MODERN FARRIER. 46? 



smaller breeds, which in general bring the greatest 

 number, and the most early. 



In the ordinary management of swine, sows, after 

 they have had two or three litters, may be killed ; 

 but no breeder should part with one, whilst she 

 continues to bring large litters, and to rear them 

 with safety, although custom often induces the far- 

 mer to kill such sows, and to substitute others of 

 not perhaps half the value in their places. In cases 

 where swine are made an object to the farmer, great 

 care should be taken to have a good boar constantly 

 along with the sows, in order that a proper succes- 

 sion of young pigs may be produced. By this 

 means the sows are hkewise made to take the boar 

 more expeditiously. 



23. Pigging. 



It has been observed by a late writer, that as 

 there is great difficulty and expence attending the 

 rearing of young pigs in cold seasons, the farmer 

 should contrive as much as possible to have his 

 litters early in the spring and autumn seasons, as 

 about the end of INIarch or beginning of April, 

 and the latter end of July, August, or beginning 

 of the following month ; as at these periods much 

 less loss will be sustained in the death of the pigs, 

 and less expence be incurred in food. The litters 

 which are pigged in June, or the early part of the 

 following month, should always be reared, as being 

 highly profitable and advantageous. But it is sel- 

 dom adviseable to keep the late autumn litters, as 

 the cold in the winter is almost sure to destroy 

 many of them, and cause much loss thereby. With 

 a late litter, it may however, sometim.es be benefi- 

 cial to suffer them to suckle and feed with the sow, 

 the keep being of the most forcing kind, during 

 three or four months, from which management the. 



