1. Wild relatives of swine. Pupils should prepare written reports upon the following wild relatives of the hog: peccary, wart hog, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, wild boar. Consult geographies, natural histories and encyclopedias for such information.

2. Swine on the home farm. Let each pupil report on the swine on the home farm by filling out the following table:

3. Market prices. Pupils should record the market prices of hogs in a tabular form, every day for a period of two weeks. Such daily quotations may be obtained from the newspaper. If possible, record the number of the “run” of hogs which were offered for sale at the market where prices are quoted. Note any relation that may exist between price and number of hogs.

4. Inspection trips. The class should make a tour of the farms in the community where the various breeds of swine may be studied. Note the distinguishing characteristics. Use the following table in classifying the distinguishing characteristics:

5. Comparative judging. Prepare a ring of swine, two, three, or four animals, and have the pupils place these according to rank, basing their judgment on form, condition, and quality of the swine in the ring. In performing this exercise it may be necessary for the instructor to go over the whole matter of conformation, condition, and quality as they should be found in good swine.

6. Exercises in judging. After the pupils have become somewhat familiar with the points in judging swine, information may be given as to the judging of individuals by the score cards. Under the direction of the instructor use the score card of your State Experiment Station.

7. Reports on home feeding methods. Let each pupil report on the methods of feeding and managing swine at home, using the following outline:

(a) The house, pen, or range in which the pigs are fed for fattening.

(b) The feed used, amount, kind, etc.

(c) Criticism of the above methods, and suggestions for improvement.

8. Houses. Pupils should bring pictures of hog houses, clipped from farm papers or other publications in which they may be found, and in class make a critical study of the illustrations assembled. Ground floor plans should be drawn by each student for several types of house.

9. Breed directory. Let each pupil make a report on the names of swine breeders in the locality and the breeds raised. This may be made into a breed directory for the community.

10. Making a concrete hog wallow.[4] A hog perspires but little during hot weather and is forced to seek a cool mud wallow if nothing else is provided. This has resulted in the impression that the hog is a dirty animal.

A concrete hog wallow provided with a drain will enable the hog raiser to give his hogs a cool, clean refuge from the heat. If a small amount of crude oil is poured on the surface of the water, it will serve to rid the animals of lice and keep the skin in good condition. If possible, the wallow should be located near the water supply, either a tank or spring. The following sectional view of a wallow is taken from the Cement News published by the Universal Portland Cement Co.

It is recommended that the pool be made rectangular with rounded corners. It should not have a depth of more than 18 inches. The size should be determined by the number of pigs kept. A concrete floor 4 feet wide laid around the pool will prevent rooting and the carrying of mud into the wallow.

11. Wooden troughs for swine. In figures 2 and 3 are shown two types of wooden troughs that are used extensively by swine raisers. The one shown in figure 2 is designed for use in feeding young pigs. As shown in the drawing it is shallow and is constructed with a flat bottom and wide end pieces. The shallowness makes it easy for the young pigs to get at the feed, and the wide ends make it difficult for the pigs to overturn it. The cross pieces prevent the hogs from lying in the trough. The drawing gives all necessary dimensions. Make out a bill of material and a bill of stock, cut the pieces, and assemble them.

Figure 3 shows a V-shaped trough for older hogs. Like the one shown for young pigs, it is wide at the ends and is provided with cross pieces. The drawing gives all necessary dimensions. Make out bills of material and stock, and construct.

12. Hurdles for use in stock judging. A hurdle as described in this exercise is a panel of boards made as shown in figure 4. Hurdles are portable and are useful when sorting hogs into groups or when scoring and judging them. Three or four hurdles fastened together at the ends make a very good temporary pen.

The materials required are four pieces 1 by 4 inches by 12 feet, one piece 2 by 4 inches by 8 feet, and 2 pounds of eightpenny common nails. To build the panel, cut the pieces as shown in the drawing. Lay the four pieces of 2 by 4 inches on the floor, spacing them 4 feet apart, nail the bottom board, space 2 inches and nail the second board, space 3 inches and nail the third board, and nail the fourth board on the top.

13. Making a collection of feeds. Secure a supply of small bottles and make and label a collection of samples of feeds suitable for pigs.

14. Weighing pigs with steelyards.[5] In the pig project it is recommended that the pig or pigs be weighed each week. Where stock or platform scales are at hand the weighing can be performed easily, but, unfortunately, some boys do not have scales of any kind which they can use for this purpose. In project work boys do not generally feel that they can afford to purchase platform scales, but since the weighing is a very important part of the work, some means should be provided, and steelyards are suggested for the purpose. These are not expensive, costing about $3.00, and with proper arrangement can be used very satisfactorily. For weighing feed they can usually be suspended from joists in granaries, but for weighing the pig it will probably be necessary to construct a horse from which to suspend them. A crate also will be needed for holding the pig while being weighed. The material required for these articles is not expensive and both can be constructed by the boys in the club or class.

Suggestions For Making Horse and Crate[6]

Material. Any ordinary lumber having proper dimensions can be used. If new lumber is purchased, yellow pine will serve the purpose satisfactorily, costing 2½c or 3c per lumber foot. The length suggested for the horse is 8 feet, though this can be reduced by placing the steelyards at right angles to the length of the horse in place of in the same direction, as suggested by the cut. The height should be 7 feet to provide space for fastening the crate to the steelyards. The legs should be beveled at upper ends before nailing to rail and should be spread at bottom so as to measure 3½ feet. Stock required for constructing horse is as follows: One piece 2×6×8' if made eight feet long; two pieces 2×6×14'; or 2×4×14' for legs; two pieces 1×6×10' for braces.

In place of the crate any box of the proper size can be used for the purpose by nailing strips on the sides for convenience in handling, and for fastening rope to it. If a crate is constructed it should be 4 or 4½ feet long, 2½ feet high, and 20 inches wide. The slats on one end of the crate should be securely nailed, and on the other they should be arranged to slide into place, so that they can be removed easily after each weighing.

5. Arrangement for Weighing Pigs