Illustrated Hints for Farmers.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 5

Illustrated Hints for Farmers.

PRIZE PIG TROUGH. To scald pigs of 4cvt to 6cwt a common tub is inadequate. Nothing is better than the tank or trougn shown. It should be made of 10ft plank 2in thick. These should be planed smooth on all sides and edges, and put together with Gin wire nails, or, still better, 4in screws. Each joint should be painted with thick lead and oil, and tightened by a piece of candle-wick saturated in the same, strung on the edge of the joining plank before it is put together, the reeking wick to be held straight by being stretched on a small nail at each end. Let it be nearest the inside of the tank, as on the bit of plank shown. A is the wick. The bottom of one end of the trough is bevelled, to facilitate the work of sliding tlie porker in and out. For the same purpose a roller (placed as shown) is a great aid, and also for turning the pig over for complete scalding. A frame is hinged to the upper side of the bevelled

end, to support it while the pig is being drawn out. This can be buttoned close to the trough while it is not in use. For transporting it, use a stone boat, or rude runners may be built permanently on the bottom of the trough tor it to ride upon. Sled shoes will do (as at B). A piece of inch hose (C) is forced through an auger hole at the bottom, and is used for the double purpose of heating the water by steam from a cauldron with a tight lid, to which the hose is attached, and for draining the tank where the scalding is done. f.f the free end of the hose is kept at the height o i'the top of the tub, or higher, no water vvll iescape. Thrown on the ground, all labour of emptying it is dispensed with. The scraping platform is arranged at the bevelled end.