ch an aspect a most uncomfortable and unhealthy place for
young pigs during more than half the year, whilst older pigs cannot
thrive on the same amount of food as they would if their quarters were
comfortable. Apart from the waste of food which results from these
draughty and cold sties, the latter are the chief cause, with
injudicious feeding, of that most troublesome ailment amongst pigs,
rheumatic gout, or, as it is commonly termed, cramp. How very draughty
and uncomfortable these sties are which have an open yard attached, and
an inlet at all times usable, can be readily discovered in cold and
windy weather by noticing the position in which the occupant has made
its bed. This will be found not on the highest part of the sty, which
will be opposite to the opening into the yard, but in the corner next to
the opening, since in this position it is less exposed to the cold wind
which rushes into the sty through the opening.

Apart from the unhealthiness to the pigs resulting from the exposure to
draughts it is not apparent to the writer that any advantage is gained
from the provision of these yards. In many instances they serve only for
an excuse to limit the height of the sties, as unless these are of a
fair height there is a considerable difficulty in cleaning them out. The
money expended on building the yard would easily cover the extra cost of
raising the side walls of the pigsty by two feet, and thus not only
render it free from draughts, but also make it far more healthy and less
subject to the extremes of heat and cold.

The ordinary sty with a yard attached is unhealthy for a growing or
matured pig, but in the colder weather it is simply cruel for newly born
pigs, of which numbers are annually lost from exposure or are greatly
checked in their growth.

One of the very best places in which to house pigs in the experience of
the writer was a large barn with a thatched roof. This was divided off
into sties by partitions some 4 ft. 6 in. high; owing to the height of
the building the temperature was not unduly high in the hottest weather
nor did the pigs suffer to any extent during severe weather. These
advantages arose mainly from the slight changes in temperature, and an
abundant supply of uncontaminated air.

One of the greatest drawbacks to the majority of the pigsties is the
absence of ventilation without draught. This trouble is especially
noticeable where the side walls are not more than about 4 ft. high,
w