ON SWINE. 87 



which make a considerable figure on the credit side of their 

 account. 



If instances are frequent in which farmers have found the re- 

 turn from the feeding or fattening of swine a very inadequate 

 compensation for the labor and expense, others have come with- 

 in our observation, presenting a different result ; and therefore 

 the subject deserves attention, and any actual and careful ex- 

 periments in relation to it, which have been made, deserve to 

 be encouraged and recorded. In all agricultural subjects, facts 

 which have been carefully established, are the most valuable 

 sources of instruction. I shall therefore proceed to detail some 

 which have come under my own observation. 



Two intelligent and respectable farmers, one of whose estab- 

 lishments 1 visited the last winter, gave me an account of their 

 mode of feeding, the process of which I witnessed at the time, 

 I subjoin the account from my agricultural journal. 



1833. Dec. D. N. is now fattening three swine, whose 

 dally allowance is one peck of meal each. Indian corn, buck- 

 wheat, and oats, mixed in equal quantities, constitute their prov- 

 ender. Corn is now worth 84 cts., buckwheat 56 cts., and 

 oats 40 cts. per bushel. One peck of the mixture would cost 

 therefore, about 15 cents. 



P. C. is now fattening three large swine. Their provender 

 consists of oats and corn in equal quantities ground together. — • 

 Of this they have more than twelve quarts each, per day, stirred 

 in cold water. Corn is worth 84 cts., oats 42 cts. per bushel. 

 Twelve quarts of this provender, making no charge of one six- 

 teenth for grinding, would amount to 24 cts. per day. The last 

 named swine were extraordinarily fine, weighing considerably 

 over 400 lbs, each, when dressed, and were sold for seven 

 cents per lb. What amount of live weight they gained per 

 day is not ascertained ; but if we suppose it to be two pounds 

 each per day, and this would be a large gain, it is evident that: 

 the returns would by no means equal the expense. 



From the Nantucket Inquirer of last autumn, I extract the 

 following account ; " A porker was raised in this town the past 



