APPENDIX. 241 



months old. If young sows are allowed to run until they are twelve or 

 fifteen months old before they are put to breeding, they are very apt to 

 miss their way altogether ; and we find that the most successful breed- 

 ers are those which are put to, when young, and are kept regularly 

 breeding; consequently we do not disappoint them, but allow them to 

 bring two litters a year. After their first litter we keep them sparingly, 

 except when suckling. When they have weaned their spring litter, and 

 have taken the boar again, they are turned into a grass field, in which 

 there is a large shed, with rails across the doorway to prevent cattle en- 

 tering. In this shed they sleep at night, or retire in rainy weather. If 

 the grass is not very plentiful, we give about a pint each of Indian corn 

 per day, scattering it on the grass, and they can drink water from a stone 

 trough which is fed by a spring, and placed near the ground that they 

 may reach it conveniently. But they mostly gain so much flesh from 

 being well fed while suckling, that they require little more than grass ; 

 and some which have had nothing else, have done as well as we could 

 wish them. 



" When the sows are brought into the breeding house, they are at 

 once put on the same kind of food as will be continued to them while 

 they are suckling. They are turned out for a few minutes twice a day, 

 before feeding, which keeps the bowels in proper order, and the house 

 dry and sweet, for it is very important that the bowels are open at this 

 time, for, if constipated, the milk will not come freely, and the young 

 seldom do well ; besides which, it interferes with the free passage of the 

 urine, causing great uneasiness, and, if not removed, it would lead to 

 serious consequences, for which purpose we give frequent injections of 

 warm water, and walk the patient carefully out, for a few minutes at a 

 time, until we see that the obstruction has passed. Sometimes we mix 

 a little common soap in the warm water, and have never experienced 

 much difficulty when these means have been used. 



"We give a moderate bed of short straw three or four days before 

 they are expected to farrow, that it may become soft by the time they 

 are due, which, as the time approaches, they will collect on a heap, and 

 place themselves upon it in such a manner that by raising the body it 

 assists them in their efforts during parturition, and this, as well as most 

 other matters at this time, we leave entirely to themselves, believing 

 that they can mostly manage their own business best without our inter- 

 ference. And except with very fat sows, or during very cold weather, 

 we do not remain with them while farrowing, but give an occasional eye 

 to them to see that there is no unusual delay. If the presentations are 

 proper, they will often pass three or four in as many minutes, but when 

 the hind feet are presented foremost, they get on slowly, and sometimes 

 half the litter will come in this way, but assistance in such cases will mostly 

 do more harm than good, for in drawing the birth by the hind legs, the 

 viscera is forced into the chest, and the life is thereby endangered to no 

 purpose, for if ever they get so far on their way as to be within the reach 

 of ordinary aid, they will be passed safer without it. 

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