[Illustration: Figure 200.--Sanitary Pig-Pen. One of the most satisfactory farrowing houses is constructed of concrete posts 6" square and 6" square mesh hog fencing and straw. The posts are set to make farrowing pens 8' wide and 16' deep from front to back. Woven wire is stretched and fastened to both sides of the posts at the sides and back of each pen. Straw is stuffed in between the two wire nets, thus making partitions of straw 6" thick and 42" high. Fence wire is stretched over the top and straw piled on deep enough to shed rain. The front of the pens face the south and are closed by wooden gates. In the spring the pigs are turned out on pasture, the straw roof is hauled to the fields for manure and the straw partitions burned out. The sun shines into the skeleton pens all summer so that all mischievous bacteria are killed and the hog-lice are burned or starved. The next fall concrete floors may be laid in the pens, the partitions restuffed with straw and covered with another straw roof. In a colder climate I would cover the whole top with a straw roof. Sufficient ventilation would work through the straw partitions and the front gate. In very cold weather add a thin layer of straw to the gate.] [Illustration: Figure 201.--Concrete Wall Mold. Wooden molds for shaping a concrete wall may be made as shown. If the wall is to be low--2' or less--the mold will stay in place without bolting or wiring the sides together. The form is made level by first leveling the 2" x 6" stringers that support the form.] [Illustration: Figure 202.--Husking-Pin. The leather finger ring is looped into the recess in the wooden pin.] [Illustration: Figure 203.--Harness Punch. The hollow punch points are of different sizes.] [Illustration: Figure 204.--Belt Punch. Two or three sizes should be kept in the tool box. Belt holes should be small to hold the lace tight. The smooth running of belts depends a good deal on the lacing. Holes punch better against the end of a hickory block or other fine grained hardwood.] PAINT BRUSHES Paint brushes may be left in the paint for a year without apparent injury. The paint should be deep enough to nearly bury the bristles. Pour a little boiled linseed oil over the top to form a skin to keep the air out. It is cheaper to buy a new brush than to clean the paint out of one that has been used. [Illustration: Figure 205.--Knots. The simple principles of knot tying as practiced on farms are here represented.] [Illustration: Figure 206.--Sheepshank, two half hitches in a rope to take up slack. The rope may be folded upon itself as many times as necessary.] [Illustration: Figure 207.--Marline Spike. Used for splicing ropes, tying rose knots, etc.] FRUIT PICKING [Illustration: Figure 208.--Fruit-Picking Tray. It is used for picking grapes and other fruits. The California lug box has vertical sides and is the same size top and bottom. Otherwise the construction is similar.]