68 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



the arched claws of an ancient tree, supplying her- 

 self and young with food from the nearest corn or 

 root-field ; but we will charitably suppose that yours 

 is not of this Westphalian sort, and need therefore 

 dwell no further on the subject. Sucking-pigs (which 

 near a town pay excellently) are best killed at the 

 end of three weeks ; porkers at four to nine months, 

 according to size. Baconers should rarely be kept 

 beyond two years for your home consumption. An 

 old sow butchered results most rank in flavour ; if 

 you have kept her long breeding for her superlative 

 points' sake, dispose of her notwithstanding as bacon. 

 The older they grow, too, the more difficult they are 

 to fatten. Let not the pig, then, try the Babylonian 

 numbers, or he will never spend again a happy hour. 

 Destined by nature to grow for five to six years, the 

 full duration of his life being from twenty-five to 

 thirty years (Ya/rrell), about twenty according to 

 Aristotle, both male and female lasting fertile till 

 fifteen — how is it for them to lament, except in such 

 rare instances as the pet " bantam sow that swept 

 the ground," mentioned by White of Selborne, that 

 the march of civilisation has shortened their days ? 

 To the young housekeeper, I may hint that when 

 you get so far as the preserving of hams, there are 

 bottles of pyroligneous acid to be purchased at the 

 chemist's, two or three light washes of which, after 

 curing, supersede with equal effect the old tedious 

 plan of flavouring by suspension in the smoke of a 

 damp straw, wood, or turf fire. The small breed of 

 pigs is best adapted for porkers, being apt to grow 

 too fat when kept to serve as bacon. You will 



