Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-03-16
SOUTHERN HOME AND Farm,


Few OF our farm animals require more
aretul attention during winter than
wine, and certainly none paw better for
he care bestowed and yet, msny farm
RS who carefully stable their horses,
nd provide warm quarters for their cat.
le, calves and sheep, seem to think that
ogs can take care of themselves. This
hey are perfectly willing to do, pro.
lded the material is at hand. That
;, they will do the best they can under
he circumstances. If they can find a
tacS they will burrow there and lie
12rm If there is timber, they will carry
traw or leaves to the densest thicket,
nd build a high bed enough so they may
lie dry, so far as dampness from the
round is concerned. In fact, swine will
Xercise more tact and ingenuity 10 sleep
omtortably than any other of the ami
nals of the farm. Their lack of natural
oyering requires hat they do this, and
hus it becomes one of their strongest
Instincts.
Another regularity of swine is that
hey will lie together, if possible, and
mis- from the anne natural instinct as
before given. Also, as a means of self
protection, they are essentially grega-
'ious, more 20 than any other of our farm
luimals except sheep. In a state of
iomestication, none of our farm animals
nave been made more artificial than
wine, exceptour wOrkingshorses. Hence,
none are more liable to disease when kept
ogether and fed in large droves. If
allowed to follow their own instincts
hey remain healthy. When treated
'rtiticially, we must provide them the
means OF comfort just as we should and
TO with other farm animals. They must
have shelter from cold in winter and
from heat in summer, and be provided
while growing with a variety of food.
None of our farm animals are more
choice in their food, if 50 allowed, none
require greater variety, and none are
more Clearly in their habits than swine.
Yet they have always been considered
the type OF uncleanliness, both in their
food and habits. 1t has come down to
us from the time of the Israelites, whose
adherence of swine amounts almost to
a mania. Considering that swine are
the most important among our meat~
producing animals, it would seem to be
about time that farmers came to recOg-
nize what they really require in their
artificial condition. They are given at
the head of this paragraph.
One of the peculiarities of swine, when
confined TO close quarters, is their
especial greed of carbonaceous matter, as
coal or other changed vegetable matter
of a like nature. When allowed to follow
their natural instincts they get this from
half rotten wood, and in the earth when
roofing. Rings are put in hogs noses {;
they are kept in filthy yards, or close
pens they are fed on corr and water,
and expected to thrive. 1t is little
wonder that epidemic and contagious
diseases decimate them and extend to
the droves of those who really do under
stand their requirements, and try to give
them the best possible care.
Swine eat fewer vegetables than any
other farm animal, and yet they are
c%arniverous feeders, They require animal
food or its equivalent, roots, plants and
grain. 1t is true they may subsist on
corn and water when confined in a close
pen. Yet it is not to be commended
breeding animals certainly cannot be so
kept. II to this be added that the swine
are usually kept in large droves, or in
confined and dirty quarters, enfeeble-
ment 0 o comes on, and they and their
progeny will contract disease that often
becomes epidemic or contagious in its
nature, and, as we know, will sometimes
decimate the swine of a whole region of
country. Those most enfeebled, or most
susceptible to disease, are swept away,
and we again have a few years when
swine become comparatively healthy.
Wecall the disease cholera for want of a
better name.
The Prairie Farmer throws out these
hiuts more with q view to call the atten-
ton OF farmers to the necessity OF study
ing the habits Of swine, than for the
purpose of writing their peculiar re-
quirements. We see them w~allowing in
the mud. Ii is one of their instincts,
by which they keep themselves cool in
the summer, and protect themselves from
the attacks OF insect enemies If they
have access to running water, they will
fully az often be found there, bathing, in
summer. We find them roofing in the
earth. They are industriously seeking
grub5 and the Larvae Of other insects.
They may run ~squealing about a bare
or muddy yard, with bits of straw in
their mouths. A storm is coming on,
an | then instinct leads them to build a
bed high aud dry. We may take any
animal and make it 50 artificial as en-
tircly to Change even its instincts, 1t
certainly speaks well for the hog, that
while msn has tried his best to make it
filthy in its habits, through centuries OF
abuse, he has not SO succeeded when the
animal has had a chance to help ITSELF
Prairie Farmer.