860 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL: [1 May, 1900. 
The floors presentanother serious problem. A cement floor possessesthegret 
advantage of durability ; and where wooden platforms are provided for sleepits 
places, they seem to be very satisfactory. For breeding pens, no doubt woe 
floors are safer. Ifa wooden floor is used, its durability can be increas y a 
laying it on joists about 18 inches above the ground, and haying the eh 
below the floor well ventilated. A single thickness of 2-inch plank, lai Gee ; 
water-tight joints, is preferable to a double floor. With a double floor ther@! 
more or less danger of moisture collecting between the two layers, 1 W ve 
case drying is slow, and decay rapid. One great objection to wooden hoor 
the danger of trouble from rats, which may perhaps be lessened by having 
space beneath the floor well lighted and ventilated. Bk 
There are numerous methods of ventilating piggeries. A plan which .4 
have used, with fairly good results, is to run straight ventilating shafts from 
ceiling to a cupola on the roof. The shafts are made of rough lumber, an 
should be, at least, 2 feet square. Inthe bottom of the shaft (at the ceiling 
is a trapdoor which opens into the shaft. A small rope attached to the pei, 
the trapdoor runs through the side of the shaft and then down through : 
ceiling, so that by pulling the rope the door can be raised to any degree requ’ | 
On some days it is much more difficult to secure ventilation than on others; © 
the large shafts with trapdoors permit of meen ane ventilation according 50 
circumstances. ‘Two such ventilating shafts should be sufficient for a pe? 
feet long. 
CONCLUSION. 
The suggestions which are here offered for consideration are based upo? 
observation and experience. No man is infallible, and no doubt there may 
room for difference of opinion on some of the points dealt with; and 1t}8 a 
unlikely that some effective means for preventing and curing paralysis, * < 
rheumatism have been omitted. Notwithstanding all this, however, W° Be 
that the thoughts which have been presented may be of assistance to some % 
have encountered difficulties. 
[In drawing attention to a pamphlet on pig-breeding by Mr. Geo, Vali 
Principal of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, we stated (quoting Ore 
Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales) that the pamphlet could be obtan 
by writing to the Department of Agriculture. So many persons have af to 
application to this Department for the publication in question, that we wis 
point out that application must be made to the Agricultural Departme? 
New South Wales, not of Queensland.—Ed. Q.A.J.] 
HINTS ON PIG-KILLING. 
THE TOOLS REQUIRED. 
Te tools you will require are a sharp knife Gf you have not a pole-hamnme? ; 
any nailing hammer, a scraper with a hook at the back, which is for pulling ff 
the toes, and is useful for lifting the pig, a process explained later; @ bloc ov 
trestle to scald and scrape the pig on, and a piece of rope with a noose He 
Of course, you will require a man to assist you. ue god 
Slip the noose round the top jaw, and let the man hold the pig by it the 
while he holds it, hit it on the head with the blunt end of the hammer! ww. will 
centre of the forehead, a little above the eyes; if you catch him right, he ory 
roll over; this method reduces to a minimum the screaming, which 18 
annoying. neath 
In the hands of a first-class slaughterman there are very few pig® eo) 
that get a chance to scream at all, You will now proceed to bleed him. ne 
the top foreleg with the left hand, kneel on the shoulder with the lef af 
press the head well back with the right heel, so that the throat is thorous” 
