' SWINE 45 



sary to put rings in their noses but they should not 

 be put in too deep. 



Yards. A hog farm should be fenced hog tight 

 to keep the herd from those of the neighbors and 

 to protect crops. Young hogs need yards large 

 enough to furnish pasture and forage. Ten or fif- 

 teen pigs are enough for a four-acre lot of clover 

 or alfalfa. The forage not eaten if mowed two or 

 three times a year brings forth a fresh new crop 

 of tender growth and keeps the herd well fed. 



Fencing. Wire fencing is much used. The posts 

 of cedar or of hedge are generally treated with 

 creosote to prevent water soaking and decay. They 

 will last from eight to ten years. A better post 

 may be made of concrete for a cost of twenty-five 

 cents apiece. The corners of the fences should be 

 well braced and a barbed wire placed beneath the 

 woven wire to keep the herd from rooting and 

 crawling under. Gates should be of plank or steel 

 frames with woven wire and safe fastenings. 



Sheds and Shelter. Some farmers depend on 

 large open sheds to shelter their herds. Such sheds 

 should have tight roofs, sides and ends. The south 

 side is left open for air and sunshine. This is 

 especially suitable for warm climates though not 

 for the Northern states. The sheds should have 

 partitions to prevent the hogs from piling up- too 

 much on cold nights when they get overheated and 

 catch cold afterward. They are apt to have a lung 

 disease which is mistaken for cholera. 



