CHAPTER XXII 



SHIPPING CRATES 



Shipping crates are probably sent out in a greater variety 

 than almost any other article used in the swine breeding business. 

 It is not always the fault of the shipper that he cannot send a 

 better crate or a nicer looking one, from the fact that crate 

 material in many states is almost impossible to be had. At least 

 this is the case in our vicinity. We have no hardwood lumber 

 for sale in our county, neither do we have any old fashioned white 

 pine. We do have southern pine that is so full of sap and knots 

 that it is hardly worth while to use it, and if it is used it makes an 

 extremely heavy crate. 



Probably the best lumber from which to make shipping crates 

 is poplar if it can be procured, being both light and strong. 

 Following this comes a straight grained elm, used principally 

 in a half inch thickness, with exceptions of bottoms and corners. 



The matter of crating hogs, where there are many to ship, 

 is an item of bother and labor, which many times can be lightened. 

 We have a scale of sizes for crates. When we build we make a 

 side; then lay another side on top and build all the sides first. 

 Then make all the bottoms, then the tops. If crowded for room, 

 one can build twenty crates in this way and leave them knocked 

 down and put them together when needed. When in this form a 

 crate can be put together in five minutes. Always have a few of 

 each size on hand for immediate use when they are wanted. It 

 is good rainy-day work. The average crate is made too low 

 for comfort; a crate should be high enough to allow a hog to sit 

 on his hind quarters and stand in, front, which raises his head 

 some higher than when he stands on all four quarters. Here is 

 a table of measurements for different-sized crates which will answer 

 the purpose in shipping different sized pigs or hogs : 



Length Height Width 



3' 28" 14" 



3' 6" 30" 18" 



4' 30" 20" 



4' 6" 32" 22" 



5' 34" 22" 



6' 36" 24" 



Bottoms are made by using strips one inch thick and one and 

 one-half inches wide. Lay them down the length of the crate 

 and build the floor on them crossways. The sides are fastened by 

 nailing to the under strip, which is flush with the floor. All 

 standards are on the outside of crate to prevent the strips 

 being pushed off if the animal presses against the side of the 



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