No. 11. 



The Fattening Hog-Sty. 



345 



THE FATTENING HOG-STY. 



The above representation of a hoof-sty is taken from an old folio work on agriculture and 

 husbandry; it exhibits a mode of feeding hogs which ought never to have fallen into disuse. 

 The only way in which it can be adopted is in feeding whole corn or grain, or that which 

 has been coarsely broken and kept dry ; but as many persons are still in the habit of feeding 

 whole grain in the most wasteful, loose, and inconvenient manner, the mode here pointed 

 out will no doubt very much interest thorn. It embraces many excellent purposes, and 

 should immediately be adopted on every farm where the feeding of whole or dry food is 

 practised ; it is simple, cheap, convenient, and applicable to all situations. 



In the first place, it takes little room in the erection; is under shelter; each hog has a 

 trough to himself, in which he cannot place his feet while feeding, nor disturb his fellow; 

 the corn or grain is delivered into the trough no faster than the hog eats it; it is never full 

 to overflowing, or empty, while any grain remains in the hopper ; the grain is kept dry, clean 

 and sweet, not being soiled by the feet of the animals or the moisture from their mouths; 

 and the feeder can apportion a given quantity of food to the hogs at the time of filling the 

 hopper, by which he may ascertain, when that is emptied, how much per hog has been 

 expended, keeping the account by scoring the date when, and the number of bushels placed 

 therein, on the side of the hopper by means of a piece of chalk, with the satisfaction of 

 knowing that each hog has had as much fond as he chose, and that it has been administered 

 at the time most suitable to his wants, and that no more has been fed than was required ; no 

 dependence being needed to be placed on careless or interested servants, as likely to over as 

 under feed ; the weakest hogs as certain of obtaining their fill as the strongest, it being only 

 necessary for them to fall back while the stronger are feeding, their time coming after, and 

 their share being as secure, sweet and plentiful, as that of any of them. A strong and 

 tight cover to the hopper with a lock to it, saves the corn that way from depredators, whether 

 rats, mice, fowls or men; and at the time of slaughtering, the feeder is able to ascertain the 

 number of bushels of grain that have been expended in the process of feeding; and by placing 

 the value against the weight of pork, he will see at a glance the cost per pound for fattening; 

 and this, without labour, loss or care, with a saving of much inconvenience and cost. The 

 troughs for water should be placed outside the building, in the yard appropriated for exercise 

 and the making manure; thus the feeding-place, which is also the bed-place, will be kept dry 

 and clean, a consideration of great importance, for it is an egregious error to suppose that 

 fattening hogs delight to wallow in their own filth; generally speaking, there is no cleaner 

 animal than a fattening hog, or one that delights more in a comfortable, dry habitation. 



