The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-02-19

leaves or straw, and that when under the coatrsl
Of man, this forced 70 assume these hsbits Of filth
which sender it 20 repugnsnt to eight o. smell.
1t resorts to the mud, ~ do tia elephant, rhi.
noceros and other beasts, to escape the stings Of
aisa, or palliats the heat Of the sooeshing sun
Il il easily domesticstsd-i.dsed bssonss ose
Of the tanest, most gsatle creatarse aoA suscep.
tible even of strong attachment. Much could Be-
said of astonishing intelligence displayed BY all
ages OF the hog; but, as our purpose 10 not to
prepare an essay, but to give only the most gen.
eral features, invite your attention for mo.
ment u its great value
1t is among the NEST prolific of animals, and
few if any. portions of the entire body cannst be
lsed by man. Its feet are esteemed choice NOR
sells by the epicure. and the ham 10 dish priced
BY sristocrats and welcomed BY the lsbsrsr.
Our wives could scarcely impart those delicate
crusts to the pies, the aakey rolls or the name
less Articles inviting tho appetite bu: for the
clear white lard, for which we have no substi.
tate at double its worth. It's skin forms q cover
ering for our saddles and the brstles are used to
fashion tho polished boo. in the hands Of the
shoemaker, o. to prepare the harness to draw
cur luxurious vehicles s. .r.-.s
As our population increases, as an article Of
food consumed in some form by all classes, the
flesh OF the swine has become very valuable and
greater attention is being paid to the breeding.
propagating sad raising good stock. As an evil
denee OF this fact, could We compare 3 hog new
captured in the forests of Germany or France, in
its wild ferocious state, with some fair sample of
| the Polish, Berkshire or Chestsr White, few
wonld suppose they sprang from the same stock
or races
The value of the hog can scarcely be overesti.
mated in the great Mississippi valley destined
to become The granary Of the world, where corn
is raised in such abundance, and which is one of
the cheapest and most efficient agents used to
prepare the animal for the table or market, and
1t is with pride we allude to the fact, that the
largest premium awarded at the st. Louis Fair
last fall, WAS given 10 breeder near Canton, in
this State, although the best specimens from the
different parts of the United States competed for
the prize; and it 10 not saying too much when
We assert that the world could not beat the ext.
bition.
Anatomists declare that the internal structure
OF the hog resemble mans more than another an.
imal, and that he is subject to violent diseases,
often assuming epidemic character, il too
painfully known and realized by hundreds.
Many of these diseases possess certain charac.
teristics plainly defined BY those who have care.
fully studied and made themselves acquainted
with their course and features, and have given
| to the world remedies that are reliable and Ell.
cacious but it is the opinion of the writer that
the distemper known as hog cholera" is as yet
little understood, and demands At the hands of
competent veterinary surgeons, more thorough
investigation aad critical examination thsa has
yet been given the subject Whether it is
caused by miasmatic Influences, lack of pure
water, or change Of wholesome food, or produced
by the intense heat of summer, followed by the
chilly rains OF autumn, when the disease is more
frequently developed and proves most fatal, 10
not yet determined l am unwilling to attri.
butte 1t to the use Of clover, either in limited
| quantities or the greatest profusion, and think
that those " no give their stock regularly, char.
coal with sulphur, or even stone coal, rarely or
ever sustain loss. In this view have been con.
tirmed ~ reading the report of the farmers con.
vention, lately held in Madison county, In dis.
cussing the subject, Mr.. Barnsbsck stated that
he had never known hog affected by the chol.
era that had been fed on clover" And 1 would
respectfully recommed that portion of tho able
report submitted by the committee, raised by
/ the association, be suppressed until we have
more ligh. upon the subject, in which clover is
regarded one Of the prolific causes of this
great scourge Several farmers have told me
that they have sustained greatest loss among
their stock from that disease, when they gave
them the free use OF their stubble.Gelds in con.
nec.ion with woods pasture.
Whether eating in large quantities the kernels
OF wheat that had become dry and hard, with
ehatf and beard. and with the use of water to
swell Unfortunately the contents of their stomachs
2
been suggested To my mind, and l mention it as
worthy OF examination AID comparison of our
! experiences.
l cannot forhear mentioning in this connection
recipe given by gentlemen who had used it
without fail on bis own stock; and, being sim
pie and within the reach of every person, Is
worthy of notice and trial: Take the common
smart weed, boil it down and mix the tea with
butterInllk or slop," and then if the hog can be
made TO drink it cure will follow.
would furthermore submit the propriety of
calling the attention of our legislature at its
next session to the expediency of Offering lib.
eral reward to any person who shall find and
give to the country specific for the cure of hog
cholera; and also suggest that a premium be
awarded by the State Agricultural Society for
the best practical essay on hog.breeding,
general treatment, diseases and most reliable and
tried remedies.
In conclusion, I would say that, our County
Court have canvassed the propriety of introduc.
ing, at the county farm, hogs of the most thor
ough bred and improved grade, and have re-
quested the secretary of the St. Clair county Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical Society to correspond
with the breeders of the most noted and valu-
| able breeds in the United Sta,es--to whom re.
plies have been sent containing circulars, giving
full description Of stock, with prices for pigs Of
different ages-I respectfully submit to our club
the importance OF joining with them, private
individuals in selecting as JOINT stock such
number and such quality shall add not only
to the personal wealth and pride of every mem
Der, for whom the special benefits are intended,
bat give impetus to the citizens of country