190 



A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



and should have houses for shelter and shade. The house 

 should be located on a dry site where the drainage is good. 

 The beginner should not put up expensive buildings. The 

 above mentioned important qualities of the hog house may 

 be secured in many ways to suit the convenience and finan- 

 cial condition of the grower. Much attention is being given 

 to the construction of good hog houses, and details may be 

 obtained from the state experiment stations, or from the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



Some points in the care of a brood sow. It is not advis- 

 able to breed the sows before they are eight or ten months 

 old, and in most cases it is best to wait three or four days 

 after the pigs are weaned before breeding her again. The 

 period of gestation in sows is 112-116 days. Most farmers 

 will find that it is safer to have their sows farrow in March 

 and September, producing two litters each year. A good 

 pasture affords ideal conditions for the brood sow. Dur- 

 ing the period of gestation the sow should be kept in good 

 condition but not over-fat. An exclusive corn diet can not 

 give best results, because it does not furnish enough bone 

 and muscle forming constituents for unborn pigs. Equal 

 parts of ground corn, ground oats, and wheat middlings is 

 the ration recommended for the brood sow. There should 

 be an abundant supply of fresh water at all times. The 

 farrowing pen should be dry, well ventilated, and free from 

 draughts. Equal parts of ground oats and wheat middlings, 

 allowed to soak between feedings, is an excellent ration for 

 nursing sows. If sweet skim-milk can be added, the ration 



