CHAPTEE TWENTY-SEVEN. 



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 ex- 

 tremely 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 bot- 

 toms 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 to- 

 gether 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 liind quarters and stand in front, which raises 

 his head some higher than when he stands on all four 

 quarters. Herewith find a table of measurements for dif- 



