190 THE HOG. 



themselves so far as cleanliness went, and the other ihree were care- 

 fully curried, brushed, and washed. These latter consumed in the 

 seven weeks less food by five bushels than the other three, and yet, 

 when killed, weighed more by 32 Ibs. on the average." 



It should be the duty of some one person to keep the skins of the 

 pigs put up to fatten indeed we would rather say, of all the pigs 

 kept perfectly free from mud, dust, or filth of any kind ; and this 

 will best be done by taking care that they always have clear water 

 to bathe in within their reach, clean litter to lie upon, are occasion- 

 ally combed and brushed, and that the sty is always kept free from 

 filth. Nothing is so likely to engender lice and diseases of the skin 

 as for it to be suffered to remain in a dirty state. It is true that the 

 maintenance of cleanliness will cost some trouble and expense, but 

 every owner of pigs will best consult his own interests by attention 

 to this point. 



The best period for fattening pigs is the autumn ; then almost 

 every kind of food is to be had in plenty, as well as in perfection ; 

 the weather is neither too hot nor too cold ; and the humidity gen- 

 erally prevalent at this season acts beneficially upon the skin and 

 tissues, and as it were lubricates the whole animal economy. Besides, 

 they are ready to be slaughtered at the period when this can be done 

 with most advantage ; when the lowness of the temperature allows 

 more time, and consequently enables the owner to turn the flesh to 

 the greatest advantage ; whereas in hot weather the meat must be 

 salted or pickled, eaten or disposed of immediately, or it turns off 

 and is spoiled. In the immediate neighborhood of large towns alone 

 will it be found advantageous to fatten pigs so as to have them ready 

 to kill in the summer; there the prices which can often be obtained 

 may compensate the dealer for the difficulty and risk he undergoes ; 

 but even the facilities afforded by railways will hardly do this to 

 those who reside in remote localities, as here the expense of the 

 transit has to be added to the other items, and the risk is increased 

 by close packing. 



The best kinds of food for fattening pigs are : 



Milk or whey mixed with barley, oat, corn, or pea-meal, or with 

 boiled and mashed potatoes. 



Potatoes and rice ; potatoes and meal of any of the above kinds, 

 or mashed potatoes and whole grain. 



Peas given whole, or crushed, or in the form of soup, and either 

 alone or mixed with barley -meal or potatoes. 



Carrots and parsnips ; and especially boiled carrots, which some 

 persons consider to be the most nutritious and fattening food that 

 can be giver to swine. 



Pasturage on clover, lucerne, or sainfoin, or a run in the stubble 

 of corn-fields immediately after the crop has been cut and got in. 



