."

Brood sows should not produce their first litter under twelve months.
Whether they should produce one or two litters a year will depend
largely upon the conditions, especially of climate. Sows should be kept
for breeding as long as they will produce good, even litters.
Well-chosen sows should rear an average of eight to the litter.

Brood sows should have ample exercise. They get it in good form when
they are allowed to turn over litter in the barnyard on which a little
grain, as corn, has previously been sprinkled. Two-thirds of the winter
rations may consist of mangels or alfalfa hay--the other third being
grain or swill. Alfalfa for hogs should be cut before blossoming.

When sows farrow they should be fed lightly for the first three days.
Later give all they will eat of milk-making foods. A combination of
ground oats, wheat shorts, and some corn is excellent. And Pratts Hog
Tonic will be found especially valuable during the nursing period. Meal
is fed ground and soaked. As soon as young pigs will take skim-milk they
should get it in a trough apart from the sow. They are weaned at seven
or eight weeks where two litters are grown in a year, and at twelve
weeks where but one is grown.

When pigs are weaned, and previously, there is nothing better than
shorts and skim milk. They should be grown subsequently to weaning on
pasture, with one to two pounds of grain added daily. In season, winter
or spring rye, clover, alfalfa, barley, and rape all make excellent
pasture.

The fattening period with swine covers from six to eight weeks. Unground
corn and water will fatten swine in good form. The same is true of
barley and rye, ground and soaked. They may be fattened nicely while
grazing on field peas. They may also be similarly fattened by hogging
off corn or gathering it from the excrement of cattle that are being
fattened on it. Swine well grown should make an average gain of a pound
a day. Bacon swine may be best sold at 175 to 200 pounds in weight. Lard
types are usually grown to greater weights.

Swine breeders have long recognized the value of Pratts Hog Tonic as a
disease preventive and fattener. Progressive breeders now consider it a
necessity in profitable hog raising.

If a second litter is wanted during a year the sows should be put to the
boar during the first heat after weaning. Many breeders do not like to
pass periods of heat for fear that the sows may become "shy," and there
is little reason why a