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936 SWINE, he hi u ON SWINE.; Y SWINE are ready for procreation at seven months\ old; butthe male is unprofitable for that use, unti! twelve, and is in his prime at two years. In gene-, ral, the age of swine is little attended to, but that|: they are seldom kept for any purpose, until they: areold. The sow goes nominally four months, or 115 days, with very few days variation, bringing three litters, of from five to twelve pigs each litter, in about eighteen months, supposing the pigs to be weaned; but in two or three months, less time, the( pigs being suckled for roasters. Nine is an ad-{ vantageous number; and it is generally, perhaps,.

as profitable to remove, as to suffer the sow to be drawn low, by suckling any more. The number of the teats is a common rule. I generally have the pigs castrated, at seven weeks old, suffering them to remaina week after with the sow, in which time all those in health are recovered, and fit to be weaned: any, casually hurt by the operation, (which seldom happens with a good cutter), may continue awhile longer. This, however, in one respect, may be a disadvantageous practice, pre- venting the sow from“ hogging,” or being seiz- ed with her heat, which is always induced by the reflux, or turn of the milk. All the pigs being 7 weaned at once, and the sow shut up in a secure) place, with her usual good food, her heat will,

in three or four days, be sufficiently manifest, by her

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