The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-01-20
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

Hoe CHoLERA.--W. +. Richardson, of
the East st. Louis Packing Company,
writes to the st. Lous Globe Democrat:
l have read many newspaper articles on
hog cholera. Thus far there seems to bc
complete ignorance as to the source OF
the disease or its nature. 1t has spread
over much larger territory this year
than usual, and has been more fatal in
its effects. 1t RACES in sections of the
country into which stock hogs were i'm
ported last year from Missouri and Kan
sas, where the corn crop had been cut of.
In these new l0calitie, there was plenty
of rich corn for fattening. Now, find
that in the same portions of Kansas and
Missouri where farmers shipped out their
hogs last year, and had to import hogs
from other sections of the country to
make good the deficit, the hog cholera is
most prevalent.
was sent on commission, some
years ago, to examine into and, If posi-
BILE, ascertain the causes Of what Is called
the Texas cattle disease. Our investiga-
tiOns led to the conclu siOn that moving
Texas cattle from their native pastures
and climate caused fever which We
called acclimating fever, but no more by
bringing Texas cattle to the North than
by sending Northern cattle to the South.
/ am convinced it will be found by in
vestigation that the cause of the hog
cholera can be traced to the changing OF
hogs from one section Of the country to
another.
If our farmers and hog shippers will
examine into the matter, | am satisfied
the real cause of the disease can be
found, precedent to the application of
remedies that will in the future prevent
its appearance, or ut any rate largely re-
duce its extent. In furtherance of this
object, invite parties interested to COM
municate with me upon the subject.
RED PEPPER AND POULTRY.-I do not
know, says an old farmer, If other per-
sons who raise poultry and pet birds are
as much dependent as ! am OH red pep
per but have found so much benefit
from its use in my poultry yards and
bird cages, that it may not be amiss to
call the attention of others to its good
properties. do not speak of the article
that is sold in drug stores-and some
times not remarkably fresh-but of the
capsicum that grows in our gardens. l
have tried all the different varieties, and
find that the most pungent and efiicacious
is the small kind, mostly known by the
name of "bird's pepper" The plant in
itself is beautiful object; it grows
about two feet high, and in autumn its
bright little scarlet berries look like coral
beads peeping from under the dark green
foliage. Indeed, one plant in a pot
forms very pretty ornament for a flower
stand. The seeds possess a stimulating
and reviving property, and ! find that two
or three given to newly Matched chick.
ems, especially if they are weakly, have
most happy effect. If hen looks fee
BILE after melting, six or eight of these
berries or pods, given daily in some corn
meal or sweet milk, improves her won
derfully. Last summer two of my cana.
ries began to droop. Every day l gave
them each one seed of the birds pepper,
and in less than week they were quite
well. The same remedy is invaluable for
hooking birds
FARMERS, DON'T GO IN DEBT.-The
greatest agent to produce poverty among
farmers or any other class is debt. Many
farmers will get deed to small piece
of land, enough to support themselves
and families, and lay by small annual
income. But that is not sufficient. They
run in debt for more land, and become
slave to debt They pay an interest on
money borrowed, which will soon con-
sumo the little property they possess.
They often pay higher than ten per cent.
Such proceedings engender a spirit of
discomfort, and they lose faith in farm
ing and try to sell their farms in order to
get TO town and enter into other BUSH
ness. In nine cases out of ten, every
farmer who is doing well, that goes
to town, fails outright. Having no
faith in farming, or having no
breadth of understanding, they buy
the poorest tools and meanest stock, and
drive poor teams before poorer wagons
and agricultural machinery. In the fall
and winter they feed poorly, just feeding
enough to get their live stock the winter
into spring. Then it takes ali summer
to put on the flesh that was lost in the
winter by poor shelter and bad food.
They never put out fruit trees or shade
trees on their farms. They always sell
their best lambs and cattle to the drOvers
and keep the poorest at home. They
send their children to school but little,
as too much learning is a dangerous thing.
They do not take agricultural papers or
believe in book farming. They never
give their children cent of spending
money, as it makes them spendthrifts.
In short, they are the most miserable
people in the world, and would not keep
money if they had it. Such farmers are
poor, and will remain 30 to the end of
their days, and most of their days, and
most of their sons will follow the path