PIGS. 



m 



pigs are cut wlien five or six weeks old ; but my sows, if 

 intended for quarter pork, are not spayed, as this operation 

 botli throws them back and disfigiu-es them. Many people 

 recommend a spayed sow for the ])oor, but I always recom- 

 mend a barrow pig", as gTowing- to a larger size than the 

 spayed sow pig-, and in being- far superior meat to an old 

 spayed sow. In choosing- a pig-, look out for one with a 

 wide open chest, well filled up from the ears to the tail, 

 small-toed, and with meat in the fore-arm dowTi to the 

 knee, and in the ham down to the hock; a fine and short 

 tail, with a small spread of hairs at the end. Let the breed 

 be more inclined to make flesh than fat, and fine in the 

 g-rain ; and the preference should be given to a breed famed 

 for broad backs and small entrails, for large-belhed pigs do 

 not pull down the scale. ^ 



Journal of Agriculture, July 1846. 



Art. XVII.— P I G S. 



From Report of the Deputation of the Maidstone Farmers' 



Club. 



Mr. Barnes's pigs form, as far as the deputation know, a 

 iinique feature in fai-m management. He has some young- 

 ones which were very promising; and some eight or ten 

 splendid animals fattening in the bay of a barn. The greater 

 number of these pigs, however, amounting to 300 in number, 

 have liberty to go where they please ; in and about the 

 orchards, meadows, yards, &c. excepting- at dinner and 

 supper time. This fact speaks highly for the state of Mr. 

 Barnes's gates and fences, and the diligence of his swine- 

 herd. Mr. Barnes makes these animals dress one of his 

 meadows somewhat in the manner of folding. The pigman 

 takes a sack of peas on his back, and drops them in a small 

 train along the ground as he walks, for the pigs to pick up, 

 making a wider circle day by day, till the pigs have been 

 over the whole gTound. 



Agricultural Gazette, Sept. 5, 1846. 



' For further information on Fattening Swine, see the Journal of Agri- 

 culture for September 1839. 



