SWINE. 175 



of cows. Its value, as compared with that of cows, may be seen 

 in the following table : — 



CONSTITUEKTS. Excrements Excremtnta 



of Cowa. of Hogs. 



Solid dry substances, 

 Nitrogen, . . . . 

 Minerals, as potash, lime, &c., 



Where the piggery is supplied with loam, peat, or road scrap- 

 ings, and mixed as growing hogs are apt to mix the mass, the 

 more volatile parts of these excrements are all utilized, and a 

 large amount is cheaply obtained. A thrifty hog, if you will 

 furnish him the materials, will make one cord of first quality 

 manure in a season. And it will not interfere with his health 

 and condition. He enjoys the exercise, and digests his food all 

 the better. The farmer may go to chemistry, or to Coe, or to 

 the Chincha Islands, to find a supply for the waste of his crops ; 

 but he will find nothing to take the place of the pig-sty. 



In estimating the profits of fattening swine perhaps the most 

 important preliminary inquiry is. Shall the farmer fatten and 

 kill his pigs at from eight or ten months old ; or shall he keep 

 over and send to market at from fifteen and eighteen months ? . 



Undoubtedly so far as money profit is concerned, he will 

 realize the greatest net gain at from eight to ten months. 

 With the smaller breeds and thrifty pigs, he can get a weight of 

 from 250 to 300 pounds, while as commonly managed, the 

 additional eight months only add about 100 pounds. Indeed, 

 experiments show that it costs but a trifle more to grow and 

 fatten a weaned spring pig to ten months old, than to fatten a 

 ten months' store hog from July to December. Under favor- 

 able circumstances, it may cost less ; and the net profit be in 

 favor of the pigs. 



One of our most careful feeders (Joseph Jennison of South- 

 borough,) put three shotes, Suffolk and Mackay, to fattening, 

 July 1. Their weight then was 200 pounds each. He fed 

 them fifty-three bushels of mixed grain, two-thirds corn and 

 one-third oatmeal, which cost 147.15. Their dressed weight 



