PARTURITION PRECAUTION. 



month with the spring before them, and their nursing 

 mother, in the interim, to defend them from the win- 

 ter's cold ; in the other, they are nurtured in a warm 

 season, weaned in the harvest field, and then ena- 

 bled to endure the rigours of the approaching win- 

 ter. It has proved generally unsuccessful to rear 

 pigs in the winter season, although they may be bred 

 for roasters. 



SIGNS of approaching PARTURITION, in addition 

 to the one above noted swellings of the bags of 

 milk, decreased size of the belly, sleepiness. A vigi- 

 lant swineherd, solicitous to preserve all the pigs, 

 will watch and attend the farrowing sow, day and 

 night, because some sows are so unwieldy, or so care- 

 less, as, perhaps, at every farrowing, to lie upon, and 

 crush to death a part of their young ; others, from an 

 irregular and vicious disposition, will devour a part, 

 or even all of them. As one precaution, the breed- 

 ing-sow ought not to be kept fat and heavy, yet 

 in good heart and full strength. Few keepers will, 

 or ever do, go the length of attending the sow, 

 satisfying themselves with the persuasion that she 

 will be safest left to her own care. To those who 

 are willing to undertake such an office, a hamper, or 

 basket of straw, will be found convenient, in which 

 to withdraw the pigs from danger when it may be 

 needful, in order to replace them properly, as occasion 

 may suit ; which practice it may be necessary to re- 

 peat during two or three days, until the pigs shall 

 have acquired strength and caution sufficient to secure 

 themselves. It may, indeed, be profitable to lose part 

 of a too numerous litter, but accident will not respect 



