MANAGEMENT OF PIGS. 179 



has beon eminently satisfactory where the nurserymen 

 have land enough to raise their own clover hay. 



But where land is very high, and where, consequently, 

 it will not pay to raise clover hay, some other system 

 must be adopted. Pig feeding would seem to offer the 

 best prospects of producing the richest manure at the 

 least cost. 



For this purpose, the first requisite is a good breed of 

 pigs, that will mature early, and fatten at any age, so that 

 they could be disposed of at any time when choice fresh 

 pork was in demand, at good prices. Unfortunately, such 

 pigs are difficult to find, and will continue very scarce 

 until formers learn the importance of using none but 

 thorough-bred boars, of a highly refined breed, with 

 properly selected common sows. With young pigs, so 

 bred, we have no doubt that the system of feeding pigs 

 on purchased food might be profitably adopted near our 

 large cities. Certainly, manure could be obtained in this 

 way at far less cost, in proportion to its value, than is now 

 generally paid for it. A study of the table on page 139, 

 showing the value of manure from different foods, and an 

 examination of the results of Lawes' and Gilbert's experi- 

 ments in feeding pigs with different foods, showing what 

 kinds produce the greatest increase, will enable any one 

 to select feeding stuffs with judgment and economy. 

 Three things have to be considered : the cost of the food ; 

 its feeding value, and the value of the manure obtained 

 from its consumption. We have given all the data nec- 

 essary to enable any intelligent man to engage in this 

 business with confidence and success. If there is any 

 error, it is on the safe side, for we are satisfied, from our 

 own experience, that well-bred pigs can be so fed as to 

 give a greater increase from the food consumed than was 

 obtained in Mr. Lawes' experiments, when no special at- 

 tention was paid to the breed. In this connection some 

 useful hints may be obtained from the following chapter. 



