CHAP. XXIII.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 451 



substantial pork and bacon for the suste- 

 nance of the hearty working man : nor should 

 his value be forgotten, in household economy, 

 as a consumer of those offals of the kitchen 

 and the garden, which would otherwise be 

 wasted. 



Pork, both in its fresh and salted state, is, 

 indeed, an article of universal consumption 

 over the whole Christian world ; and the hog 

 is such a profitable consumer of every eatable 

 species of garbage, that pigs are reared not 

 only by every farmer, but by every cottager 

 who can find means to feed him ; for there is 

 no animal which yields so great a quantity of 

 flesh, nor of so nutritious a quality, in re- 

 turn for the food which it consumes. This, 

 together with the fecundity of the sow, which 

 generally produces from seven to ten young 

 ones at a birth, and that not unfrequently 

 twice within the year, tends, notwithstanding 

 the demand, to keep down the price at mar- 

 ket to such a rate as would leave but little 

 profit were the hog reared upon purchased 

 food ; but, as he will eat every refuse of 

 either animal or vegetable substance, and is 

 attended with very little trouble, he is fed 



2g2 



