40 



fed on good growing swill, with a finishing-off the last three weeks of 

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

 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 per- 

 fect, 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 cu.stonier is on hand ; but sometimes 

 a delay of a few days might mean one hundred and fifty dollars more on 

 a car load. 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 profitable sale. Close watch of market 

 conditions and good judgment are the best guides. 



Fencing. 



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

 acres is well fenced with 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 excellent thing to do, when sweet corn gets 

 well filled out and in the milk, is to drive along this fence with a small 

 load, and throw in about two stalks to each pig. The com is much 

 relished, and they seem to chew the stalk for the juice. 



It goes without saying that the writer is interested in this pleasant and 

 profitable branch of farming, and has made this class of stock a life-long 

 study ; and, although a despised animal, the hog is a very interesting 

 thing in nature. No two are alike in disposition and peculiarities, and 

 a new set of ideas must be studied up for the management of each. 



I look for increasing interest along this profitable line of farming, 

 although I appreciate the .strong hold of the two rival industries, — dairy 

 and poultry farming. There is room for all of them, and plenty of chance 

 for improvement. 



