CHAP. u. PIG BREEDING. 539 



in March, and thus allow the second litter to come in August, so 

 that the suckers are strong before the autumn sets in. Sixteen 

 weeks, or one hundred and twelve days, is the normal period for 

 a sow to carry her young. It will sometimes be found that old sows, 

 and yelts with their first litters, will farrow before, and that strong 

 lusty sows, with their second or third litter, will go beyond, the 

 expiration of this period. 



In the latter case the teeth of the little pigs will be found of an 

 abnormal growth, and sometimes of a dark colour at the roots. This 

 is described by old pigmen as "the pigs having black teeth," and 

 consequently being useless for rearing purposes. So strongly do 

 some old-fashioned people believe in this that they will declare that 

 they never reared any pigs which had black teeth at their birth. 

 They ought, however, also to add that they never adopted the simple 

 and effectual plan of breaking off these extra long and sharp teeth, 

 which the sucker uses with so much vigour when fighting for its 

 favourite teat, whilst, in the attempt, it bites the tender udders of 

 the sow, causing her intense pain. This she at last resents, and, 

 jumping up, with the aid of her nose knocks the youngsters all over 

 the sty. The process is repeated until at last the sow, worn out 

 with fighting, simplifies matters by lying flat on her body and refusing 

 to let the pigs suck. The pigs are soon starved, whilst the sow's 

 udder becomes flushed with milk and inflamed, and quickly arrives 

 at the state termed by old pigmen " caked." If the pig's teeth have 

 been neglected, and the sow, in consequence, suffers as described, 

 the udder must be bathed with warm water, and if possible, some of 

 the milk drawn from it. A little cooling medicine must also be given 

 in warm slop; failing some of the usual pig medicine, 1 ounce of 

 sulphur and ^ ounce of nitre will be found effectual, this being 

 followed, if necessary, in a few hours by 2 ounces of Glauber's salts 

 (sulphate of soda) dissolved in her drink. 



In very cold weather, and often in the autumn, the little pigs will lose 

 their tails if no steps are taken to prevent it. This loss usually com- 

 mences when the pigs are four or five days old. The tail becomes red, 

 and a scab forms on it about half an inch from its junction with the 

 body. Many and varied are the certain nostrums recommended, amongst 

 others, the application of nitrate of silver, cutting a little piece off the 

 end of the tail, picking off the scab, thereby causing the tail to bleed, 

 the application of olive oil, &c. As a matter of fact, we have never 

 found anything so effectual as the use of Barff's Boro-glyceride. If 

 this be applied as soon as the redness of the tail is apparent, and the 

 application continued twice a day as long as necessary, no bob-tailed 

 pigs will be found on the place. Some people have a strong 

 objection to a pig which has lost its tail, and were they judging at a 

 show they would decline to give a prize to such a pig, even if it were 

 otherwise the best. In this there appears to be much prejudice, since 

 the state of the atmosphere at the time the youngster arrived on the 

 scene is far more responsible for the loss of tail than any hereditary 



