ON SWINE. 99 



der, such as corn, oats, rye, or barley ; but I believe in all cases 

 cooked food will have a decided advantage over that which is 

 given in a raw state : an advantage more than equivalent to the 

 labor and expense of its preparation. Potatoes are a valuable ar- 

 ticle of food, but the pork is not so good as that fattened upon 

 corn. Carrots are more nutritious than potatoes. Corn given 

 in a raw state or on the ear is a most wasteful management. 



Swine ought to be kept on every farm in sufficient numbers to 

 consume all the offal and waste of the dairy and kitchen. If be- 

 yond this, a breed can be obtained, which will arrive at early 

 maturity, and which can be advantageously grass fed or kept at a 

 small expense and in an improving condition through the summer; 

 and being put up to fatten early in autumn and forced as much 

 as possible so as to be sent to market early in the winter, the 

 farmer will ordinarily find a fair profit in this branch of husbandry. 

 A very great advantage is found in the keeping of swine from 

 the valuable returns of manure both in quantity and quality, 

 which are obtained from them, where care is taken to supply 

 them with raw materials for the manufacture. Too much care 

 cannot be bestowed in the selection of the breed and the general 

 health of the animal when put up to feed ; and it is strongly re- 

 commended to every careful farmer occasionally to weigh the 

 animal and measure the feed, that he may ascertain seasonably 

 on which side the balance of debt or credit is likely to fall. No- 

 thing is more prejudicial to good husbandry than mere guesses 

 and random conjectures ; and though the result of our operations 

 may not meet either our wishes or expectations, an intelligent 

 and reflecting mind will be always anxious as far as practicable to 

 know precisely how far they correspond wither disappoint them. 

 Truth, exact simple truth, in every thing, is the proper pursuit 

 and the most valuable possession of the human mind ; and more 

 nearly than any thing else connected with man's true interest 

 and happiness. 



Henry Colman. 



Meadoivbanks, Deerfield, 

 20th April, 1834. 



