466 MODERN FARRIER. 



of Scotland, v/hose appearance being very different 

 from that of any other sort in the island, denotes 

 them, it is thought, to have been the original breed 

 of the country. They are small, ill-formed, bristly, 

 w^ild-looking animals, and are very probably the re- 

 mains of that breed, which we may suppose to have 

 ranged through the forests and woody parts of the 

 kingdom for ages in a state of nature. 



22. Boars and Sows for Breeding. 



The best stock may be expected from the boar at 

 his full growth, but not more than from three to 

 five years old. No sows should be kept open for 

 breeding unless they have large capacious bellies. 

 Being well fed from the teat, the sow will procreate 

 at seven months ; and if she be of the kind in which 

 the strong tendency to fat increases the risk of 

 bringing forth, probably the suffering her to breed 

 as early and as quickly as possible may contribute 

 to amend the defect. It is also hinted, that if a sow 

 of this description would admit the boar the third, 

 or within a few days after pigging, imposing upon 

 her the severe task of constant breeding and suck- 

 ling woidd doubtless keep her sufficiently lean and 

 roomy for the production of a good litter. It is 

 probable, however, that the quality and size of the 

 pigs would suffer. But some suppose it better to 

 defer the sows taking the boar till ten or twelve 

 months old, as she becomes more strong and affords 

 better litters of pigs ; and that the boar should al- 

 ways be a year old or more before he be put to the 

 sows, as by this delay he attains a better growth, 

 and is more vigorous. 



It may be remarked, in respect to the period of 

 being with young, that in the sow it is about four 

 months ; and the usual produce is from about eight 

 or ten or twelve pigs in the large, but more in the 



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