368 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



breed, the next point is to select the finest for Breeding* 

 sows, and for Boars. 



The marks of a good Hog are, a moderate length, in 

 proportion to the size of the body; the nose short, the cheek 

 plump and full; neck thick and short; quarters full; car- 

 case thick and full; hair fine and thin; with a symmetry 

 adapted to the breed to which it belongs. Above all, it is 

 essential, that it be of a kindly disposition to faten early. 

 The longnosed Hogs should be avoided. 



The Sow will bring forth a stronger and better litter, if 

 kept from the Boar till she is a year old; and he should be 

 kept till that age, before he is put to Sows. He should be 

 k<>pt in good condition for the purpose; and, as the Com- 

 pilers of ' The Comfilete Grazier* say, should not serve 

 more than ten Sows in a year. The Sows should also be 

 kept in good condition, but not too fat; as in that case they 

 will not produce an abundant litter of Pigs. As they will 

 usually pig twice a year, they should be put to the Boar at 

 such times as will bring one litter in April, and another 

 early in September. To cause them to go to the Boar, if 

 they miss the right season, give them some parched oats in 

 their wash, or the small end of a runet-bag. If well kept, 

 however, they will seldom require any stimulous to coition 

 at the proper times. 



Those are reckoned the best breeders which have about 

 ten or twelve paps. They should be kept clean and well 

 littered; but should not have too much litter at the time of 

 piging, lest they overlay their Pigs in it. At the end of a 

 week or ten days, they should be let out of their sties into 

 the yard, for three or four hours each day. Where seve- 

 ral Sows are farrowing, about the same time, they must be 

 kept in separate apartments in the sty, lest they devour the 

 Pigs of each other. Young Sows will sometimes eat their 

 own offspring, which may be prevented by washing the 

 backs of the Pigs in an infusion of aloes ; and, for this pur- 

 pose, the Sows must be watched when bringing forth. It is 

 said, that supplying them with plenty of water, ai this time, 

 will prevent any mischief taking place of this kind. 



The sucking Pigs, intended for market, should be kilied 

 at the end of about three weeks. The finest ones should 

 be saved. By this time the rest will be able to follow the 

 Sows, when the males may be castrated, and at the end of 

 another week the females may be spayed. This latter ope- 

 ration will greatly promote the growth and fatening of the 

 females. The castration and spaying may as well, however, 

 be defered till the age of six weeks. 



Where the Pigs are to be weaned, Mr. Young says, it 

 should be at the age of two months ; and they should be 

 kept in a sty by themselves) and suffered to run into a yard. 



