664 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



summer; for, although natives of a warm climate, and provided by nature with a protection 

 against the cold of only a thin covering of coarse hair, they are not fond of excessive heat, 

 and will seek shelter from the hot sun when it is accessible. 



Ample facilities for ventilation should also be provided, as well as those for keeping the 

 building in as clean a condition as practicable. Over-crowding should also be avoided where 

 a large number of swine are kept. 



The size of the building will of course depend upon the number to be kept. Extensive 

 breeding and rearing of swine necessitates convenient buildings of large size, consisting of 

 various departments suited to the purpose, such as an apartment for cooking their food, for 

 fattening, and sleeping, and for keeping different portions of the herd that it is desired to 

 keep separate from others. For fattening in the autumn, a large pasture for them to run in 

 during the day, and a dry yard with simply a shelter at night, is what are frequently pro 

 vided in the Western States; but, even under such circumstances, convenient buildings will 

 be necessary for such as are kept over during the winter. Where only a small number are 

 kept, it will be necessary to divide the building into two or more apartments, which are con 

 nected with each other by a door, and each connected with the yard. The partitions between 

 the different departments should be sufficiently high to prevent the pigs from jumping over. 

 In front of the pens there should be a wide alley. 



A very convenient plan is to hang the lower boards of the partition between the pen 

 and alley, where the feeding-troughs are, on hinges, so that they may be made to swing into 

 the pen and leave the trough in the alley when the food is put in. This renders it more 

 convenient in feeding the pigs, as well as in cleaning out the troughs. 



An apartment for sleeping should be separated from the feeding room, and plenty of 

 clean straw provided for their beds. The floors should be of heavy planks, well fastened 

 down, and laid to slant slightly in the direction of the yard, for the purpose of keeping it 

 well drained and dry. A scaffolding overhead will be found convenient for various pm-poses. 

 Unless swine are permitted free access to the yard, or have fresh earth, charcoal, &c., provided 

 them frequently, they will be uneasy, and will be liable to root up the floor, if possible, to get 

 at the earth. 



Special provision should be made for readily cleaning out the pens. The pens should 

 be cleaned out every day, the same as stables, and if properly arranged, it can be done with 

 but slight trouble, and in a comparatively very short time. There is no reason why pigs 

 should not be kept in as clean a condition as other animals, if properly cared for. 



Pigs should also, at all times, have access to fresh water, and the pens should be at a 

 convenient distance from a pump, where such supply is not provided in the building. Pigs 

 will thrive better, and be healthier, to have a sufficient amount of room and fresh air. 



In raising pigs, more room will be required than simply fattening them. In a cold 

 climate, the sow-pen should be provided with a stove, and other conveniences. Many young 

 pigs are lost in severe weather by getting chilled, and if some means of rendering the pen 

 comfortably warm were provided, it would amply repay for the trouble, where the farmer 

 pays considerable attention to this industry. Harris says with reference to such pens : 



&amp;lt;; In pens for breeding sows, we have found it very convenient in cold weather to have a 

 partition between the sleeping and feeding apartments, with a sliding door, that can be easily 

 closed. It is desirable, when pigs are to be made ready for the butcher in eight or nine 

 months, that the sow should farrow early in March ; and it often happens that this interesting 

 event occurs during a severe snow-storm. With a warm sleeping apartment, and with a door 

 that can be closed at night, or at any time after the sow has been fed, thousands of pigs that 

 are now lost might be saved. This plan is particularly essential where the feeding apartment 

 is partially or wholly uncovered. But even where both apartments are covered, it is better 

 to have a partition that can be opened in warm weather, and closed during cold storms. 



