ON FATTENING PIGS. '57 



From Mr. Boswell's experiments, we learn that, during* an 

 equal space of time, the increase in the live weig-ht of five 

 pig's fed on steam-boiled food Avas 4 cwt. 2 qr. 7 lb., at an 

 expense of 61. Ids. 4:d. ; while the increase in the live weig'ht 

 of five pigs fed on raw food, was only 2 cwt. 2 qr. 21 lb., at 

 an expense of 6/. 8.^. 6d. : a result highly favourable to the 

 practice of feeding* swine on steamed food. 



Journal of Agriculture, July 1846. 



Art. XVI.— on FATTENING PIGS. 



By Mr. J. Steel. 



\^As quoted by J. H. Fennell, Author of^'A Natural History of British 

 Quadrupeds."'} 



In fattening' pig's, I have always found a mixture of barley 

 and peasmeal, moistened with milk in sufficient quantity to 

 make it of a drinkable nature, to be the best ; the pigs must 

 be rung- to make them lie quiet ; the sty should be Avann 

 and airy, and the sun not suffered to scorch their backs, as 

 thin-skinned white pigs are bhstered by it, which not only 

 renders them of an unsightly appearance, but retards their 

 thriving'. They should be protected from exposure to cold 

 winds, cold rains, sleet, and snow, — a subject not sufficiently 

 attended to on many farms, where they are allowed to lie in 

 heaps, shivering with the cold, in which case it is utterly 

 impossible that they can thrive. On the other hand, when 

 they are kept constantly in a close, pestilential atmosphere, 

 their constitution becomes undermined, they look very deli- 

 cate and sickly, like consumptive subjects, and never arrive 

 at any size or weight for their age. These extremes must 

 be carefully avoided, and the sty should have an open-barred 

 door, permitting' a current of fresh air to incessantly set in 

 and purity the place, conducing- to the animals acquiring- a 

 vig'orous habit, and a doubly increased size. Too much 

 cleanliness cannot be observed ; for nothing tends more to 

 their well-doing- than dr}' feet, a dry bed, and sweet air. It 

 is true that in summer they wallow in the mud, to get a 

 coat to shield them from the sun and files; but this only 

 proves that they require protection from excessive heat and 



