Rearing — Parturition. 24^5 



ill addition to the one above noted — swel- 

 ling of the bags of milk, decreased size of 

 the belly, sleepiness. A vigilant swine- 

 herd, solicitous to preserve all the pigs, 

 will watch and attend the farrowing sow, 

 day and night, because some sows aie so 

 unwieldy or so careless, as, at perhaps 

 every farrowing, to lie upon and crush to 

 death, a part of their young ; other, froin 

 an irregular and vicious disposition, will 

 devour a part or even all of them. As 

 one precaution, the breeding-sow ought 

 not to be kept fat and heavy, yet in good 

 heart and full strength. Few keepers will, 

 or ever do, go the length of attending the 

 sow, satisfying themselves with the profes- 

 sion that, she will be safest left to her own 

 care. To those who are willing to under- 

 take such an office, a hamper or basket 

 with straw, wull be found convenient, in 

 which to withdraw the pigs from danger 

 when it may be needful, in order to replace 

 them properly as occasion may suit ; which 

 practice it may be necessary to repeat 

 during two or three days, until the pigs 



