer golden returns on 

 those who attend to it. 



A supply of fresh water is essential to the well-being of swn'ne, and 

 should be freely furnished. Some recommend this to be effected by 

 having a stream brought through the piggery ; and undoubtedly, when 

 this can be managed, it answers better than any thing else. Swine are 

 dirty feeders, and dirty drinkers, usually plunging their fore-feet into 

 the trough or pail, and thus polluting with mud and dirt whatever may 

 be given to them. One of the advantnges, therefore, derivable from 

 the stream of running water being brought through the fold is, its being, 

 by its running, kept constantly clean and wholesome. If, therefore, you 

 are unable to procure this advantage, it will be desirable to present 

 water in vessels of a size to receive but one head at a time, and of such 

 height as to render it impossible or difficult for the drinker to get his 

 feet into it. The water should be renewed twice daily. 



We have hitherto been describing a piggery capable of containing a 

 large number; a greater proportional profit will be realized by keeping 

 a number of swine than a few. It may happen, however, that want of 

 capital, or of inclination to embark in swine-feeding as an actual specu- 

 lation, may induce many to prefer keeping a small number of pigs, or 

 even perhaps one or two, in which case such accommodations as have 

 been described would be more than superfluous. In this case, a single 

 hut, well sheltered from wind and rain, and built with a due regard to 

 comfort, to warmth, with a little court surrounding its door, in which 

 the tenant may feed, obey the calls of nature, and disport himself, or 

 bask in the sunshine, will be found to answer; a small stone trough, or 

 a wooden one, bound with iron, to preserve it from beirg gnawed to 

 pieces, will complete the necessary furniture. The trough will serve 

 alternately for food and drink. Even, however, when this limited ac- 

 commodation is resorted to, a strict attention to cleanliness is no less 



