The husbandman, farmer and grasier's compleat instructor. Containing choice and approved rules, and directions for breeding, feeding, chusing, buying, selling, well ordering and fatning bulls, cows, calves, rams, ews, lambs, swine, goats, asses, mules, &c. : How to know the several diseases incident to them, by their signs and symptoms, with proper remedies to cure them; : as likewise all griefs, and sorrances what-ever. : Also, a treatise of dogs, and conies, in their breeding, ordering, and curing the distempers they are subject to. : To which is added, The experienced vermine-killer, in particular directions, for taking and destroying all sorts of vermine in houses, out-houses, fields, garden, graneries, and other places. / By A.S. Gent.

Swine very profitable, with their proper Food, to render them in feeding, large, and well shaped.

THAT the keeping and nourishing of Swine pro∣perly belongs to Husbandry, evidently appear by the Profit that arises from them, in most Farmers Houses, as well as the sale in the Shambles, for it is a chief Subsistance of their Winter Store, and produces many good Dishes for the support of their Families; nay, more than any other Creature whatsoever; beside, their Flesh is

very sweet and nourishing, and always ready at hand, easily to be prepared for the Table. This made the Ancients, all but the Jews, highly esteem it above any other. The Greek•• kept Swine as their surest stock of choicest Viands, and are so commended by many of their approved Authors; and the Romans in the height of their Lxuxury esteemed no Feast to be compleat; where whole Swine were not served up at the Table; and when their tame Stock failed, with much hazard and labour they searched the Woods, Forrests, and Mountains, for the wild ones: But to pass these things over, seeing my present Business is not to give Encomiums of them, but to lay down such Rules for their Breeding Feeding, and curing the Diseases incident to them, as ma•• redound to the profit and advantage of my Country∣men.

Though England in general breeds better Swine than any other Neighbouring Countries, yet we find a difference •• to their growth, and the goodness of their Flesh in several Counties; and those of Leicestershire, and the bordering parts of Northamptonshire, claim a Preference, which mo•• conclude proceeds from the great store of Food growing there, that most naturally ag••ees with them, viz. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the Clay Countries bordering on these Counties, take the next place, by reason of the abundance of Pulse; for although Swine will feed eagerly on Mast; yet those that make it mostly their Food, neither grow, nor breed so well, or kindly, though their Flesh is ••irmer, and very sweet; but above all Acorns hardens it most, and keeps it firm and close in salting, and afterward; but when there are no Woods, Barns, Marshes, Corn, Pease, and Bean-fields must supply the Defect; Pulse is very much coveted by them; also Chesnuts (they find un∣der the Trees, when they open their Husks) and full Hazle-nuts, if they find any quantity, will fat them very soon. The best to fat, are of two or three years old; for if younger, the growth will much hinder it; and if older, they will take up much more Food and time.