THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 407 



ointment. Cracked ears, however, only occur in very 

 hot weather. SweUings on the throat from eating 

 acorns must be lanced and anointed with lard. 



OF SOWS AND BOARS FOR BREEDING. 



Sows that have been kept at the teat for a consider- 

 able time, and also occasionally well fed, will be fit 

 for the boar at eight or nine months old ; and if they 

 are kept clean, and in tolerable condition, they will 

 produce three litters of pigs in a year. The usual 

 time, however, of putting a sow to the boar, is in the 

 twelfth month, and then she has acquired that strength 

 and vigour which is necessary in every animal for the 

 procreation of a healthy stock. 



The boar, although he is capable of serving a sow 

 at six months old, should not be allowed to couple till 

 he has attained his ordinary growth, which will not be 

 earlier than a year. 



Sows which have been put to the boar very early, 

 do not continue to breed long ; whereas, on the other 

 hand, they have had Utters for seven years, when the 

 number at each time of farrowing has not been very 

 great. The smaller breed of sows generally produce 

 the earliest litters, as well as the most numerous. 



Most farmers are of opinion that the best bearing 

 time is from November till the close of March or the 

 beginning of April. 



It is not always proper to put the sow to the boar 

 at every breaming ; for three litters every year would 

 take away too much nourishment, and each succeeding 

 litter would be weaker, and probably more unhealthy 



