478 FARMING FOR LADIES. [citAr. xxiv. 



— in March and October — for tlic consump- 

 tion of the winter and the summer ; the one 

 kiHed in March to be eaten during the fol- 

 lowing winter, and the other in the ensuing 

 summer, so as to leave the meat full that 

 time to mature its flav(mr. It should, indeed, 

 never be consumed earlier, if the pigs have 

 been killed at the proper age ; but, if slaugh- 

 tered younger, they partake more of ])ickled 

 ])ork than bacon, and should be eaten sooner, 

 for if kept much longer it will rather dete- 

 riorate than improve. For instance, the hams 

 sliip})ed from Europe to the East and West 

 Indies can seldom be brought to table in those 

 countries until near twelve months old, and 

 we can speak with experience to their being 

 generally finer flavoured than in England. 

 We recollect also a present having, some 

 y(!ars ago, been sent to us from the north 

 of Portugal, of a dozen of the celebrated 

 Guimaracn hams, which arrived some time in 

 the autumn ; and after distributing some to 

 our friends, only one remained when our 

 family went to the country in the following 

 sunnner. It was hung up during all that 

 tinu! in the kitchen, and when we returned. 



