SILVER-POX FARMING. 
31 
If the ranch is in a wood lot the guard fence may be of wire 9 or 
10 feet high and constructed in the same manner as the walls of the 
pen. with the exception that the carpet wire may be laid on the sur- 
face of the ground and laced to the wall wire at the ground level, as 
shown in Figure 10, or. in the case of a board fence, stapled to it. 
To prevent it from turning up. the other edge of the wire should be 
stapled to stakes driven into the ground. In localities where there 
are severe winters and the snow drifts badly, the fence should be built 
of boards, especially on the north and west sides, to prevent snow 
from piling up in the yards. 
On flat, level land, or land having a decided southern exposure, a 
guard fence of boards 9 feet high will keep air from circulating 
freely through the ranch, unless placed 20 or 30 feet away from the 
Fig. 37. — Ranch surrounded by guard fence entirely of wood. 
pens. If the ranch is located on a slope exposed to frequent summer 
breezes it is not necessary to place the fence at such a distance. 
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT. 
Xot all of the equipment listed in the following paragraphs is 
essential to the successful operation of a fox ranch. How much will 
be needed depends upon the number of foxes kept for breeding- 
purposes. 
A rancher's cottage, slaughterhouse, refrigeration plant, feed 
house, bake oven, and barn are some of the essent ials on large ranches. 
An outbuilding should be constructed for use as a feed house, the 
size depending upon the number of foxes to be fed. Its sole purpose 
is for storing and preparing the feed. A good location is outside 
the guard fence a short distance from the ranch. It may be desirable 
to install in this house a steam cooker, a meat and bone grinder, and 
a steam bath in which to sterilize the i'ved dishes. Such a building 
may also include an ice house if the size of the business warrants. 
It should be used strictly as a feed house and not as a place in which 
to store tools, to pelt foxes, or treat sick foxes, or as a loafing place 
