er cent was obtained by mixing the meals.

In the good old times it was considered to be the height of folly to
make a change in the food on which the pigs were being fattened, yet our
forbears would have been horrified had they been informed that it was
imperative that they themselves should have no variety of food, that day
after day the food at their various meals should be exactly similar;
surely what is good for one animal should be good for another animal
whose organs are of an exactly similar character. There is not the
slightest doubt that advantage is derived from the variation in the food
on which the pigs are being fattened. By this, it is not intended to
suggest that a complete change of food should be made at stated times in
the fatting pigs' food, as this would certainly result in a loss of time
and food, but that a slight variation in the proportions of the
different kinds of food is beneficial, or in the case where several
different kinds of food are being fed as a mixture, another kind of
food may be substituted so that the change made secures a variation
which has the effect of whetting or enticing the appetite. A long
continuance of the same kind of food has the effect of dulling the
appetite. In addition to this, it is considered that a variation in the
food tends to stimulate the digestive organs.

It is a mistake to allow too long a time to pass between feeding times;
the pig is not endowed by nature with a capacious paunch which enables
it to stow away a large quantity of food. Even the old system of feeding
twice a day might be improved upon, and the fatting pig fed three times
per day would make greater thrift, even should the actual daily quantity
of food be not increased.

Again, so many persons are apt to give to the fatting pig a greater
quantity of food than it requires or can eat with comfort to itself at
one meal. Should this be pointed out to them, their usual reply would be
that what the pig did not eat for their breakfast would be there in
readiness for the evening meal unless they ate it during the day, as
they frequently would do. This sounds plausible until the argument be
closely examined. What would the pigman think if he were treated in a
similar manner and an excessive quantity of food placed on his plate,
and then at the next meals the stale food be again placed before him
until it was finished? This certainly would not increase his appetite
nor aid his digestion. Yet the mos