158 THE HOG. 



of the year for the production of the litter. In the spring, the fields 

 and paddocks offer fresh grass and various vegetables, and a run upon 

 the pastures will be not only a saving to the farmer, but of benefit 

 to the young pigs ; besides which, at this season of the year, whey 

 and buttermilk are abundant, and so continue to be during the greater 

 part of summer. An autumnal litter, again, will have sufficient 

 time to grow and acquire strength before the severities of mid- 

 winter ; besides, the refuse of the potato crop, and the carrot beds, 

 of the garden generally, and of the mill, is now at hand in abun- 

 dance. 



"A breeding sow should never be overfed ; not that she should be 

 starved on the contrary, she should be kept by a judicious allow- 

 ance of food, in good condition and perfect health, but not fat. A 

 sow when fat is not likely to be fertile, and, moreover, her parturi- 

 tion is sure to be more difficult and dangerous, and her milk in 

 insufficient quantity, perhaps even of inferior quality, while her un- 

 wieldiness renders her more liable to overlay her young. When 

 with pig she should have a commodious and clean sty to herself, and 

 be supplied with sufficient straw to render her comfortable. She 

 should be sufficiently fed, and all her wants supplied. All sources 

 of irritation or annoyance should be avoided, and especially as the 

 time of parturition approaches. From these causes sometimes, 

 perhaps, from craving hunger a sow will devour her young ; it is 

 said also, that if she be allowed to devour the after-birth, a morbid 

 appetite, leading her to fall upon her litter, will be engendered. For 

 these reasons the sow should be carefully watched and fed, especially 

 if the parturition be her first ; and not for these reasons only, but 

 lest her parturition should prove dangerous or in any way difficult. 



" On no account should two pregnant sows be placed in one sty, 

 however commodious. They will assault each other, and at last, 

 perhaps, destroy each other's young. 



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

 secret of forming a breed.' It is thus that all our improved breeds 

 of domestic animals have been produced, those of the hog not ex- 

 eepted. Hence the old, coarse, large-boned swine have now almost 

 disappeared, and given place to small-boned breeds, apt to fatten, 

 mature at an earlier age, affording more delicate meat, less expensive 

 to keep, and, therefore, altogether more profitable breeds. Such 

 are rapidly extending themselves, and improvements are going on. 

 Many landed proprietors pride themselves on the possession of a 

 particular breed of their own establishment, and remarkable for 

 good qualities of every kind. In the establishment of such a stock, 

 indiscriminate selection, and a repetition of crosses, with no definite 

 object, must be avoided ; while, at the same time, a pertinacious 

 adherence to the plan of breeding in and in from the same stock, 

 however excellent, will- ultimately result in its degeneracy. Com 



