The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-22
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.

Whipping HOrses.-Muman nature
and brute nature are much more alike
than people generally imagine, and II
we were TO apply the same general rules
in the government of animals which
actuate us in the control of children and
grown persons, our success would be
much more certain, while the progress
would be far more agreeable to all con-
cerned. If we desire hayward child
to do thus and so, we do not take a raw
hide and lash him, but we simply in
dicate our wishes in an intelligent man
ner, and point out the reason why GER
tain proclivities must not be INDUCED
in. As coon as the child clearly under
stands, ten to one it is ready to obey. 1t
is precisely the same with colts and
horses; only as we cannot indicate
plainly by words what we desire, we
should resort to ingenious, but always
patient management. The whip is the
parent Of stubborness in high-spirited
animal, while gentleness will win ODE
dience, and, at the same time, attach the
animal to us.
1t is the easiest thing imaginable to
win the affection of animals, and es-
pecially of horses. An apple, potato,
or few Jumps of sugar given from the
hand now and then will cause the horse
to prick up his ears at the sound of his
owner $ foot-step, not with fear, but with
a low, whining note of pleasure. The
confidence of the noble beast thus
gained, will lead him to obey the
slightest intelligent tone of the voice or
indication of the bit. There is no such
thing as balkiness to be found in horse
thus treated he shows desire to obey,
whereas few lashes of the whip,
smartly applied, if he be horse worth
having, will arouse in him spirit
of retaliation and stubbornness that
may cost the owner hours of trouble, and
possibly danger to life or limb. Horses
are made gentle by kindness. They
believe" in the master they love, and
his voice will calm them in moment of
fear or induce them to struggle forward
even when overladen, and when a whip
would be sure to bring them to stub
born standstill.
No man knows the true value of his
horse until he has won his regard and
confidence, as it WERE The whip will
voice will act like magic; thus we have
known women who could handle and
drive horses that would almost inevitably
show some vicious traits in the hands of
male driver. These facts apply es-
pecially to the rearing and training of
young colts something which the
Arabs understand better than we do.
They do not break" them; they adopt
them they fondle them from their birth
and pet them always. An Arab would
as soon strike his wife or daughter as his
horse, and no animals are fleeter, more
enduring or docile in the performance of
every task which is given them than is
the Arabian horse. We should like to
see the whip wholly discarded
Treatment of Pigs.-As a manu-
facturer of pork, lard and fertilizers the
pig deserves good treatment, and Com
missioner James truly remarks that
success in raising hogs depends in a
great measure upon the attention given
pigs for the first few months of their
existence, and if proper attention is
given them it may be stated as maxim
that increase of pigs is increase of
pork. The future usefulness indeed of
every animal, man included, depends, in
an eminent degree, upon the treatment,
received while young, and in no case is
this truer than with regard to the pig.
Pigs that.are allowed to become poor or
diseased, seldom SO entirely recover as
to attain equal development with those
that receive no check in growth or health
during the formative period. 1t is,
therefore, of prime importance to keep
pigs, from their birth, in thriving,
healthy condition. AS soon as they can
be induced to eat, they should be pro-
vided with shallow trough in the
sow's pen, but inaccessible to her, to
which they can resort at pleasure. Com
mence by giving them small quantity
of milk, several times day, being care
full to feed at regular hours, SO that they
will expect it at those hours, and sleep
quietly during the intervals. Increase
the quantity, and give little grain as
they grow older, being careful to clean
out the trough each time before feeding.
If the pigs have been well fed, and the
SOW is much reduced, they may be
weaned at six weeks old, but if the SOW
is still in good condition and strong
enough to bear the drain upon her con-
stitution, they may remain with her ten
or twelve weeks, if there is time enough
to prepare for the next litter.
When only few weeks old the boar
pigs should be altered and marked, and
the sows spayed about two weeks before
they are weaned, that they may have
the mothers milk until recovered from
its effects. If the pigs are castrated at
this tender age, there is less risk, on
account of the greater ease with which
they can be held in the proper position,
and the small developments of the parts.
If allowed to run three or four months,
as is too often the case. the parts become
more sensitive, and hemorrhage swell
ing and stiffening of the parts are apt to
follow. When the pigs are operated
upon the sow should be removed to a
sufficient distance from the pen not to
be excited by the cries of her young,
since there will be risk of her eating her
pigs if she smells blood upon them when
she is excited.