BREEDING. 163 



so doing, of the aim in view. The Chinese and Siamese pigs will 

 generally be found to be the best which can be used for this purpose, 

 as a single, and even two crosses, with one of these animals, will 

 seldom do harm, but often effect considerable improvement.' The 

 best formed of the progeny resulting from this cross must be 

 selected as breeders, and with them the old original stock crossed 

 back again. 



" Selection, with judicious and cautious admixture, is the true 

 secret of forming and improving the breed," says an old and well- 

 established axiom ; and so it is. Repeated and indiscriminate crosses 

 are as injurious as an obstinate adherence to one particular breed, 

 and as much to be avoided ; and of this most persons seem to be 

 fully aware, for a systematic alteration is extending itself through- 

 out all our English breeds of swine ; the large, heavy, coarse breeds 

 are almost extinct, and a smaller race of animals more apt to fatten, 

 less expensive to keep, attaining earlier to maturity, and furnishing 

 a far more delicious and delicate meat have taken their place. 



It would be useless to point out certain breeds as being the most 

 profitable or advantageous, so much depends upon the object for 

 which the animals are raised ; and besides, each breeder of any ex- 

 perience has in general his own pet stock breed, frequently one that 

 has been " made," if we may be allowed the expression, by himself 

 or his progenitors. This will be found to be the casein all great pig- 

 breeding localities, and it frequently happens that the actual stock 

 from which some of the present choicest races of swine sprang can- 

 not be traced farther back than some ancestor or ancestress cele- 

 brated for the number of prizes he or she, or their immediate descen- 

 dants, have won. At least we have found this to be the case in 

 almost every instance in which we have endeavored to arrive at a 

 knowledge of the actual parent stock of some of the most perfect 

 and valuable animals we have met with or heard of. The Berk- 

 shire, the Improved Essex, and the New Suffolk and Bedfordshire 

 breeds may, however, with the Chinese and Neapolitan, be instanced 

 as the best stocks from which to raise a small-boned, thriving, profit- 

 able race, adapted for almost every purpose. 



A sow is capable of conceiving at the age of. from seven to ten 

 months, but it is always better not to let her commence breeding too 

 early, as it tends to weaken her when she does. From ten to twelve 

 months old will be about the best age. Thaer says, " Sows are al- 

 most always in heat until they have received the boar ; this state 

 commences even as early as at the age of four or five months, but 

 they are usually a year old before they are allowed to be put to the 

 boar." 



The boar should be at least a twelvemonth old before he is em- 

 ployed for the purpose of propagating his species, and during that 

 time should have been well and regularly fed and exercised. On 

 7* 



