SILVER-FOX FARMING. \) 
portance. If the area does not include a few trees, however, they 
should be planted to provide shade in summer and to encourage a 
feeling of seclusion and security in the animals. Construction will 
be facilitated if there is a hardpan subsoil, as the walls of the pen 
would not then need to extend below this to prevent the animals 
from burrowing- under and escaping. 
In exaggerated advertising or publicity matter the fox farm is 
usually described as occupying a lonely island or a vast inclosure of 
wild land, and too often beginners are led to believe that such places 
are essential. Islands have some advantages and apparently are 
suited to the requirements of the silver fox, but their inaccessibility 
makes it difficult to secure feed and supplies. While good roads 
facilitate the hauling of feed and supplies, they are of little im- 
portance in the matter of marketing the pelts, for foxes differ in this 
Fro. 5. — Fox ranch on a hillside. 
respect from other classes of live stock. It is an advantage to locate 
in a fox-raising community, in order to profit 
others. 
RANCH ORGANIZATION. 
the experiences of 
PLAN OF THE RANCH. 
When the location of the land on which the ranch is to be con- 
structed has been decided upon the area should be cleared of under- 
brush. This is desirable, no matter on what type of soil the pens are 
to be built. It is well, also, before the pens are staked out to remove 
all stumps and sticks in order to eliminate the danger of pups or 
older foxes running against or falling over such obstructions and 
thus injuring themselves. The branches of the trees should be 
trimmed from the trunks to a height above that of the fence line 
so that the foxes can not crawl up and jump over the fence. Trunk 
shields should be nailed to the tree trunks at a height of 10 feet from 
31825°— 23 2 
