PENS FOB TIGS. -297 



cost is a very important consideration which must be reg- 

 ulated by the amount of money which the builder wishes to 

 use for such a purpose. Very useful buildings that will serve 

 -every purpose can be erected at a very moderate outlay, 

 while, if a man has the money to spare, there need be no 

 limit to the luxurious quarters which he can provide. 



Another important point is that of convenience. Prepar- 

 ing feeds and feeding the same, cleaning out troughs and 

 pens, caring in breeding, care for and management of sows 

 at mating and farrowing time, feeding little pigs, loading pigs 

 for market, lighting, ventilating and many other things which 

 might be mentioned make the swine herder's duties manifold. 

 Farm labor is not plentiful now. It is both scarce and 

 costly, and in planning the pig pen it should be so arranged 

 .as to make easy the carrying out of the little details that 

 ^o to make pig raising both a pleasure and a profit. 



Comfort and health are the main objects to consider 

 -after cheapness and convenience, and these are secured by 

 providing quarters that are clean, light, dry, warm, well 

 ventilated and free from drafts. 



Cleanliness is a point which must receive attention, 

 for it is upon this that much of the success of hog raising 

 depends. Dirty pens and troughs are breeding places 

 for all sorts of disease producing germs. Board 

 floors with cracks are harboring places for filth and are 

 .attended with all kinds of unsanitary conditions. 



Sunlight must be let into the pen in abundance. In its 

 presence germs cannot live. Where it is denied, sickness 

 is sure to come. Let the pen have numerous large windows 

 in the south and east sides where the sun shines most of 

 the day. 



A damp pen is sure to bring disaster to the hog raising 

 business. Rheumatism, lung troubles and numerous other 

 ailments are the result of such a condition. Cement or 

 stone walls are very cold and the moisture inside the pens 

 condenses on such walls and causes endless trouble. Board 

 walls, unless constructed with a dead air space, are almost 

 as bad. Bank pig pens are very undesirable for the same 

 reasons. Hollow cement blocks make a very good wall, but 

 -a better one is made by constructing a board wall so as to 

 provide a dead air space. This may be done by placing 

 2x4's upright, putting a tier of tongued and grooved sheet- 



