The Osceola times., 1878-03-16
SOUTHERN HOME AND Farm.
n...senens af kulnr.

Few of our farm animals require more
careful attention during winter than
swine, and certainly none pay better Tor
the care bestowed and yet, msny farm
ers who carefully stable their horses,
snd provide warm quarters for their cat
tie, calves and sheep, seem to think that
hogs can take care of themselves. This
they are perfectly willing TO do, pro-
vided the material is at hand. That
is, they viii do the best they can under
the circumstances. II they can hnd
stack they will burrow there and lie
warm ; II there is timber, they will carry
straw or leaves TO the densest thicket,
and build high bed enough so they may
lie dry, 30 far as dampness from the
ground is concerned. In fact, swine will
exercise more tact and ingenuity TO sleep
comfortably than any other o! the ami
mails of the farm. Their lack OF natural
covering requires that they do this, and
thus il becomes one OF their strongest
instincts.
Another ceculisrity OF swine is that
they will lie together, II possible, and
this from the same natural instinct as
before given. Also, as a means OF SELL
protection, they are essentially grega-
rious, more 80 than any other OF our farm
animals except sheep. In state OF
domestication, none OF our farm animals
have been made more artificial than
swine, exceptour workingshorses. Hence,
none are more liable TO disease when kept
together and fed in large droves. If
allowed TO follow their own instincts
they remain healthy. When treated
artificially, we must provide them the
means of comfort just as We should and
do 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 40 allowed, none
require greater variety, and none are
more cleanly in their habits than swine.
Yet they have always been considered
the type OF unclesnliness, both in their
food and habits. 1t has come down to
us from the time of the lsraelites, whose
abhorrence OF swine amounts almost to
a mania. Considering that swine are
the most important among our neat
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 peculiaritles OF swine, when
confined to close quarters, Is their
especial greed of carbnaceous matter, as
coal, or other changed vegetable matter
their natural instincts they get this from
half-rotten wood, aud in the earth when
roofing. Rings are put in hogs noses /;
they are kept in filthy wards, or close
pens they are fed on corn 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
carnivercus feeders. They require animal
food or its equivalent, roots, pants and
grain. 1t is true they may subsist on
corn and water when confined in close
pen. Yet it is not TO be commended /;
breeding animals certainly cannot be 30
kept. II to this be added that the swine
are usually kept in large droves, or in
confined and dirty quarters, enfeeble-
ment soon comes on, and they and their
progeny will contract disease that often
becomes epidemic or contagious in its
nature, and, as we know, will sometime:
decima,e the swine of whole region ol
country. Those most enfeebled, or most
susceptible TO disease, are swept away
and we again have lew years when
swine become comparatively healthy
Wecall the disease cholera for want of q
better name.
The Prairie Farmer throws out these
hints more with view TO call the atten.
tion OF farmers 10 the necessity o; study
ing the habits OF swine, than for the
purpose of writing their peculiar re-
quirements. We see them wallowing in
the mud. 1t is one of their instincts,
by which they keep themselves coo! in
the summer, and protect themselves from
the attacks OF insect enemies II they
have access 10 running water, they will
fully as often be found there, bathing, in
summer. We find them roofing n the
earth. They are industriousy seeking
gtubs and the Larvae of other insects
They may run sluealing shout a bare
or muddy yard, with bits o. straw in
their mouths. A stern 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-
tirely to ciange even its instincts, Ii
certainly speaks well for the hog, tha,
while man has tried his best to make i,
filthy in its habits, through centuries o
abuse, he has not so succeeded when tn,
animal has had chance to help ITSELF
Prairie Farmer.