Teachers of agriculture are beginning to realize that the swine industry may be utilized to advantage in the training of young farmers. Pig raising makes a good home project. Most boys in the country, and some girls, will find a way to keep one or more pigs if their interest is aroused. The class work may be centered around the project, or the project may supplement and furnish the practical work in connection with a text-book study of general agriculture. With one or two class-room recitations a week based upon reports of the progress and problems of the project, upon the practical exercises herein given, and upon the subject-matter and project outline study presented in Part IV; including also some Friday afternoon club programs as suggested, and with the actual work being done at home, a course in agriculture of real, practical worth may be given in any school. Pig raising enables a boy to enter in a small way into the live-stock business. Comparatively little capital is required and quick returns are secured. With good management a small beginning will soon result in a herd of good size. The teacher should make use of the studies connected with the pig raising project to bring out the essentials of general animal production. Much that is learned regarding the feeding and breeding of swine may be applied to raising other animals.

It is not necessary that the teacher be an expert in swine husbandry to make this project a success. The teacher may help greatly by being an interested co-worker, encouraging the boys and girls, learning with them, leading them to sources of information, and being a sympathetic friend in their work and life on the farm.

If possible, each member of the class should be induced to begin the pig raising project with a pure-bred gilt. If this is not possible, any pig may be selected, fed, and cared for according to the project directions. The home project may be carried on as an independent class activity, or it may be correlated with the work of the pig club organization. It will be an easy matter and a most desirable thing to do to organize the class into a pig club, affiliate with the state club movement, and all work together in the big business of food production.

—A. W. Nolan.