35 



sow. The quality of good nature is just as certainly and accurately 

 transmitted to the oifspring as are the valuable qualities of the horse 

 transmitted to the young colt. It is an impossibility, in a large herd, to 

 have every sow good natured at farrowing time ; but it is easy enough 

 to have the cases of bad temper so far apart that any occurrence of this 

 kind is not worth mentioning. Thei'e may be extenuating circumstances 

 that might cause a valuable sow to behave unbecomingly, but this should 

 not be sufficient reason for discarding her or her pigs for breeders. If a 

 sow is cross two litters in succession, dispose of her without hesitation, 

 and do not retain any of her pigs for breeders. The perfect mother 

 bunches her brood in a remote corner of the pen, and settles herself 

 some feet from them. Prize such litters highly, and save every pig for 

 breeders, especially if they are good ones. Hardly a day passes without 

 some seeker after knowledge asks the question. How long do you keep 

 both sows and boars for breeders ? And I invarial^ly answer. As long 

 as they do well. We have a pair of thoroughbred Yorkshires that have 

 produced five hundred dollars' worth of pigs since we have had them ; 

 and the remarkable thing about it is, that they never have produced a 

 poor one. They are five years old, and I think the last litter, which we 

 now have on hand, is the best of any yet. It is easier to raise ten good 

 sows than one good boar, aiad we meet a great many farmers who under- 

 stand this. Select this animal from a litter whose ancestors are noted 

 for the good qualities that should be combined in the perfect hog. Look 

 for one that is as good over the hips as over the shoulders. You will 

 not find this kind plentiful. Object to a coarse, heavy head in the young 

 boar, but a different appearance is admissible in the aged animal. For 

 myself, I do not object at all to some length of nose, provided that mem- 

 ber is fine ; my main idea being that a good, well-developed and rounded 

 body behind that nose is of very much higher importance. 'I'he boar is 

 fit for service at eight months old, and the sow can produce her first 

 litter at twelve months old. 



Diseases. 



The diseases which trouble the pig grower are comparatively few, 

 and he can be reasonabl}- safe from loss by keeping close watch of sani- 

 tary conditions. Do not compel the pigs to lie in wet, muddy nests over 

 night, and never let an animal get chilled ; because pneumonia is just 

 as likely to attack the pig as the human siabject ; and, although the case 

 is quite liable to recover, it is an unfavorable state of things, and not 

 wanted. The most to be dreaded of all the diseases is swine plague or 

 hog cholera. First of all, do not allow any one to come about your 

 premises who has been where this exists. When it occurs, if the animals 

 are in pens, wash the sides and floor with a saturated solution of sulfate 

 of iron, and fumigate thoroughly every da}^ with burning tar and brim- 

 stone. The fumes will not affect the animals, as the smudge will not be 

 likely to settle in the pens. Feed charred com, jjlenty of charcoal, and 

 keep a fresh supply of coal ashes in the pens or pasture all the time. 

 With reasonable care, disease of any kind need not be feared very much. 



Small pigs at three weeks old or thereabouts are sometimes affected 



