SUMMARY. 233 



bred boars. The Jefferson County are a very handsome 

 white breed, essentially Yorkshires. 



Pigs should always have access to fresh water. No 

 matter how " sloppy " the food is, or how much dish-water 

 is furnished, they should be furnished with pure water. 

 We are satisfied that pigs often suffer for want of it. 



Salt, sulphur, charcoal, ashes, bone-dust, or superphos- 

 phate, should occasionally be placed where the pigs can 

 eat what they wish of them. 



If thoroughly boiled, pigs will eat beans, though they 

 are not fond of them. Peas they eat witli avidity, and 

 when as cheap as corn, should be fed in preference, as 

 they afford much the richest manure. Half peas and 

 half corn is probably better than either alone. Peas 

 make very firm pork. 



Oil-cake, when fed in large quantities, injures the flavor 

 and quality of the pork, but we have fed small quantities 

 of it, with decided advantage to the health and rapid 

 growth of the pigs, without any apparent injury to the 

 lard or pork. It is quite useful for breeding sows. It 

 keeps the bowels loose, and increases the quantity and 

 quality of the milk. 



Bran, except in small quantities, is not a valuable food 

 for fattening pigs. It is too bulky. But when rich, con- 

 centrated food is given, such as corn, barley, peas, or oil- 

 cake, pigs should be allowed all the bran they will eat, 

 placed in a separate trough. In this way it becomes a 

 very useful and almost indispensable article to the pig 

 feeder. It is also very useful for breeding sows. 



The best roots to raise for pigs are parsnips and mangel 

 wurzel. 



The period of gestation in a sow is almost invariably 

 sixteen weeks. In three or four days after pigging, a sow 

 in good condition will generally take the boar. But, as a 

 rule, it is not well to allow it. If she passes this period, 

 she will not take the boar until after the pigs are weaned. 



