244 HABKIS ON THE PIG. 



pointed knife, on the lower side, directing the point upwards, that the 

 matter may escape, when they will soon heal without further trouble. 



" Fat heavy pigs are easily lamed in the hind-quarters or hind legs, 

 and should be very carefully driven over slippery or uneven ground. 

 When so lamed, the butcher is the best remedy and the sooner the bet- 

 ter, as they lose flesh fast, when they come to lie and cannot rise easily. 

 They are also subject to rheumatic attacks, especially in the hind legs, 

 which may easily be mistaken for accidental lameness ; sometimes they 

 will suddenly become lame in one leg, and then the lameness will as 

 suddenly change to the other, or perhaps leave them altogether. I con- 

 sulted Professor Simonds, of the Royal Veterinary College, on this dis- 

 ease, and he recommended a strong stimulating liniment, or liquid 

 blister to be applied to the hough joint, and well rubbed in, and I have 

 used it with very beneficial results ; also, if confined for any length of 

 time where the wet litter is allowed to accumulate under them, their 

 hoofs grow to a great length, and the feet become unsound and full of 

 Clefts, when the hoofs should be shortened, for which purpose we use a 

 pair of strong, wire-clipping pinchers, taking care not to injure the sensi- 

 tive part of the foot, and trim with a shepherd's knife ; and for diseased 

 feet we have found nothing so good as a bran poultice, with two or three 

 spoonfuls of fresh brewer's yeast mixed with it, and put in a strong bag 

 or boot, into which the foot is introduced, and secured with a string 

 when the animal is laid down. It may fye kept wet by pouring water on 

 it two or three times a day, and changed daily." 



T. L. Harison, Esq., Morley, St. Lawrence Co., 1ST. Y., 

 writes : 



" I do not think I can give you any ideas of value as to the breeds and 

 breeding of pigs, for my experience has been with Suffolks only, and 

 the breeding them has been with me a matter of great simplicity, and in 

 which I have found no difficulties to contend with. I have found the 

 Suffolks hardy, prolific, good nurses, and good feeders. Those who 

 have had barren sows have, I think, allowed them to get too fat before 

 breeding. This is the only risk that I know of, and it is to be guarded 

 against. My plan was to keep over such young sows as I selected for 

 breeders generally from fall litters, hut seldom from spring litters. 

 These were usually kept in a yard or in a small grass field, so that they 

 were on the ground and had plenty of exercise, and when served about 

 December 1st would be from 14 to 16 months old and in fair (extra, per- 

 haps) store condition. After they were with pig, they would of course 

 during the winter get fat, but in my breeding that never did any harm. 

 My only trouble was in the loss of young pigs, in consequence of the 

 milk of their mothers being too rich. This makes it necessary to be 

 careful how you feed the sows while suckling, and I found that bran 

 with the refuse of the house made a better food than grain at such times. 



" I do not know about plans of pig pens. I have never seen any that 

 I thought had much merit. In fact, I would never use pens, except for 



