Page:The Hog.djvu/206

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204
THE HOG.

be done in the garden before any one is aware of it. Pigs are very fond of rubbing their sides and shoulders against convenient objects, and this, as it excites the circulation of the blood in the vessels of the skin, is very beneficial; hence, a short stout post driven into the ground, by one of the side walls of the little yard or inclosure, would be a serviceable and unexpensive addition. The sty should not be exposed to the cold, damp winds; at the same time, it should be shaded from the mid-day glare of a hot summer's sun. Such a sty as we have described, a cottager may build for himself: it will cost little, excepting his own labor. His objects are the comfort of the animal, and the saving of the manure; and the latter object, in particular, is too often neglected, as is also the cleanliness of the sty altogether.

"The above remarks apply more especially to the cottager, but are not quite applicable, excepting as far as principle goes, to the farmer, who finds it profitable to keep many pigs, or the brewer, or distiller, or milk-merchant, upon whose establishments great numbers of these animals are kept. The farmer may find a range of simple styes similar to what we have just described to be convenient, with larger accommodations for breeding sows, and an exclusive and well-secured domicile for the boar. The young pigs, and porkers, with the sows, will have the advantage of a farm-yard or large straw-yard, in which they may indulge themselves according to their natural instincts. They must of course be stied up for fattening; but before this process commences they may be turned into the cut wheat fields in autumn, or into the oak copses (if there be such,) not however without being under surveillance. The air and the moderate exercise taken in searching for a scanty but excellent kind of food, will render their repast when driven home in the afternoon most acceptable. The farmer, however, and the brewer or milk-merchant (we mean the great milk-dealers in the neighborhood of London,) are differently situated. In the latter cases, a well-arranged series of airy, cleanly styes is imperative, especially for pigs above the size of sucklings, for even in such establishments the latter may be allowed some degree of liberty. System and order should prevail. There should be a proper place in which to mix and boil the food, with one or more large coppers and straining apparatus. The food should be mixed in square brick tanks, sunk in the ground and cemented, in order that no filtration of the more fluid parts may take place. If there is only one tank there should be a partition in it. From the boiling-house there should be an immediate communication with the styes, under cover if possible—but an out-house close to the styes, with a loft, for roots, &c.. may be made available. Each sty should open into a small yard behind, inclosed with a low wall or paling, but with a strong door. There