204 THE HOG. 



be done in the garden before any one is aware of it. Pigs are very 

 fond of rubbing their sides and shoulders against convenient objects, 

 and this, as it excites the circulation of the blood in the vessels of 

 the skin, is very beneficial ; hence, a short stout post driven into the 

 ground, by one of the side . walls of the little yard or inclosure, 

 would be a serviceable and unexpensive addition. The sty should 

 r/ot be exposed to the cold, damp winds; at the same time, it 

 should be shaded from the mid-day glare of a hot summer's sun. 

 Such a sty as we have described, a cottager may build for himself: 

 it will cost little, excepting his own labor. His objects are the com- 

 fort of the animal, and the saving of the manure ; and the latter 

 object, in particular, is too often neglected, as is also the cleanliness 

 of the sty altogether. 



" The above remarks apply more especially to the cottager, but are 

 not quite applicable, excepting as far as principle goes, to the farmer, 

 who finds it profitable to keep many pigs, or the brewer, or distiller, 

 or milk-merchant, upon whose establishments great numbers of these 

 animals are kept. The farmer may find a range of simple styes 

 similar to what we have just described to be convenient, with larger 

 accommodations for breeding sows, and an exclusive and well-se- 

 cured domicile for the boar. The young pigs, and porkers, with the 

 sows, will have the advantage of a farm-yard or large straw-yard, 

 in which they may indulge themselves according to their natural 

 instincts. They must of course be stied up for fattening ; but 

 before this process commences they may be turned into the cut 

 wheat fields in autumn, or into the oak copses (if there be such,) 

 not however without being under surveillance. The air and the 

 moderate exercise taken in searching for a scanty but excellent kind 

 of food, will render their repast when driven home in the afternoon 

 most acceptable. The farmer, however, and the brewer or milk- 

 merchant (we mean the great milk-dealers in the neighborhood of 

 London,) are differently situated. In the latter cases, a well-ar- 

 ranged series of airy, cleanly styes is imperative, especially for pigs 

 above the size of sucklings, for even in such establishments the lat- 

 ter may be allowed some degree of liberty. System and order 

 should prevail. There should be a proper place in which to mix 

 and boil the food, with one or more large coppers and straining 

 apparatus. The food should be mixed in square brick tanks, sunk 

 in the ground and cemented, in order that no filtration of the more 

 fluid parts may take place. If there is only one tank there should 

 be a partition in it. From the boiling-house there should be an 

 immediate communication with the styes, under cover if possible- 

 but an out-house close to the styes, with a loft, for roots, &c.. may be 

 made available. E:ich sty should open into a small yard behind, 

 inclosed with a low vail or paling, but with a strong door. There 



