4:,2 HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



tiuuous lively grunt that sows are known to do when their pigs 

 are sucking, it shows that she is becoming reconciled, and little 

 danf^er may be apprehended. But sometimes it will be neces- 

 sary to repeat the coercive process, which must be done as 

 gently as possible, and a second trial rarely fails to induce the 

 sow to take to and become reconciled to her young brood 

 Whilst I have known them to become reconciled and passive 

 upon the fii*st trial, so as to continue quietly permitting the pigs 

 to suck, after the attendants have retired, I have, in a few cases, 

 had to apply compulsion a third time before the sow would 

 succumb ; but this is rare, as a second trial scarcely ever fails to 

 succeed." 



In any case, begin when they are two weeks old to give them 

 warm milk, and gradually thicken it with boiled vegetables or 

 bran. They should have a little trough of their own, under 

 their railing, where the sow cannot get at it. If another litter is 

 wanted in the fall from this sow turn the boar in to her, when 

 she is out in the yard away from her pigs, a week or ten days 

 after farrowing. She should not suckle her pigs more than six 

 weeks after taking the boar. When you get pigs, Avhether you 

 raise them or buy them, keep them growing all the time. This 

 is the secret of success in making pork. If a pig is allowed to 

 stop growing it takes twice the time and twice the food to get 

 liim started again. There is nothing equal to milk to give pigs 

 growth. Let them have oat meal, corn meal, and wheat bran 

 in equal quantities, always cooked. Scalded food will fotten 

 them all one-third more than raw. Never feed any grain whole. 

 ^^.nv the pigs grass and clover. Many farmers just keep 

 their pigs on slops, grass, and whole grain until autumn, just 

 enough to " keep them along," and then crowd them in fatten- 

 ing. This is the reason they do not make it pay. With a good 

 breed that will fat, nothing they eat is lost upon them, it all 



