24 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



There is unquestionably greater risk attending the breeding of 

 swine than any other farm stock. But there are some rules, 

 which, though perhaps generally known, if more rigidly ob- 

 served, would dimmish the chances of a loss of pigs at littering. 

 The sow should be placed by herself in a pen, sparingly sup- 

 plied with fine litter, some weeks before confinement, so that she 

 may become accustomed to her abode. On the eve of that event 

 she should not be disturbed, nor indeed mitil after she has begim 

 to suckle all of her new-born family. She should be fed lightly 

 for some days after having littered, to allay inflammation and to 

 promote a healthy tone of body and appetite. The quantity 

 and quality of food may be increased, as the demands of her 

 stomach, which will soon be great, increase. But should her 

 appetite be poor — should she be moping or enfeebled by littering, 

 let her out of her pen with her young ones, to follow her own 

 bent ; to walk, or root, or lie down, when and where she pleases ; 

 only housing her at night. 



In a fortnight from their birth, pigs will thrive all the better 

 for being allowed to run out, at liberty, from the pen, and, as 

 soon as they may, to eat grass, crumbs, and such other food as 

 they can find. In a few weeks more, they will readily eat corn, 

 which should be furnished them in small quantities as soon as 

 they will eat it. They thus learn early the art of eating, and 

 depend partly on it, as well as on sucking, for support. The 

 change, therefore, on weaning, is not a violent, but an easy one. 

 They are thus preserved from that weakening and often fatal 

 malady of young weaned pigs, the scours. This and the mange 

 are, perhaps, the most frequent and obstinate diseases to which 

 weaned pigs are liable. For the former, we know of no remedy 

 but the largest liberty and the smallest allowance of food : for 

 the latter, washing the pigs with butter-milk, or a sprinkling of 

 lamp-oil on their backs, will be found to be very beneficial in 

 removing the distemper. 



In feeding swine, care in providing their food, regularity in 

 furnishing it, and judgment as to the amount furnished at par- 

 ticular times, are all important. A hog, it is said, will eat any 

 kind of food, if he be kept short enough. Perhaps he will. And 

 yet the object of the feeder should be, not to see how mean or 



