=The feet.= Frequently the pig’s feet will require some attention. If the toes are too long or are broken off so that they are rough, they should be trimmed with a good sharp jackknife. This can be done best when the animal is lying down. If the boy has taken care of his animal properly, the pig will submit to such handling without any objection. In fact he will like to be played with and will enjoy having his master work with him.
After the pig has been properly groomed he should be kept in a dry stall that is bedded deep with clean straw. If he shows an inclination to root down into the dirt and soil himself by digging beneath his bedding, rings should be placed in his nose. If not absolutely necessary, however, it is better not to ring hogs intended for show.
=Make your pig gentle.= An hour a day should be spent teaching the pig to stand still while being examined. While it is not customary at big shows to hold pigs while they are being judged, yet at a contest of this kind the best trained pig will be looked upon with special favor, since such a pig will signify to the judges that his master has done everything possible “to bring him out.”
3. =Marketing the pigs.= The October pigs will be ready for the market this summer, probably as early as July. Study carefully the market classes and grades described in Part III. Determine to which classes and grades your pigs should belong. Watch carefully the daily market reports in the papers. Seek the best advice you can get on the important business of marketing your pigs.
4. =Concluding work.= Finish all records called for in Part IV. Achievement, as one boy puts it, is “getting into the game, sticking to it, and finishing the job.” Here is your chance to achieve not only a successful and profitable piece of work for yourself, but a man’s service in adding to the food supply of your country.
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: