60 BOARD OF AGRICLXTURE. [Oct. 



is usually warmer in winter, or early spring for fattening hogs or 

 little pigs. 



The colony houses have several distinct advantages over the 

 central house, as sole systems. 



First. They are easily and cheaply constructed. 



Second. They are easier to clean. 



Third. Herd may be kept more healthy. 



Fourth. Exercise is obtained with less trouble. 



Fifth. Advantage may be taken of all opportunities offered by 

 the farm for swine raising. 



There are two main types, the A type and the rectangular. 

 The houses may be 6x8, or 7x9. The height of the A type should 

 be about 6 feet, while the rectangular should be 3 feet on the 

 side. 



Marketing. 



^O' 



The lack of a market is often times offered as a drawback to 

 swine raising in the East. We do not have the local buyers as in 

 the West. A western farmer having hogs to sell calls up the 

 dealers by phone, or the dealers may visit the farm. The farmer 

 sells his hogs on a live weight basis. Such is not the case here, 

 more of the pork must be slaughtered and cured on the farm and 

 sold as finished products. When a farmer has a carload or half a 

 carload it is possible for him to ship his hogs direct to the packing 

 houses. 



Consideration, however, should be given to market con- 

 ditions. Anyone familiar with the trend of the hog market knows 

 that the highest prices paid for swine prevail during the months 

 of April and May and then during latter August and September — 

 the general average of the summer months is considerably above 

 the winter months — a break in hog prices occurs during October 

 and the price rules low until the next March. The reason for this 

 lies in the fact that the Middle Western farmers are feeding their 

 new corn and their spring pigs are ready for market about 

 October. These spring pigs come upon the market all through 

 the winter. January and February see heavy runs as well, 

 because March 1st is moving day in th^ West and renters sell 

 their hogs before moving. March and April is seeding time, the 

 rush of swine lets up and prices invariably advance. Ma> and 



