No. 4.] PIG EAISING. 419 



ing this should be treated with just scalding water sufficient 

 to Avarni the mass. It is of importance to consider the tem- 

 perature of the feed. It may be all right to feed cold 

 swill, but we often hear of outbreaks of disease that can be 

 traced directly to the faulty condition of the feed. During 

 my nearly forty years, which has been almost continuous, in 

 the pig business, disease has not troubled in any form, and I 

 do not remember of feeding cold swill at any time. This 

 would seem to be a safe method to follow, but I doubt not 

 many who feed cold swill are equally successful, and in this 

 one nuist be his oAvn judge as to the safety of the course to 

 be folloAved. 



When to sell. 



The good, solid, satisfactory income will depend upon the 

 quality of the pigs being fed. If a pig is kept eight months 

 when fully as good results should have been obtained in six, 

 the profit is not anj^thing as good as it should be. A pair of 

 thoroughbred Berkshires, both l)arroAVS, fed on good growing 

 swill, with a finishing-ofi' the last three weeks of as good 

 feed as we could give them, dressed four hundred and five 

 pounds at six months old. This is no enormous weight, and 

 instances can be cited of very much larger weight at this 

 age ; but the quality was perfect, and the price obtained was 

 all right. 



When to sell is a nice question to decide. As a rule, I 

 have found it best when the pigs are ready and a customer 

 is on hand ; but sometimes a delay of a few days might 

 mean one hundred and fifty dollars more on a carload. On 

 the other hand, some disease might break out, and spoil the 

 whole deal. So the owner must be his own judge in the 

 matter. If the pigs are just the right weight and quality, 

 an extra three weeks' gain might be detrimental to a profit- 

 able sale. Close watch of market conditions and good judg- 

 ment are the best guides. 



Fencing. 



The subject of fencing is worth considering. If a field of 



some three acres is well fenced with a stone wall, the pigs 



ought to keep their place ; but if larger fields must be divided, 



there is nothing superior to woven wire three feet high. An 



