158 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



open barrel or hogshead, suspended upon a pair of shafts with 

 wheels to it, drawn by a single horse. 



It is added, that " in the estimates of the expense of maintain- 

 ing the pigs, it should be observed, that he has taken no credit 

 for the article of manure ; and thus his pigs will make the farmer 

 a present of their dung, as well as pay him a good price for their 

 keep. Fifty strong stores, with a sufficient quantity of stubble, 

 (which is frequently and very improperly, ploughed into the land) 

 or carpenters' shavings and saw-dust, or virgin earth, or sand, 

 especially sea-sand, (where obtainable) laid down in the yard, 

 will make, he says, in the course of the year, from two to three 

 hundred waggon-loads of excellent manure : the sea-sand will add 

 saline particles to the manure, and check evaporation." And he 

 thinks it " necessary to remark, as a most favourable circumstance, 

 that the hay-tea binds the dung of swine, and rentiers it hard and 

 black, like sheeps' dung; and if it does not produce this effect, 

 it must assuredly be either bad in quality, or not properly boiled, 

 or not rendered sufficiently strong ; all which particulars should 

 be most carefully attended to ; and the state of the dung is an 

 admirable guide to go by. The hay should always be of an ex- 

 cellent quality ; and that which heated best, and contains most 

 of the saccharine juices should have the preference. Bad hay is 

 certain destruction to the pigs. Clover stands first, next sainfoin, 

 and lastly, meadow hay. Indeed, most of his experiments were 

 made, he says, (though not by choice) with meadow hay." 



Extracted from " The Complete Farmer" — by K. 



