The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-30
Tree.Climblng Pigs.

Some time ago 1t was our fortune to call
attention toward an interesting experiment
undertaken by Mr.. MONTGOMERY SEARS OF
Boston. in tho hope OF producing quality
of pork worthy to he associated with true
Boston baked beans. His method involved
tho crossing of the choicest and latest OBJ
tainable specimens of American swine with
certain lean and shadowy bristle-producer
OF European origin SO that the resultant pig
should be composed Of alternate layers OF
fat and lean. While yet the product Of this
experiment is problematica. we have from
Australia intelligence of discovery that
suggests possibilities which put MIR. SEARs's
adventure entirely in the shade.
A Mr. LIE MoRTEMoRE OF Wide Bay has
succeeded in capturing trce-climbing pig.
We are indebted to our esteemed Australian
contemporary the Ners OF Wide Buy. for
a description OF this arboreal porker:
"The captured animal weighs about hundred.
weight. and Ia pretty fat with bristy brown fur. small
black spots snout and like pig. but the Jaw 10
furnished with front teeth Ikea rodents has large
CANNES and powerful back grinders The fore feet
furnished with hookle claws; the hind ones have two
hook claws each hoof The tail Is thick. about n
long and highly prehensile and in state Of rest
is usually carried in what is known Flemish coil
The animal is also furnished with pouch which It
only appears to for carrying supply OF food in
while it is travelling to fresh pastures. In drought the
animal climbs and hangs by its tail while gath.
ers its food by the hook claws"
Now. IL Mr.. SEARS will import some Of
these Australian pigs. he will have material
for an experiment that will challenge the
attention of the entire world and hold Bos-
ton in hush of expectancy. He would
find no difficulty in procuring the necessary
pigs. for Mr.. LIE MoRTEMoRE says that the
woods are full OF EN-.
The question Of substituting tree-climb-
ing pigs for the various varieties of terres-
trial swine is too large for consideration Off
hand. but it is permissible to mention some
of the interesting possibilities that suggest
themselves in the line Of study which Mr..
SEARS is now pursuing. After he shall have
produced the desired streak OF fat and
streak OF lean pig. he will be equipped for
the vastly more interesting experiment OF
seeing what can be done by blending that
animal with his Australian importation.
What would the world say il it could see
Mr.. SEARS raising pork and beans on the
same beanpole? Yet this is not an ex-
travagant suggestion. The beanstalk is q
climber: so is this Australian pig. Why
not let them climb the same pole. and.
clinging thereto. the one with its tendrils
and the other with his prehensile tail.
ripen into maturity together? Right here
somebody may interposc that the pig would
eat the beans: but the object OF these re-
marks is to put forth suggestions, and not
to monkey with petty conundrums.
And then there Is the marsupial pouch.
When the time comes for Mr.. SEARS to
gather his ripcncd pork and beans. all he
will have to do will be to pick the beans
into the pouches and drive his composite
crop home or to market. the pigs carrying
their tails neatly done up in Flemish coils.
which. as every sailor man knows. is the
sort Of coil affected by yachtsmen when
they want to see the main sheet lie flat and
beautiful on the quarter deck.
But it is impossible even TO outline the
ideas that arise in connection with this
oprortune discovery OF tree-cimbng pigs:
aud SO. without further attempt. the whole
matter is turned over to Mr. MONTGOMERY
SEARS for his intelligent consideration.