BREEDING, ETC. 587 



produced from a full-grown boar ; but when they be- 

 come aged, the progeny seldom proves good. The sow 

 should be wide in the chest, and capacious in the belly ; 

 and if well nursed before weaning, she may procreate 

 at the age of seven or eight months, and produce an 

 excellent litter of young. But we think ten or twelve 

 months is soon enough to commence breeding, as the 

 animal will by that time have gained sufficient strength 

 to bear the exertion of gestation and parturition. 

 And no boar should be put to a sow until he is at 

 least a twelvemonth old. 



It is of great importance that sows should farrow 

 in warm weather, as when they produce in the winter 

 season, the pigs are very liable to die with cold. 

 When they are farrowed late in August, the chances 

 are much against many of them getting through the 

 winter ; and those which do are seldom strong and 

 healthy. It is, therefore, advisable to part with these 

 as soon as practicable. 



During pregnancy sows should be kept separate 

 from others which are not in that condition, as by 

 keeping many together, the pigs are liable to be in- 

 jured in the womb, and even killed, which will have a 

 very prejudicial influence on the rest of the progeny, as 

 well as on the sow. 



It is of great importance to keep the sow and her 

 young in a dry and warm situation, with plenty of 

 good litter ; and neither should be permitted to go 

 abroad in bad weather. When sows have the un- 

 natural propensity of devouring their young, they 

 should be carefully watched for some days after their 

 birth ; and such as have this desire, should be parted 

 with, as useless for breeding from. 



During the time of pregnancy, sows should be 

 well fed, and have a meal of a rich mash twice a 



