SWINE, BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 
365 
The sow may, under exceptional circumstances, be made to breed three 
times in a year, but two litters are all that should be allowed. Many of 
our best breeders do not allow but one litter a year, where the produce 
is simply required for making pork, and under certain circumstances this 
is not incompatible with economical management, 
A Warm Farrowing Place Necessary. 
The young pig is even more tender than the new-born lamb. If they 
get chilled before they suck it is difficult to save them. Where there are 
good conveniences for warming the farrowing pen, sows may have their 
first litter in March, and if put with the boar the fourth day after farrow- 
ing they will generally receive him. This will bring the next litter in 
the Summer, a very good time for pigs to be wintered. If the sow do 
not catch the first time she will not come in heat until the pigs are 
weaned. Yet this will not throw the next litter later than September. If 
good facilities are not had for keeping the early litters warm, the farrowing 
had better be deferred until May, or at the time of grass, according to 
the latitude. 
S 
Gestation. 
Gestation continues about four months. Three months, three weeks 
and three days is considered the average time, and it is not far out of the 
way. A variation will sometimes be found of thirty days. Young 
animals, and those of feeble constitutions carry their young for a shorter 
time than mature and strong animals, and sows usually remain prolific 
for five or six years, and unless they get overloaded with fat, old sows are 
more constant and careful mothers than young ones. 
Cari? of Breeding Sows. 
The sows that naturally have a strong tendency to fatten may be bred 
at nine months old, and should be kept breeding pretty steadily, and be 
fed only sufficient to keep them strong and in fair flesh. During gestation 
the sows should be kept in good heart but not fat. When potatoes are 
plenty they can bo substituted boiled, and in connection with milk will be 
most excellent feed. In any event they must have plenty of succulent 
food — clover, pig-weed, or other green food in Summer, and roots of 
some kind in Winter. We have always kept a patch of artichokes for 
Fall and Winter, when the ground was not frozen for them to root and 
amuse themselves in. The practice of ringing breeding sows to keep 
