PROLIFIC BREEDING MONTHS. 213 



most extensive or widest general form. The term of 

 GESTATION in swine is four months, or one hundred 

 and fifteen days, with a very few days' variation, pro- 

 ducing three litters of from five to twelve pigs each, 

 in about eighteen months, supposing the pigs to be 

 weaned ; but in two or three months less time, the 

 pigs being suckled for roasters. Greater numbers to 

 a litter are often produced, more particularly by the 

 China breeds and their crosses, the most prolific of 

 swine : and we had a late instance in Essex of a sow 

 of that breed, the property of Mr. Tilney, of Writtle, 

 which farrowed 301 pigs in 13 litters, out of which 

 she actually brought up 177, or more than 13 to a 

 litter. I have, however, found, and more especially 

 in the large breeds, that a litter of a moderate number 

 is most profitable, since in the numerous litters there 

 are generally several undersized and weak individuals 

 which never attain much value. Thus a litter of nine 

 or ten good pigs may bring more profit than a litter 

 of thirteen or fourteen. 



After receiving the BOAR, for which the middle of 

 SEPTEMBER and the middle of MARCH are the most 

 advantageous seasons, the sow should be confined 

 until her irritability has ceased, which will return 

 within a few days of her parturition, a sign which de- 

 mands attention. After she has become heavy, she 

 should be securely lodged by herself, lest others 

 injure her by lying upon her ; and, at any rate, 

 during the time of bringing forth, as other swine 

 would devour her offspring as they fell. According 

 to the above breeding periods, the pigs will come in 

 the middle of January and of July; in the first 



