224 SWINE 



sharp angle, but should be rounded, in which form it will 

 be maintained much better than if cut at an angle. 



EAR MARKS. 



The system of ear marks in use at the Illinois Experi- 

 ment Station and outlined in the cut (24) is as follows : 

 In looking for the ear marks the hog is usually viewed 

 from the rear which puts the right ear to the right and 

 the left ear to the left. The thin part of the ear is called 

 the lower part, the part next to the head is called the 

 base and the outer part is called the tip. One nick in the 

 base of the lower part of the right ear represents num- 

 ber 1. Two nicks at the same place represent number 

 2. One nick in the tip of the lower side of the right ear 

 represents 3. One in the base and one in the tip, 4. Two 

 in the base and one in the tip, 5. Two in the tip, 6. Two 

 in the tip and one in the base, 7. Two in the tip and two 

 in the base, 8, and one in the center part of the lower side 

 of the right ear, 9. This is very easy to learn and to 

 remember as, by learning the marks for numbers 1, 3 and 

 9, together with a few combinations, the entire system is 

 in mind. Number 2 is made up of twice 1 and number 3 

 is new ; number 4 is gotten by adding 1 and 3 ; number 5 

 is obtained by adding 2 and 3 ; number 6 is obtained by 

 taking 2 times 3, and number 7 is obtained by adding 6 

 and 1, while number 8 is obtained by taking 2 times 4. 

 Number 9 is new and number 10 occupies the same posi- 

 tion in the left ear as number 1 does in the right ear. 



To facilitate this still further, number 5 being made up 

 of two nicks in the base and one at the tip is somewhat 

 comparable to the figure 5. Number 7 having two nicks 

 at the tip and one in the base is similar to the figure 7. 

 Thus the units are represented in the lower side of the 



