144 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



forming a double duty. They not only have to keep up the 

 wear and tear and animal heat of their own bodies, but are 

 growing from five to 12 other bodies which you want to be 

 born strong and well formed, hence these mothers must be fed 

 liberally and treated kindly. Avoid too much corn or fatten- 

 ing grain. Wheat bran or middlings, alfalfa and clover hay, 

 roots, and pasture in summer, and in spring, clover, pasture and 

 green rye, are the ideal for this purpose, also oats and peas. 

 Sow two bushels of oats and two bushels of Canada field pea.s 

 per acre and when just in bloom, turn the sows in this and 

 it will go a long way towards supplementing the feed bin and 

 will be found to be an excellent milk-producing food for the 

 nursing mothers. 



These mothers during pregnancy must have all the exercise 

 they will take and they will not always take enough, particularly 

 in cold weather. To this end the sleeping houses should be re- 

 moved quite a distance from the feed trough, compelling them 

 to take exercise in coming to and from their food. 



Do not crowd in the sleeping quarters ; three or four at the 

 outside are all that should be allowed to sleep in one house, as 

 over-crowding is conducive of bad results. These sleeping 

 houses should be warm and dry, situated in the feed or pasture 

 lot, back to the cold winds and facing the morning sun. 



Ten days or two weeks before farrowing each sow should be 

 placed in a separate enclosure, that she may be contented with 

 her new quarters before the pigs arrive, as she will not do 

 well if she is working to get out and back to the herd. 



After the young arrive, let the mother absolutely alone (un- 

 less your presence is needed) until she comes to the feed 

 trough of her own will, as at this time she needs perfect rest for 

 ten or twelve hours after her labor, and will do much better 

 than she will if you try to be too kind to her. However, al- 

 ways have your sows gentle and tame, as there are times when 

 your presence is needed and, if wild or cross, you can do 

 nothing. I know of no animal that will respond to kind and 

 gentle treatment better than the hog. 



Let the first feed be very light; if in cold weather, this 

 should be warm. It should be wheat bran or middlings, made 

 into a thin slop. Gradually increase till she is on full feed, all 

 she will take, which should be by the first week, being careful 



