Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-01

There Is no doubt that swine plague
here, az we'll as in Earope, is highly
contagious. 1t is easily given to
healthy animals by NEGOTIATIONS; but
how 10 cultivate tho virus SO rs to have
it Of Just the proper strength to COM
muuicate the disease in Il light form
only, yet enough TO prevent its recur-
renee without fatal results, has not
been discovered.
In view of the well established fact
that swine plague is contagious. aud
that it goes through the country in no
other way than by the multiplication
and spread of disease germs. it Is to be
regretted that men of prominence, as
swine breeders, should speak lightly of
danger from tho traffic in hogs that
have died Of disease. In tho recently
published proceedings OF the National
Swine Breeders association there is Il
paper in which attempt is made to
show that the hauling Of dead or dis
eased hogs along the highway, or
their transportation by rail, need
cause no alarm. IL generally read and
believed. such teachings would do
greater injury 10 the hog raising in
dustry than ali the good things said in
the many other excellent papers pub
lished by the association could ever
repair.
The department of agriculture and
the bureau Of animal indu.try at Wash
iDgton are doing good service for the
American farmer and live stock breed
or, and | believe it o duty 10 give them
the moral support of u confidence in
their work. rather than to criticise and
fault every action taken.
EQUINOCTIAL NARROWING
The Hog, April Z; We have been
surprised at so many breeders and
farmers having pigs farrowed at the
time for %equinoctial storms. We never
yet have had n litter of pigs narrowed
during the last half Of March. When
breeding sows we invariably have
reference to this matter. The rule
does not always apply. but generally
there IL brittle weather from the 18th
to the 9th OF March. Then why have
pigs come At this period when a differ
ent date will answer as wellp Many
hog raisers during a lifetime expert
ence think OF this. Aud it il
only anosher evidence that they do no,
carefully study their business. Farm.
ers need to look more to details. Dur.
ing the %equinoctial season just passed
some sections have been visited by
storms Of great severity. Nearly every
section has been visited by rain, snow
or sudden changes in temperature.
We speak of this matter Dow so that
our readers may have it impressed
upon their minds and observe it in the
future.
GET IN THE SEEDS N PLANTS EARLY.
Those who contemplate setting Out
,ines should do so early, or as soon as
the condition Of the ground permits.
Stra wberries are very partial 10 a cool
season and deligh. in plenty of mois.
ture. and for that reason no time
should DO lost in transplantiDg the
runners. Although many persons pre-
fer to wait until the young plants have
made some growth of leaf in the
spring, yet the best results have been
obtained oD sandy soils when the
plants are placed in position befora The
crowns have started. The young vines
Of other fruits may be treated in the
same manner, especially in those sec.
tons where the summer is usually dry
and but a small proportion of rain is
secured. In a few weeks more the
middle of the day will be very warm,
and the earlier the plants can be put
out the better they will endure the
heat of the sun and u dry soil.
Seeds of tomatoes, egg plants, wat
ermelons. cantalopes and Other
plants that are Liable to be- injured,
may be planted in soil placed in empty
egg shells and when the proper tim,
arrives may be- placed in their posi-
tons without beng disturbed from the
shells, as they will break the shells rs
they grow larger. This method is al
easy and excellent one for securing &
few plants Tor All early supply.
Peas, kale. radish ana lettuce en-
dure slight frusts, and the seeds may
be placed in the ground AS early "a
preferred, though long periods OF wet
weather may cause some OF them &c
OF. Parsley. beets. carrots and par
SHIPS are hardy. and the seed slow il
terminating. The, caDBo DO put in
too soon at or the ground is ready a.
the grass Will destroy the young plans
il it begios to occupy the ground be
fore the plants can become firmly estab
lished. As soon As they can be dis
earned in the lows the ground shoulC
be thoroughly cleaned OF all weeds and
grass. eve if it must be done bv hand,
but after that is done the hoo will cas-
lily protect them.
Do not attempt to get such plants a
squash, cucumbers, pumpkin, Lima
beans or string beans In before being
satisfied that there will bs no further
damage b, frOsts. But the seeds shouIC
be- planted before the seeds become
dry, as u favorable start il very impor
tant. Where it is intended to place
such crops tne seed bed should be care
fully prepared now. and the weeds ant
young grass will be easily destroy ed by
working over the soil AGAIN bafOr,