166 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



The same writer mentions another practice, which perhaps 

 it may be thought proper to imitate in tliis country, because 

 it saves labor and care. Some English farmers, he says, 

 • keep two or three little store pigs in the fatting sty. While 

 thft fatting hogs are taking their repast, the little ones wait 

 behind them, and as soon as their betters are served, lick out 

 the troughs. 



' Besides the advantage of having by this expedient no 

 waste nor foul troughs, there is another. The large pigs 

 rise alertly to their food, lest the small ones should forestall 

 them ; and fill themselves the fuller, knowing that they have 

 it not again to go to. 



' The disadvantage of this practice is, I understand, the 

 large ones are apt to lord it too much over the little ones ; 

 especially in a confined sty. If, however, they had a sepa- 

 rate apartment assigned them, with an entrance too small for 

 the fatting swine to follow them, this disadvantage would be 

 in a great measure remedied.' 



If one wishes to fatten hogs, and either from indolence or 

 too much occupation does not expect to give them a con- 

 stant and regular attention, perhaps he may adopt to advan- 

 tage the following mode, pointed out by an English writer. 

 'Mr. John Adams, of Cherrington, near Newport, Shrop- 

 shire, has fattened eight pigs in the following cheap and easy 

 manner: he places two troughs in the sty, one he fills with 

 raw potatoes, the other with peas, and gives no water ; when 

 the pigs are dry they eat the potatoes. The eight pigs were 

 fattened so as to weigh from sixteen to twenty score each, 

 and ate no more than thirty^ bushels of peas, and about two 

 hundred bushels of potatoes.' No doubt dry Indian corn 

 and potatoes might be fed out in this way with as good an 

 effect as peas and potatoes. 



Rubbing and currying the hides of fattening hogs is of 

 great advantage to them. It is not only very grateful to 

 them, but conducive to their health. It will be well, like- 

 wise, in every sty to place a strong post for the animals to rub 

 against. During the time of their fattening they should have 

 plenty of litter, which will be a double advantage, providing 

 for the comfort of the animal and increasing the quantity of 

 manure. 



Boiled or steamed clover hay will, it is said, keep store 

 hogs in the winter, but the addition of boiled or steamed po- 

 tatoes or carrots will much increase the value of the wash. 

 Mr. Young directs to soil or feed swine in a yard on clover. 



