SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 215 



engaged in breeding pigs. Great care is necessary with 

 this breed, to guard against the temptation to use them 

 too young. They are so large and fine at eight or ten 

 months old, that many suppose they are plenty big 

 enough to breed. It is a great mistake. The boar should 

 scarcely be used until twelve months old, and then but 

 sparingly until eighteen. A sow should never be allowed 

 to have pigs until a year old, and then only in warm 

 weather — and it would be better that they were sixteen 

 months old — nature cannot be forced with impunity. The 

 period of gestation in a sow is exactly sixteen weeks. 

 Now of my experience — I had two sows last fall on the 

 passage from Albany, got with pig at about four months 

 old. On the first day of January, one of the coldest of the 

 season, one dropped seven and the other two, and as the 

 sows had little or no milk, and were too young to mind 

 their pigs, all died in spite of all that human care 

 could do. 



Yesterday another sow, just one year old, dropped 

 eight pigs. She is one of the kindest, most careful, and 

 sensible hogs I ever saw; and as the weather is warm, 

 the pigs are all as lively as could be wished. It is char- 

 acteristic of Berkshires, that they are great breeders, and 

 fine milkers. But do not be tempted to use them too 

 young. But above all things, do not be tempted to do 

 without them. Solon Robinson. 



Lake C. H., la., April 2. 



An Address 



Delivered by Solon Robinson, Esqr., before the Union 



Agricultural Society, at Chicago, on the 28th 



April, 1841. 



[Chicago Union Agriculturist, 1:36-37, 52-53; May, July, 1841] 



My friends! or rather, I would say, brethren, — a 

 blessed union of brothers, devoted to a blessed cause — to 

 improvement in one of the most blessed pursuits on earth. 

 And for that purpose you have united yourselves under 



16—50109 



