The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-05-22
TOPICS FOB THE FARM.


Hog Pens and Hog Cholera-v. J.
Emery writes to Rural Nesc Yorker: Now
that summer is approaching, hogs, il
confined, should be turned out to
pasture. Many farmer keeps his pigs
in a little yard or pen, often near the
house, where the mud is as deep as they
can wallow through. He throws their
feed in the mud, from which they must
pick it as best they can, and clear water
Is something that they do not get from
one years end to another. Yet such
man will wonder why his family have
the fever and his hogs the cholera! /
have seen hogs kept in this way, or
worse yet, in foored pens which were
bellies were full of small ulcers; and
such meat is packed and shipped to the
East as prime mess pork! Places where
filth always reigns supreme are the fat
tening pens connected with distilleries.
1 believe that such places have as much
to dc with spreading disease among hogs
as among cattle. So far as have ever
known, when cholera makes its first ap-
pearance in any district, it has nearly
always been among the swill-fed hogs of
distilleries or focks treated as described
above. / do not claim that in great
cleanliness we have an infallible pre-
ventive of cholera; but 1 do claim that
with cleanliness and proper variety of
food, the appearance of the malady
would be less frequent and its victims
fewer; that farmers by little care and
attention might save themselves much
loss. Men shut pig up in a filthy pen
and give him filthy garbage to eat, and
then abuse him because he is an unclean
animal but let them give him clean
place to stay in, clean food and clean
water; in short, treat him as we'll as
other stock, and see il he is not as clean
as other animals. Now, farmers, try
little wholesome cleanliness with your
hogs and see if they do not pay better
Protection for Sheep.-Dogs are the
greatest obstacle to the successful keep
ing of sheep. AS there is no other kind
of farm stock that may be made so
profitable rs sheep-to say nothing of
their value as furnishing material for a
useful domestic manufacture in the shape
| OF spinning woolen yarn and knitting
wooien goods, occupations which have
unfortunately fallen into disuse mostly
on account of the decline of sheep-keep-
lng-lt is not too much to believe, that
the United States could proftably sup
port one hundred millions OF these ami
mails, if the ravages of dogs could be pre-
vented. This is not at all impossible.
| 1t is our business to surmount diff
culties. The greater intelligence of
mankind is made of POOR account, if it
cannot find a way to overcome the
| sagacity or the instinct of brute; and
| it is one of the chief ends of man to
overcome the difficulties that are met
with in procuring subsistence and the
means for comfort in spite of the iu-
| furious attacks of the lower animals, in
sects included, with various other pests
which interfere with the success of our
labors. We believe that way may be
found to overcome all these; and every
hint to this effect is useful. We give a
method described in German paper, by
which sheep may be enabled to resist the
attacks of dogs. 1t consists of a metal
collar furnished with sharp, steel spikes.
The collar may be made of light hoop
iron, and the fastenings may consist of
small bolts with nuts. The spikes are
held in the same way, and the collar is
opened and closed by removing and re-
placing the bolt. A strap Of harness
leather may be used in place of the iron
band, and this would be more easily
managed. While this may not be a
thoroughly effective preventive, it will,
at least, be great protection to the
sheep. Dogs will attack the animals by
seizing them by the leg or hind quarters,
but the throat is the most vital point
and If this is well protected the sheep
will not be killed, although they may be
injured.
Bees and Honey Piants.-A cores
pondent writes from Utah: l had two
hundred colonies of hybrid bees last sum.
mer, and have not lost more than six
The winter having been unusually cool
bees have not been out as much as usual
and consequently losses have been less
Our bee season commences in February
and continues till near December, Civ
ing us long working season, when We
take care to keep succession of flowers
for pasturage. In September we usually
have the greatest drought of the season
and nearly all our wild flowers are dried
up. During this dry season if nothins
is prepared by cultivation for pasturage
the bees get scarcely enough to subsis
upon. Our lucerne meadows give grea
help, but generally as soon as tn,
r plants get we'll in blossom, the mowe
spoils all the prospects of honey from
that source.
In all my experience with bees, fine
mignonette the most valuable for be-
, pasturage. This I announced through
the bee journals several years ago, AM
, continued experience has strengthene,
that conclusion. That plant bloom
early and continues to blossom til
nipped by fros.. have not shade O
doubt that a we'll cultivated acre of thi
plant would give abundant employment
for five hundred colonies.
= Sweet clover comes next to mignOnette
in value for bees. There is little doub
o but that this plant will yield hone
. faster than mignonette, but being
perennial, it costs double what the othe
does that blossoms annually and is sell
seeding after having once been started
o There is still another very valuabl
! plant for bees, known as the "America
! bee plant" that was introduced into th
East in 1858. 1t grows in sand, is woI
4 derful blOomer and honey-producer, bu
the honey from it lacks the fine f1avo
of that collected from the first-name
plants.
; Shipping Fruits" Is it possible ths
fruit grower can establish a reput
i ton" for the fruit he may send I
market for sale; and if so, how is it to
done?i is aquestion which MrsWhittlese
asks and answers in the late report :,
N the Michigan Pathological Society. "B
always putting his fruit up honestly
Ir to quality in fair-sized packages, I'll
8. fruit to be as good on the top of IL
If package as it is in the middle or bottom
le Then be sure to ship his entire crop I
S, one responsible, honorable, and reliab
re- commission house, and to no other; gi,
,e this house the hauling of all YOUR fru