SMALL HOLDINGS 87 



the quantity of food required in each case, 

 that he may the better reahse which will pay 

 him best. From time to time, as it may be 

 found advisable, the best gilt of a good litter 

 should be reserved for stock, but, as with 

 a cow, service should be obtained elsewhere. 

 On this point the greatest care should be 

 exercised in selecting what boar should be 

 used. In our experience many owners of a 

 sow pay no regard to this point, but pay 

 their half-crown to the nearest ovvner. 

 Anything on four legs is apparently suffi- 

 cient for their purpose, although the Htter 

 which follows may not be worth halt 

 the money it would have realised in good 

 hands. 



An important point in pig-keeping is to 

 breed to time. A sow should produce two 

 litters in a year, and in consequence the litter 

 must not be left with the sow too long. A 

 sow farrowing in spring should feed her litter 

 off quickly, and after service graze on the 

 pasture, grass being supplemented by garden 

 produce, middlings, house wash and skim 

 milk, where this is available. If she litters 

 late, the pigs will have to contend against 

 the coldest weather, while the utter of tlie 

 following spring will be later still, and thus 



