1916.] SWINE RAISING. 59 



The western farmer is making money on pork production on 

 land worth three or four times what it is in New England, 

 by getting a good frame work on his hogs with a small amount of 

 grain and pasture, and then finishing them off for two or three 

 weeks on a corn ration. 



Housing and Yards. 



The hog in winter needs a dry bed and fairly warm quarters ; 

 in summer he needs shade and a dry spot upon which to lie. 



There are three systems of housing which might be used by 

 the man who raises hogs to any extent. Where only one or two 

 hogs are kept it is possible to keep them on the manure pile — 

 however, it would be better then to provide a dry nest for them 

 apart from the pile — for no good is done a hog in lying on a hot 

 steaming pile of manure. 



Anyone raising hogs on any scale, might use a central house, 

 the colony houses, or a combination of the two — for a few hogs 

 I think the colony houses are preferable, for a large number a 

 central house along with a few colony houses should prove most 

 satisfactory. 



The requisites of a good hog house are • First, it should not 

 be too expensive, should be easily cleaned, tight floors and smooth 

 walls are essential, urine should not be allowed to run beneath the 

 floors, and the building should be so constructed that every crack 

 and crevice could be cleaned, for that is the only way to prevent 

 and eradicate diseases. Cement floors are good, but are liable to 

 be cold — they should be provided with an overlay of plank where 

 the nest is. The walls may be of hallow tile or cement blocks, 

 or of wood. Wood ceilings are preferable, metal collects the 

 moisture and it is continually dripping down upon the pigs. The 

 lighting is often at fault — sunlight should get into every pen — 

 the ventilation should be good, drafts, however, should be 

 avoided. Windows that open at the top, like those in dairy barns 

 are desirable — all doors should be high and wide enough to avoid 

 any accidents to sows heavy in pig. 



The colony houses are built of lumber, and may or may not 

 have floors — floors are to be desired, however. 



The central house has the advantage over the colony houses 

 in that less labor is required to care for the pigs ; and secondly, it 



