QUANTITY OF MAST. 565 



When pigs are fed on both oak and beech -mast, they always 

 ]jrefer the former, they also prefer pedunculate to sessile acorns. 

 Frequently after eating acorns only hunger will make them eat 

 beech-nuts, and there is then always an interval during which 

 the swine fall off in condition. This is due to the angular 

 shape of the beech-nuts, which hurts the pigs' mouths, as is 

 shown by the fact that they always prefer beech-nuts which have 

 been some time on the ground and are softer than freshly-fallen 

 ones. 



Ground-mast is always a useful adjunct, not only on account 

 of its amount, which varies according to locality and depends 

 on the state of the foregoing summer- weather, but also because 

 of its influence on the health of the pigs. Larvae of insects, 

 worms, fungi, &c., contain much more nitrogenous matter than 

 beech-nuts and acorns ; ground-mast, therefore, not only assists 

 in fattening the animals, but also affords a variety of food. 



3. Quantity of Mast. 



The quantity of mast in any season is distinguished as full- 

 mast {vulle-mast) , half-mast {halhc or Fall-mast), and quarter- 

 mast {Viertel or Vo(iel-mast). Full-mast is when the oaks and 

 beech-trees are so laden with fruit that there is sufficient not 

 only for natural regeneration purposes, but also a large super- 

 fluity for swine. In the case of half-mast, only a few pigs can be 

 fed. In quarter-mast, only individual trees bear fruit, and, as 

 there is not sufficient for complete natural regeneration, pigs 

 must be excluded. 



The quantity of mast in any district depends on the compara- 

 tive frequency of seed-years. It is certain that in Germany they 

 were formerly more frequent than at present. Towards the end of 

 last century, three mast-years in every six or eight years might 

 be safely anticipated — namely, one half or full-mast, and two 

 quarter-masts. Full beech-mast years were, even then, rare 

 occurrences. At present, only one full beech-mast and two or 

 three quarter-masts may be reckoned on every 12 to 15 years. 

 In many districts, during 10 years there may be only quarter- 

 masts. In many places, however, there is some oak-mast 

 nearly every j'ear, but, as a rule, an oak-mast occurs only every 

 two or three years. 



