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a clean and dry state, and to preserve the valuable liquid manure, which 
comes from the animals you keep. Some will probably inquire whether 
it would not be better to suffer the moisture to soak into earth or straw, 
or other substances on the floor of the inclosure, and then to clear all 
away periodically, than to drain off the liquid into a tank. By drawing 
off the liquid you add to the cleanliness of your swine, and, in pro- 
portion, to their health and capacity for thriving ; and the collection of 
the liquid manure into tanks is less troublesome than the removal of 
substances saturated with it, from the floor of the fold, w T onld be. 
The sties should be so constructed as to admit of being closed up 
altogether, when desirable ; for swine, even the hardiest breeds, are 
susceptible of cold, and if exposed to it in severe weather, it will ma- 
terially retard their fattening. The sty should be kept constantly sup- 
plied with clean straw. The refuse carted into the tank will, in the form 
of manure, more than repay the value of the straw. It has been asserted 
that swine do not thrive if kept upon the same ground in considerable 
numbers; this assertion rests on a want of ventilation and cleanliness. 
As to troughs, let them be of stone or cast metal ; — if of wood, the 
pigs will soon gnaw them to pieces; — and let them be kept clean. Be- 
fore each feeding, a pail of water should be dashed into the trough; 
this may be deemed troublesome, but it will confer golden returns on 
those who attend to it. 
A supply of fresh water is essential to the well-being of swine, and 
should be freely furnished. Some recommend this to be effected by 
having a stream brought through the piggery ; and undoubtedly, when 
this can be managed, it answers better than any thing else. Swine are 
dirty feeders, and dirty drinkers, usually plunging their fore-feet into 
the trough or pail, and thus polluting with mud and dirt whatever may 
be given to them. One of the advantages, therefore, derivable from 
the stream of running water being brought through the fold is, its being, 
by its running, kept constantly clean and wholesome. If, therefore, you 
are unable to procure this advantage, it will be desirable to present 
water in vessels of a size to receive but one head at a time, and of such 
height as to render it impossible or difficult for the drinker to get his 
feet into it. The water should be renewed twice daily. 
We have hitherto been describing a piggery capable of containing a 
large number; a greater proportional profit will be realized by keeping 
a number of swine than a few. It may happen, however, that want of 
capital, or of inclination to embark in swine-feeding as an actual specu- 
lation, may induce many to prefer keeping a small number of pigs, or 
even perhaps one or two, in which case such accommodations as have 
been described would be more than superfluous. In this case, a single 
hut, well sheltered from wind and rain, and built with a due regard to 
comfort, to warmth, with a little court surrounding its door, in which 
the tenant may feed, obey the calls of nature, and disport himself, or 
bask in the sunshine, will be found to answer; a small stone trough, or 
a wooden one, bound with iron, to preserve it from beirg gnawed to 
pieces, will complete the necessary furniture. The trough will serve 
alternately for food and drink. Even, however, when this limited ac- 
commodation is resorted to, a strict attention to cleanliness is no less 
