The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-07-17

malady that Western farmers have ever
had to contend with is Texas fever, easily
guarded against and easily prevented
from spreading; and sO-called hog chol-
era, typhoid fever generally undoubted-
~ imported from England, as was pleuro-
pneumonia with the fancy animals yearly
brought over for the improvement of
stock In the United States, or, the inf1-
sion of new blood in that already here.
so tar as swine are concerned, it IS un-
doubleday the fact, as rule, that Western
hogs usually die of too much corn, and
due to the fact that in the West this crop
is SO easily and cheaply raised that the
owners OF farm are tempted to over
stock with hogs, which arc fed almost
exclusively on this grain from weaving
time until killing time. The sires and
the dams have been raised on it, often
with little else. Their noses are orna-
mentcd with rings to prevent them
from exercising their natural
instinct in roofing for that di-
versity of food which all .gregarious ami
mails require, and which is especially nee
essary to swine from their omnivorous
habit Of seeding. Thus with systems en-
teebled by generations of artificial feed
ing, is 1t strange that then an epidemic
does appear, that they should be carried
off by thousands, and that once in
country filled to its utmost capacity with
ANIMALS, that it should lie latent only
again and again to break out with each
recurring season of conditions favorable
thereto.
The same causes will operate in favor
of mortality in many other directions.
Swine are especially subject to cutaneous
diseases, to lung diseases and to all that
class OF disorders incident to gross feed
ing and accumulations of fat. Hence
with constitutions enfeebled and rendered
hereditary by generations of highly arti-
ticlal life both in the care and feeding. it
is not strange that disease is constantly
making its appearance and yearly carry
ing off great numbers. entailing not cniy
severe present loss to the owner, but plac
ing him in condition so that he cannot
easily prevent its recurrence.
There is but one remedy that is plain,
| simple and sure as available to counteract
this. We must return to more rational
and simple manner of breeding, rearing
and feeding. We must give greater d.
versity of food. Must take greater care
that swine are comfortably fixed summer
and winter. They should. not be allowed
to ''pile up together" to use we'll know
saying, "like hogs" They should he kept
in smaller lots, have plenty of shade and
pure water in summer, and warm but
we'll ventilated place to lie in winter.
They should be allowed to root as much
as possible, while Young, that they may
get roots and insect food, both of which is
necessary to give them health, or III lieu
OF this something that will stand in its
place should't given them.
So far as s4nmer food is concerned, it
is easily managed. Give them plenty of
clover. purslain, (portulacca) pig weed,
red rood (amaranth) and many others of
the comparatively few plants that swine
naturally eat. These may be easily raised
and carried to them. Let them root while
they are growing. There Is no farm but
what may be given rotation so that a
field may set apart for this purpose each
year for the breeding and growing stock.
Depend more on raising your feeding
stock than in buying for fattening. There
are variety of ways which Rejecting
man may originate to counteract evil.
The trouble is, too many farmers will not
read. They squander plenty of money in
the course Of year, and begrldge So for
that class of reading that is devoted es-
pecially to their particular calling in life.
Not so other professions. They conduct
thrlr business most carefully, and are
sure to read all that pertains especially to
the profession.