ao Dec, 1909.] The Pig as a Profitable Adjunct. 



749 



states : " I do not give my sows about to farrow much bedding, as they are 

 likely to smother some of the young ones. I make it a rule to watch the 

 sows while they are farrowing, and give them a hand if necessary. One can 

 tell pretty well when a sow is going to farrow by trying her teats for milk. 

 8he will always show milk from two to four hours before she farrows. I 

 y)et the voung sows that I intend keeping for breeding purposes, and I find 

 that, when they come to have young ones, they are not nervous or frightened 

 -when you go near them, and you can handle their young without disturbing 

 them." 



Mr. Thomas K. Adkins, " The Block,'' Korumburra, another successful 

 ■exhibitor at the Royal Agricultural Show^s, secured first prize for Berkshire 

 boar, under twelve months, at the Royal Show, 190S, and first and champion 

 prize this year with his typical Berkshire boar, " Invincible." This boar 

 was afterwards sold for 28^ guineas, and Mr. Adkins also sold young sows 

 lip to 10 guineas each. His idea of successful pig breeding is to have small 

 paddocks of rye grass and clover to run the pigs in, as exercise is essential to 



BERKSHIKK I50AK, '• INVINCl liLh. 



Iceep the sows in good health. He states : "I do not believe in breeding 

 from a sow until she is over ten months old. Two litters a year, I think, 

 -are sufficient, as more take too much out of the sow. My pigs do well on 

 boiled potatoes, mashed with pollard and milk. AVhen using all pollai'd I 

 always scald it. I find cari'ots very good.' 



From the foregoing experience of practical breeders it would a[)pear that 

 both the Yorkshire and Berkshire pigs are notably and uniformly prolific, 

 that they are kind and careful mothers (especially the Yorkshire sows) and 

 copious nurses, qualities which are estimated highly liy experienced breeders. 

 They are well and favourably known for their great docility, and quiet 

 habits, thus greatly diminishing the amount of care and labour necessary 

 to keep them in their paddocks, besides enabling them to apply the food 

 they consume to the laying on of flesh. This is one of the most important 

 considerations to breeders, when one reflects on the uneasy movements of many 

 -of the lighter breeds of pigs. Being docile and of a quiet disposition, they 

 are peculiarly susceptible to the influence of careful feeding, and under 

 such influence make a most rapid and satisfactory gain in condition. 



