SWINE HO USING AND FATTENING. 969 



This 877 feet of lumber, at $1.75 per 100, would cost . $15 34 



To which add 1,000 shingles, 4 25 



Nails 1 50 



Making a total of . . $21 09 



as the cost of materials for this hog-house. 



Any one who can use a level, saw, and hatchet can build it, 

 and two men will complete one of them in two days, which 

 would bring the cost to about twenty-five dollars, and five dol- 

 lars more will make the outside pen. In many localities where 

 lumber is cheap this cost could be considerably reduced, and 

 where the farmer could furnish logs for the lumber and with his 

 farm-help do the work the cash outlay would be very small. 



Lest our readers who have been accustomed to heavy frames 

 should think that such a house as I have described would not 

 be strong and durable, I will state that I have one now doing 

 duty that has been built eighteen years, and is good for some 

 years' service yet. 



To build a house of this kind first prepare the foundation, 

 and see that it is square. Then place the short sills just four- 

 teen feet apart from out to out, and level them. Now set the 

 joists on them, and bridge them in the center, so that the weight 

 will come on all alike. Next lay the floor, and although I rec- 

 ommend that it be double, it is better that there be wide cracks 

 (two inches or more) in the lining, as it will dry out better than 

 if laid close. I have tried two-inch lumber for floors, and I very 

 much prefer the double inch; it is easier laid and makes a tighter 

 floor and is much cheaper, as the lining may be of cheap lum- 

 ber and need not cover entirely. Where no loft is wanted (and 

 the above estimate is for a house without a loft) I make the 

 rear posts four and a half, and the front ones seven and a half, 

 feet long. This will give sufficient pitch to the roof, and a four- 

 teen foot board will cut one length for the front and one for the 

 rear. Saw the posts square, and set them on top of the floor, 

 toe-nailing them down, and spike a two by four studding on to 

 the top, front and rear, for a plate. See that they are plurnb, 

 that the corners are square, and that the posts, plates, nail-ties, 

 and end rafters all stand flush with the sills and floor joist, for 



