able to permanently increase, within limits, the
production of larger litters and the increased supply of milk for their
sustenance when young.

The provision of a suitable udder is even of more importance with the
domesticated than with the sow running wild, since the latter produces
each year one litter only, and that in the season of the year when the
young are less dependent on their dams; whereas the domesticated sow is
expected to rear at least two litters per year, and frequently owing to
want of care on the part of the owner the young pigs are farrowed at the
most unfavourable time of the year.

Apart from the provision of a certain number of teats there is another
point to be considered, the power of the sow to produce milk enough to
satisfy the given number of pigs. This of course varies with each family
or tribe of pigs, and even with the various members in it, so that to
obtain the best results selection must be made of the produce of those
sows which give the largest quantity of the most nutritious milk. There
exists amongst pig keepers a difference of opinion as to the number of
pigs each sow should be allowed to rear, probably the average of this
number would be ten for a mature sow, and seven or eight for a first
litter. If so, the selected sow pig should possess twelve teats, as
frequently one of these may not give a full supply of milk from either
natural or accidental causes. The teats should be regular in size and
form. It is not uncommon to find one or more of the teats of a sow much
smaller in size than the others. These smaller teats will produce a
reduced quantity of milk, so that the pigling which is unfortunate
enough to decide on making this small teat its very own--and each
pigling is confined by the others to its own special teat--is certain to
be less well developed than its brothers and sisters, even if it should
succeed in surviving.

The necessity for the teats being placed equidistant the one from the
other arises from the desirability of each pig having room to suck
comfortably. Should two of the teats be closely placed the two pigs will
probably fight, when not only will sores be caused on the cheeks of the
pigs, but the milk in the teats not properly drawn will gradually cease
to flow.

Another point of great importance is that the teats should commence as
near as possible to the fore legs--this for two reasons: it gives more
room for the pigs to suck as they grow larger; the oth