HOG HOUSES AND PENS 45 1 



The illustrations, plans and descriptions in this chap- 

 ter are not presented with the idea that any one of tliem 

 will be found exactly suited to all the needs of any one 

 individual, for the situation of each breeder or farmer is 

 in some respects different from that of every other. 

 Each plan is believed or has been found by its author to 

 have points of excellence, and by adaptation of sugges- 

 tions afforded in some one, or all of these, the reader 

 may, it is not unlikely, have his recjuirements met. 



Discussing hog houses, more particularly those of con- 

 siderable size or expense, AVilliam Dietrich, the swine 

 husbandman of the Illinois experiment station, points out 

 that such buildings, if most serviceable, should be con- 

 structed so that they can be used every day in the year. 

 If this can be done, it is permissible to spend more money 

 in the construction than would be warranted were the 

 buildings to be used only a few months during the year. 

 In order to be an economizer of labor, the houses should 

 be planned so that the largest amount of work may be 

 accomplished with the smallest expenditure of labor, 

 which is a very important factor. Dryness should be 

 afforded by thorough drainage ; freedom from dust by 

 sprinkling with water, and the rays of direct sunlight 

 should be prevented from entering the pens during the 

 hot part of the summer days, by the manner of con- 

 structing the buildings. To be sanitary the houses 

 should admit the direct rays of the sun to the floors of 

 all the pens and exclude cold drafts in winter, be dry, 

 free from dust, well ventilated and exclude the hot sun 

 clurin"- the summer. 



