#16 CUTTING AND SPAYING RINGING KILLING. 



the better. The same diet is proper for the pigs to 

 partake of whilst sucking. The sow can scarcely be 

 too well kept during this period, and, in addition to 

 two meals as above, should be allowed a middle one 

 of dry meat ; for example, a pint of peas, or beans, 

 with half a peck of carrots, boiled potatoes, or the 

 like. Potatoes alone are a poor and watery depend- 

 ence, nor should pigs be fed with them or any loose 

 vegetable trash, until three months old. The sow 

 may be let out to air herself at pleasure, and, after 

 a while, with the pigs to accompany her, but never 

 in bad weather. 



CUTTING and SPAYING the young pigs is performed 

 at six or seven weeks old, according to their strength : 

 in a week after which they may be WEANED. After 

 weaning, shut up the sow closely, feed her well, and 

 on the reflux of the milk, she will express very 

 loudly her desire for the company of the BOAR. It 

 is necessary to repeat, that sows are voracious, and 

 occasionally fierce and savage animals, and have 

 actually devoured young children. The sow is 

 SPAYED whilst she gives suck, and the boar safely 

 CASTRATED at any age. 



RINGING the snouts of pigs should be performed 

 at weaning time, and after they shall have recovered 

 from castration. In Cheshire they cut away the 

 cartilage, or gristle of the snout, in place of in- 

 serting a ring, a practice which I have not hitherto 

 essayed. 



KILLING. The following extraordinary expedi- 

 tion, particularly for the country, was lately used 

 by Frederic Green, Governor of the Poor-house 



