382 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



are of great importance in the management of the boar, inasmuch as his future disposition, 

 whether kind or ferocious, will depend very much upon the management and treatment he 

 receives at the early period of his existence. There should always be firmness combined with 

 kindness, for these animals often become cross and even dangerous, unless managed in a com 

 mon sense manner. 



Selecting and Rearing Brood Sows. While it is not as essential that the sow 

 should be thoroughbred as the male, in breeding for the pork market, yet it will always be 

 found the best practice (since the results will be correspondingly better) that the best types 

 of animals be selected for breeding in both male and female; therefore whether common 

 native sows or grades be used, the best specimens should always be chosen for breeding, not 

 only in constitutional vigor, but in form, aptitude to fatten, early maturity, tractability, etc. 

 The following sensible advice on this subject, from a prominent agricultural journal, will be 

 found of value to swine breeders generally; and since it accords so precisely with our own 

 views, we quote it entire : 



&quot;A brood sow should be a good milker. However good in other respects, if deficient 

 in this, she should hardly be retained as a breeder. An abundance of milk for the first 

 eight or ten weeks of their existence is the best preparation young pigs can have to fit them 

 for profitable growth in after life. It is not always possible to decide with certainty 

 whether or not a young sow will prove to be a good milker; but as with cows, so with pigs, 

 we may learn from observation and trial to know in some degree, judging from their general 

 appearance, what to expect. 



Much will depend upon the dam and grandam in this regard. Milking qualities in swine 

 are as surely transmissible to progeny as in cattle. Thus it is true of swine as of cattle that 

 this trait may be greatly improved by selecting only good milkers for breeders, as well as by 

 feeding them when young with a view to their development as milk-producers, rather than as 

 fat-producers. For this reason spring and early summer litters are usually the best from 

 which to select young brood sows. They can be kept through the summer almost entirely on 

 grass, which, if abundant and in variety, will make them grow nicely, and, at the same time, 

 the exercise required in grazing will keep them in good health and thrift. By the time the 

 cold weather comes on, and corn is to be fed, they will have become nearly old and large 

 enough for service. But even after this, continued care should be taken that too much corn, 

 or other fat-producing food, should not be given them. We must, however, bear in mind 

 that at this period all animals naturally lay up fat, which afterwards goes to enrich the milk. 

 Hence, while they should not be allowed to become over -fat, they should yet be so fed as to 

 supply this demand of nature, and to retain the general health and vigor of the system. 



When they have dropped their first litter, the most they will need for the first five or 

 eight days will be cooling drinks, and very little rich food. Wheat bran scalded, and then 

 thinned with cold water, to which may be added a handful of ship-stuff or middling, may 

 be given. In ten days or two weeks the richness of the food may be gradually increased, 

 great care being taken, however, both as to the quality and quantity, that these changes may 

 not injure the health of the sow, or so affect her milk as to cause scours in the pigs. It is a 

 very common mistake in feeding sows having young pigs to give them too much strong food 

 when the pigs are quite young. 



It is not until the pigs are some three or four weeks old that they really begin to tax the 

 sow heavily. Then it is that the sow should be liberally and regularly fed on good, nutritious, 

 milk-producing food; and. at the same time, the young pigs should be taught to feed by 

 themselves at a trough out of the reach of the sow. If thus managed, both sow and pigs 

 are benefited. The strength of the former is kept up, and her disposition to produce an 

 abundance of good rich milk so encouraged as to fix this as one of the best traits of her 



