ble the period between the middle of the month of
September and the middle of December should be avoided. The long nights
and the short and dull days generally experienced during this period are
most unsuitable for young pigs. Many litters of pigs farrowed in October
are not any larger nor nearly as thrifty in the month of March as those
farrowed during the early portion of January in the following year, and
very frequently the loss amongst the October and November farrowed pigs
from lameness, or, as it is commonly termed, cramp, is very large. An
attempt should be made so that the two litters which should be bred each
year from the sow arrive so that they are weaned during the longer and
brighter days of the year; thus a sow which farrows in the beginning of
February may be expected to farrow again in July. The weather is
sometimes rather cold for little pigs early in the year, but it is
surprising how little they are affected by it providing the sow
furnishes a good supply of milk and the bedding is dry and plentiful.
The pigs farrowed in the months of January and February are generally
the most profitable, as they will be ready for the consumption of the
separated milk, butter milk, whey, etc., which is generally abundant in
the month of May in districts where dairying and cheese making are
followed. These pigs are also ready for turning out to grass in April or
May, or as soon as the weather is suitable, and the grass has grown
sufficiently. These young pigs will grow and thrive splendidly providing
that some additional food is fed to them and shelter provided.

This natural system of pig raising is of great benefit to those pigs
which are intended for breeding purposes and was consistently followed
by the writer from the year 1863. It was by no means a new plan even at
that period, although strange claims have recently been made that the
system is a novel one and originated in the fertile brain of one or two
enthusiasts who have gone the whole hog in pig breeding. In the middle
of the last century it was quite a common practice in parts of the
counties of Cambridge, Essex, and Suffolk to graze the seeds which
comprised clovers, trefoils, etc., with pigs which received in addition
extra food, such as peas or beans in accordance with the amount of
vegetable food obtainable or the purpose for which the pigs were
required; those intended for pork receiving the larger supply.

Although it may not be possible to allow th