BREEDING. 149 



operation : " The snouts of pigs should be perforated at weaning- 

 time, after they shall have recovered from castration ; and it will be 

 necessary to renew the operation as they become of large growth. 

 It is too generally neglected at first ; but no pigs, young or old, 

 should be suffered to roam at large unrung. It should be ascer- 

 tained that the sow's rings are sufficiently strong previously to her 

 taking the hog, on account of the risk of abortion from the opera- 

 tion being renewed while she is in pig. Care must be taken by the 

 operator that he go not too close to the bone, and that the ring 

 turns easily." 



The far better mode of proceeding is, when the pig is young, to 

 cut through the cartilaginous and ligamentous prolongations by 

 which the supplementary bone is united to the proper nasals. The 

 divided edges of the cartilage will never unite again, and the snout 

 always remains powerless. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Breeding : Principles of Choice of the Boar and Sow Best Breeds Age at which the Sow 

 may be used for Breeding Proper Age for the Boar to commence at Period of Gestation 

 Fru'itfulness of SowsTreatment of them during Pregnancy Abortion Parturition 

 Caesarean Operation Monstrosities Treatment of the Sows while Nursing Treatment of 

 the young while Sucking Weaning and after Treatment Prolific power of Swine. 



WE now approach one of the most difficult and important divi- 

 sions of our subject breeding. 



The object of the farmer or breeder is to produce and retain such 

 an animal as will be best adapted to the purpose he has in view, be 

 that the consumption of certain matters which could not be other- 

 wise so well disposed of; the converting into hams, bacon and pork ; 

 or the raising of sucking-pigs and porkers for the market. Almost 

 all farmers, nay, we might almost say, every cottager who has a bit 

 of ground, keep one or more pigs to devour the offal and refuse 

 which would otherwise be wasted ; and the farmer finds a sufficiency 

 for their keep, while the cottager begs wash and other matters, or 

 turns the beast out into the lanes to forage for himself. But this is 

 a matter totally distinct from " breeding swine." In the former 

 case the animal or animals are purchased young, for a small price 

 (each person buying as many as he considers he shall have food 

 enough for,) and then sold to the butcher when in proper condition 

 to be killed ; and thus a certain degree of profit is realised. In the 



