SWINE. 539

of foxes and polecats, which I have often known to make free with a sucking-pig, during the heavy slumbers of the sow.

I could never yet please myself in a piccine- HOUSE; the sows are always in danger of crushing their pigs against the walls: this they will do also against the floor, if you allow too little straw; if too much, and too long, they will bury the pigs un- der it: a medium, and the straw short, are best. I have lined the wall with furze, in order to keep the sow in the middle of the stye, to no purpose; but intend to try. something of an inclining or project- ing rail, around the walls, under which the pigs may escape. I have had ten pigs, out of 4 litter of fourteen, crushed to death by the sow, which would not move, even whilst a pig was squeak- ing under her, until it could be heard in the dwell- ing-house. Sows which devour their pigs, or which are so excessively inclined to fat, as to be in- dolent nurses, giving besides an insufhcient quantity of milk, should never be tried a second time: the teats of some are so large and coarse, that the young can with difficulty draw them. A sow should have a deep and large carcase; and there are some lank- bellied, store-like sows, which are little worth, as breeders: but the having once a scanty litter, is no objection; since it may be merely accidental, or probably occasioned by the want of age, in the sow or boar.;

The sow’s wash should be warm and nourishing, at first; as to the composition, wherever skimmed milk is to be had, that, doubtless, enters into it. and pollard is the common food, enriched, occa-

sionally