ISSSJ 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



89 



their fatting commences, which consists in adding, 

 for each of them three quarts of cracked corn to 

 their daily allowance of vegetables, for three 

 months, when they are killed as near the first of 

 October and the first of April as may be. Thus 

 yau will observe the 1st of October and the 1st of 

 April are busy days in my piggery, and the little 

 pigs are then weaned, the sows again put to the 

 bo°ars, the fat hogs sold off, the store pigs removed 

 to the fiittening pens, and my system completed. 

 To feed this stock, consisting of 

 72 pigs from one to six months old, and 

 72 pigs from six to twelve months old, and 

 12 old sows, and 

 2 boars; in all 



158 mouths— we boil a kettle of vegetables, con- 

 taining six bushels, to which is added one bushel 

 of cracked corn three times a day, and after put- 

 ting this mass into the swill trough and mixing it 

 intimately, we add as much water as will make 112 

 gallons, or for each bushel of vegetables and corn 

 sixteen gallons. This swill is then distributed 

 sweet and warm to the stock, morning, noon, and 

 night, with great regularity, in the following pro- 

 portions, VIZ : 



In October, November and December — to each 

 of 72 pigs, from one to three months old, one gal- 

 lon; and to each of 72 pigs from six to nine months 

 old, three gallons. 



In July, February and March — to each of 72 

 pigs, from three to six months old, two gallons; 

 and to each of 72 pigs from nine to twelve months 

 old, 2 gallons, with 3 quarts of corn. 



In April, May and June — to each of 72 pigs, 

 from six to nine months old, 3 gallons; and to each 

 of 72 pigs, from one to three months old. one gal- 

 Jon. ' 



In July, August and September — to each of 72 

 pigs, from nine to twelve months old, 2 o-allons; 

 and to each of 72 pigs, from three to six nujuths 

 old, 3 gallons with 3 quarts of corn. 



8 oralis. 



8 .rails. 



And these eight.gallons, divnled by their terms, 

 or four, show that ol> an average, throughout the 

 year, two gallons are required daily per head for 

 the 144 pigs; or equal to 2S8 gallons; and to our 

 twelve breeding sows, and two boars, we give per 

 day, three gallons each, or equal to 42 fcrallons. 

 making, altogetiier, an agirregate of 330 ir.illons; 

 thus quite consuming our three messes of 112 gal- 

 lons each. By the different ages of the |)igs, as 

 above combined, we have a constant and dully call 

 for the same quantity of swill throughout the year, 

 so that our business proceeds with perfect regu- 

 larity. — 



Baltimore, Nov. 21st. 1825. 



Dear Sir, — Your detailed account of the ma- 

 nasrtJment of your piggery, has atl'orded me lireat 

 pleasure and instruction. And your very obliging 

 ofi'er to send me a list of the vegetables raised lor 

 your monthly supply, tenipis me, not only to ask 

 for It, but tor some other explanations which you 

 likewise proffer. I am anxious to have a summary 

 view of the total quantity of each and every kind 

 of food used in your piggery per anniuii — the cost 

 of raising or purchasing the food — the extent of 

 and on which it is, or might be raised — the labor 

 of feeding and attending at other times — the an- 

 VoL. VII— 5 



nual weight and value of the pork killed — the usual 

 number and value of supernumerary pigs — the 

 probable value of your farm, and the food consum- 

 ed — and the quantity and quality of the manure 

 saved or produced, as well as the cost of an equi- 

 valent in manure, if otherwise obtainable. I have, 

 you see, some curiosity; but I persuade myself, 

 that it cannot give one so systematic as yourself) 

 any trouble to answer me on each of these points, 

 and in a way to show me at a glance of the eye, 

 that it is belter for you to convert your vegetables 

 and corn into pork and manure than sell vegetables;^ 

 whilst I shall at the same time, be taught econo- 

 my and method by your precept and example, 

 which I will endeavor to observe, and imitate at 

 my breeding establishment. I feel somewhat at a 

 loss as to the manner of building my pens; and on 

 the inclosed paper, you will see doubts exemplified 

 in rouiih diagrams; your correction on these would 

 particijlarly oblige me. It is my desire to build 

 them in a long narrow shed, on one side of my 

 barn yard; and to have at one end, cooking and 

 vegetable apartments. 



At your request, I am induced to ask whether it 

 would not be better, that is to say, cheaper, to 

 steam than to boil your vegetables ? I have seen 

 it stated in the explanations of Scotch implements, 

 published by the Board of Agriculture, in the 

 year 1814, that one person, by a simple apparatus, 

 may steam in an hour, Ibod enough, say of pota- 

 toes, to feed fifty horses a day, at 32 lbs. tor each 

 horse. And I had quite concluded to procure a 

 boiler and steaming box from Scotland, on the 

 strength of that statement. 



I liiive been led to make some inquiries of you 

 in this letter, from an attempt to push your pro- 

 ceedings to their results; as you will see by the 

 enclosed estimates, which will best define the most 

 of my inquiries. 



Do you give the swill warm in summer as well 

 as in winter? Do you spay your sow pigs, nr put 

 fattening sows to the boar, shortly previous to kill- 

 ing ? Have you used the mangel wurtzel and ob- 

 served its comparative value or relish? I think 

 highly of it, and wish that it may be fairly tried by 

 every farmer in this country. In our climate it is 

 more certain and productive than any other root. 

 On this head I beg leave, however, to refer you, 

 (or my opinions, to No. 5, vol. iii. of the American 

 Farmer, in the notes on Mr. Cooper's account of 

 his several crops. And I. remain, truly, sir, your 

 obliged and obedient servant, 



John Skinner. 



Nathaniel Ingersoll, Esq. 



Estimate of Food, Fuel, Labor, 4*c. employed at 

 Mr. IngersolVs Piggery, per annum. 



6 bushels of veg-etahles, roots, &c. three 



, times per day=18 bushels per diem, 

 for 365 days=to 6570 bushels per an- 

 num, which at 25 cts. per bush.= $l,-542 50 



1 bushel of corn 3 times a day 

 added to the above for 365 

 . days, equals 1095 bu. 



13| bushels or 3 quarts per day 

 given to each of 144 fatten- 

 inij hogs, for three months 

 or 90 days, 1215 



Corn per annum, 2310 bu. 

 at 50 cents, 1155 00 



