Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-30
A Model Piggery.

Many substantial farmers seem to FANCY
that pig is by nature dirty animal, one
which revels in filth, and on most farms th,
accommodations for this valuable stock arc
provided with this theory in view. Low
wet, dark, dirty pens and and yards gener.
ate disease and prevent profitable breeding
and fatteuiug. Occasionally we find some
progressive breeder taking new departure
and really giving the pig chance to live
and breathe and be comfortable. 10 all such
cases this extra care and attention is followed
by an increased profit. We had tho good
fortune recently to form one of party on
visit to the neghborng town of Winches.
ter, aud while there paid a visit to the fam
Gus Highland PiggeIies owned by DR.. S. p.
Bartlett of Boston. Here, indeed, we found
a model piggery, a substantial building
about two hundred feet long by twenty five
feet in width, two stories in height, glass
window, with warm and comfortable accom-.
modations for nearly two hundred of the
porcine occupants. On entering we were
struck with its thorough adaptation to sue
cessful breeding aud care of swine. In the
upper story we found one Of Prindes steam
ers for cooking food and warming the build
ing; a row of neatly constructed pens on
either eide of a central passage-way that
runs the whole length of the building
railway track along the passage, with a car
so constructed as to carry the food, and also
barrel Of fresh water sufficiently elevated
to supply each pen by means of short pipe
A small section Of each pen just above the
trough was so adjusted that it could be taken
out and form communication between the
food in the car aud the feeding trough, so
that the food could be distributed expedi-
tiouslY and with little handling. Each
Of the forty.three breeding sows had q pen
to herself, also each boar other pens con.
tained shoats of different breeds, all the
pens communicating by sliding doors with
outside yards for use in moderate weather
The floor of this upper story is made tight,
with OCCASIONAL holes for conveying the liquid
into spouts below. The pens aud the entire
inside Of the building are whitewashed, aud
the whole appearance is that of cleanliness,
neatness and thrift. Ventilators keep the
air pure and sweet, aud were it not for an
occasional grunt OF content visitor to this
building would hardly realize that he was
surrounded by pg-pens. On descending to
the lower story, We find a series of more
commodious pens, occupied by breeding sows
with litters OF pigs, all pictures of health,
vigor and coutentmeut. The main object in
the perfection of the heating, ventiatiug and
feeding apparatus is to secure continuous re-
suits during the year, both in breeding and
growing the young pigs in winter, as well
as 10 summer. Without entering into the de-
tails Of feeding and care that command the
entire time of one experienced hand, and
are so important to the well being of the
stock in charge, no one could examine this
fine building without wishing that much
larger proportion Of the pigs of this couu-
try could be reared in the same neat, clean,
healthy quarters. We wish every breeder
and owner Of pigs could be stimulated to 60
and do likewise by visit to this model pig
gerry. DR.. Bartlett proposes to devote prem
ises to breeding fine pigs from pure strains
of Yorkshire, Chester White and other
standard blood, expecting to rear seven or
eight hundred pigs for sale at six to eight
weeks of age, to farmers and breeders all
over over the country. The Highland Pig
geries certainly present a worthy example of
what skill and experience, combined with iu-
dicious expenditure and discriminating judg-
ment, may do to improve the breeding Of
pigs, at all seasons of the year, and under
most favorable conditions. The whole es.
tablishment had sytematic,s busiuess.like
and thrifty appearance.-American Cult
cdt0r.