Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-30
+" AS Dirty as a Hog"

HE expression originated with dirty
fellow who had some hogs that would
have kept themselves clean if they had
been allowed fair chance. He never
gave them fair chance, however, or an
unfair chance. In truth he did not allow
them any chance at all. They were fed
dirty food in dirty trough, the first 5eing
brought in a dirty pail from a dirty
barrel. The pen and yards were appar-
emily so constructed as to retain all the
dirt that naturally accumulates in such
places and to keep out everything that
is clean. The yard was on low ground
and had no drainage. In the course of
getting out manure during several seasons
it was followed out in the shape of
faring-dish. Water once in it remained
till it was evapOrated. Whenever there
was anything about the house, barn or
out-building too offensive to be tolerated
there it was thrown into the hOg-yard.
spring or fall all the half-rotted apples,
potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables
were thrown into the hog yard.
The hog-yard was cleaned out once
year. 1t was done not with a view of
having a clean place for the hogs, but for
the purpose Of obtaining some manure for
a field Of corn. The farmer thought that
as his COWS and horses were Clearly ami
mails their quarters must be cleaned out
every day. The hog, however, being d
dirty animal by instinct and nature, was
left to "wallow in the mire" It never
occurred to him that hog yard should be
cleaned out once week nor yet once
month.
Once a year the hog-yard received an
allowance Of bedding or litter. This was
done not with view of atfording clean
material for the hogs to lie on, but for the
purpose of furnishing material to be con-
verted into manure. The chances are
that the material pitched into the yard
was not fit for clean bedding when it was
thrown in. Most likely it was musty hay,
or hay or straw from the bottom of
stacks; Possibly the tops of stacks that
had been exposed to the weather for six
months were used for this purpose. A
few spoiled hay-cocks might also have
been used. II ..- C# e .ss
That a hog can keep himself clean under
these circumstances is out of the question.
Nevertheless, the hog is a clearly animal
by nature. A young pig is the cleanest
young animal to be found about the farm.
Give him a chance and he will grow up
clean in his person and habits The hog
is the only domesticated animal that will
make a clean bed for himself whenever
an opportunity Is afforded. It is the only
animal that will voluntarily go into the
water for other purposes than to avoid in
sects and the heat Of the sun. His prefer
ence for clean places and clean food can
be observed on all occasions ..,
The hog in wooded pasture will seek
out bed Of clean leaves to lie on and
clean water to drink. IF 2 hog is brought MP
to be washed and scrubbed with broom,
he will come to the wash-pail as readily
as to the slop-pail; and doubtless he de-
r1ves as much benefit from the one as from
the other. CLEANLINESS is known to be es-
sential to the health of man and the infe- |
rior animals. The hog is no exception to
the rule. His blood is purified by air,
like the others; and it viii not be prop
erly purified unless the1air is pure. Filthy |
food viii injure all animals, the hog in
cluded. -Chde0go Times. 49,
The japanese are making rapid strides
in civilization. Six Of them were recent |
" sent to prison for selling fishes eggs