SHELTER FOR SWINE 253 



The Floors. — A hog house should be supplied with 

 floors that are well adapted to the pig as well as being 

 the most economical and durable. The floor of nature is 

 the bare earth. From the standpoint of the hog, there 

 probably is no better floor than a dirt floor when it is 

 kept in proper condition. It must, however, be kept 

 smooth and dry, but not dusty. Since the natural earth 

 as a floor is difficult to keep in proper condition, artificial 

 floors are usually made. Wood floors laid firmly upon 

 the soil are very good from the standpoint of conditoins 

 for the pig, but they are not durable. They rot out very 

 soon and must be replaced which, on account of the pres- 

 ent high price of lumber, makes them undesirable. A 

 floor that is raised from the ground is unsatisfactory be- 

 cause with the space underneath it is likely to be cold, 

 and if not perfectly water-tight the Mquid manure will 

 seep through, making such a place unsanitary. 



In the hog house described part of the floor is made of 

 brick and part of concrete. Where brick was used in 

 this particular case it was a little cheaper, and is a little 

 better because it is not quite so slippery ; it is also proba- 

 bly a little warmer than concrete. Where brick was used 

 it is laid on edge in the alley and on side in the pens, on 

 a foundation of either gravel or cinders bedded over with 

 sand, and then the cracks between the bricks are flushed 

 with cement. This makes a solid floor whicfi will not 

 allow the liquid manure to pass through, can easily be 

 cleaned, and will never rot out. The cement floor is laid 

 in the usual way. Floors like these are sanitary and will 

 furnish a cool place for the hogs to lie during the sum- 

 mer, but during the winter season they are too cold. 



The concrete or brick being laid on the; ground will 

 contain some moisture and is a good conductor of heat, 



