SWINE. 179 



should not be made too fat : for, if in very high or- 

 der, she will probably bring but a weak and indiffer- 

 ent litter of pigs. She should not be allowed to far- 

 row in the winter, as the young are then extremely 

 tender, of all animals the least able to endure cold, 

 and thrive with great difficulty. March and the first 

 of April for the spring, and August and September 

 for the fall litters, are therefore to be preferred as 

 the best seasons for farrowing. 



When breeders possess a good kind of stock, they 

 are too apt to follow it up by breeding what is term- 

 ed " in-and-in" with the same family ; a practice 

 which, it is well known, cannot be successfully per- 

 severed in ; for the animals will become bad feeders, 

 grow delicate, fall off in size, and almost entirely 

 give up breeding ; and, should they casually have a 

 litter, the pigs will be small and weak, and die al- 

 most as soon as they are born. 



It not unfrequently happens that a young sow will 

 devour her young : she should, therefore, be care- 

 fully watched, and well fed when about to farrow, 

 which may be known by her carrying straw in her 

 mouth to form her bed. It is a good precaution to 

 sponge the backs of the pigs immediately after they 

 are born with a strong infusion of aloes in lukewarm 

 water, as its bitter taste will. prevent her from de- 

 stroying them : care should also be taken, before 

 farrowing, to separate her from other hogs. She 

 should have a dry and warm place, and be provided 

 with a good supply of straw cut short, to prevent 

 the pigs from getting entangled, in which case she 

 is apt to lay upon and kill them. To protect the 

 pigs, an open frame or strong rail on each side of 

 her, elevated a few inches from the ground, under 

 which the pigs may run, has been recommended. 

 Eight or ten days after farrowing, the sow may be 

 allowed to leave her sty for a short time every 

 day, and when the pigs acquire a little strength they 

 may accompany her. A grass-field is the best place, 



