EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART X. 



563 



During summer the grain is fed mostly in the vicinity of the shel- 

 ters. If the feeding ground becomes muddy, the grain is distributed 



in a new place. In winter a good deal of 

 mill stuff is fed, as previously stated (6 1-3 

 tons last winter). For this purpose troughs 

 are placed on the wooden floor in the small 

 feed lot at the center of the farm. The con- 

 struction of these troughs (fig. 2) shows how 

 carefully Mr. Rowe and his son, who has 

 been an instructor in one of the short 

 courses of the agricultural department of 

 the University of Illinois, have worked out 

 their problems. Troughs enough are pro- 

 vided so that for 100-pound pigs each pig has 

 18 inches standing room at the side of the 

 trough. As the pigs increase in weight this 

 allowance of space increases to 24 inches 

 for 200-pound hogs. The center board (fig. 

 2, b) prevents the hogs from getting their 

 feet into the troughs, but does not inter- 

 fere with their eating. It also prevents 

 fighting across the trough. 



When the pigs are placed in their winter 

 quarters (on about 4 acres of clover sod), the 

 shelter houses are moved thither. Corn 

 stover is used for bedding. 

 The larger shelters are 8 by 14 feet, 7 feet high in front and 4 feet 

 in the rear. They are built on skids made of 2 by 8 inch stuff that act 

 as sled runners and permit the buildings to be drawn from one location 

 to another. The skids are so attached that when they decay new ones 

 can be put in place. The corners are braced inside to prevent racking 

 when the buildings are moved. There are no floors, but there Is a cross 

 sill at the center which practically makes two sleeping compartments. 

 The front ig open below, with two swinging doors above that can be 

 pushed inward and fastened to the roof in good weather, thus letting in 

 the sunshine. In winter the houses face to the south. The walls are 

 battened inside. To prevent the wind from overturning these shelters 

 each building is anchored to a post driven close beside it. These 

 structures cost about $20 each. 



The small A-houses are 6i/^ by 8 feet in size and iVz feet high. 

 They rest on a frame of 6-inch boards, to which they are securely fastened. 

 These boards are the only parts of the structures that are in contact 

 with the ground, and can easily be replaced when they decay. One end 

 of the shelter is left open. The cost of these small shelters is about 

 $7 each. 



WATERING DEVICE. 



The device used for watering the hogs is exceptionally well adapted 

 to the purpose in the absence of a natural water supply. In fact, it is 

 perhaps more desirable than ponds or even running streams on the score 

 of cleanliness and decreased liability to infectious diseases. A sled large 



Fig. 2.— Cross section of hog 

 trough for winter feeding. 

 a, o are guy wires, which hold 

 the 2 by 12 inch board (6) in 

 in place. There are three of 

 these wires on a 16-foot 

 trough. The crosspiece (c) 

 is made from 2 by 4 inch stufl, 

 as a support for 6. There are 

 Ave of these to each trough. 

 The bottom of the feed box d 

 is made from 2 by 12 inch ma- 

 terial and the sides e, e from 

 2 by 8 inch planks. 



