422 THE HOG. 



is yet more seen in newly settled countries. It is the surest 

 resource of the settler during his first years of toil and hard- 

 ship. It is the soonest brought to maturity of all the larger 

 quadrupeds, the most easily fed, and the least subject to ac- 

 cidents and diseases in a new situation. 



The fat of the Hog forms a thick layer beneath the inte- 

 guments. It is termed lard, and differs in chemical compo- 

 sition and properties from the fat of the ruminating animals. 

 It more readily imbibes salt than any other kind of fat ; and 

 the same property being possessed by the flesh, there is no 

 animal food better suited than pork for preservation by salt- 

 ing. On this account it is largely employed in the victualling 

 of ships. When it is preserved by drying as well as salting, 

 it forms bacon. 



In rearing and fattening, the Hog presents less difficulty 

 than any other animal. The Sow goes with young four lunar 

 months, bringing forth in the fifth, but, as in the case of all 

 animals reduced to servitude, with some irregularity as to 

 time. She indicates the period when she is about to produce 

 her litter, by carrying straw in her mouth to make her bed. 

 For a considerable time, however, before this period, she 

 should have been separated from her fellows of the herd, 

 placed in a warm house, supplied with suitable food, and kept 

 carefully littered with clean dry straw. These precautions 

 are required to allay that irritation to which she is subject 

 at the time of producing her young, increased by her being 

 suddenly removed from her companions, and put in a strange 

 place. Care must be taken not to handle the young pigs, or 

 remove them from the places in which they have been put by 

 the dam, for she herself knows where they nestle, and in this 

 case takes care not to crush them when she lies down. The 

 straw, too, should be short, and in moderate quantity, lest the 

 young should creep underneath it unperceived by the mother. 

 During all the period of nursing, the Sow should be well fed, 

 and the troughs so placed, that the pigs may be allowed to 

 partake of the food. In six weeks, if the pigs have been well 



