The Washington times., 1902-05-04
Primitive Hog cleanly.


be SO educated to choose the cleaner
substance. Since the time that the hog
has become domesticated IL has been per-
mitted. and even encouraged. TO wallow in
fifth. The primitive hog was naturally as
clean as the primitive horse. Today the
wild hog. which has never come in con-
tact with mankind, is as clean in its
habits as the rabbit or the squirrel.
1T will. Of course. take some time to
eradicate the inevitable effects of years
of environment that have made filthiness
an acquired hereditary trait in the hogs
nature. But we are sanguine enough to
think that 1t can be DONE and every reas-
oning person should admit that the bene-
fetal result in supplying the public with
pork which is absolutely free from the
germs of disease will more than outweigh
the outlay OF labor and expense to the
Government.
To Experiment on Poland China Variety.
"The process will be gradual. We
should of course get special appropria-
tion from Congress that will permit US
to build a suitable experiment station,
where the preliminary work will be car
ried on. Our FIRST experiments will be
tried on very young animals. and as now
think on sucklings Of the Poland China
variety.
These sucklings will be taken before
they have had time to become contami-
mated by association, and put into a spe-
cially prepared pen. with nothing but the
cleanest surroundings. In the summer
time clean, moist sand will be given them
in which to lie. They will be driven down
an inclosed chute on hot days and treated
to shower baths. After a year or two OF
treatment of this nature we will take sew
eral of the most promising of the shoats
and turn them into an inclosure, one
half of which is fitted out with the con-
veniences to which they have been accus-
toned and the other half a regular pig
pen.
To Test Educated PoIkers.
"If the educated porkers choose the dirt
IL will be because their education has not
sufficiently progressed. trial will have
TO be given TO pigs whose ancestors for
two and three generations back were
brought UP and trained to cleanliness. But
when once We have succeeded in breeding
d family of swine that will of their own
and without human coercion
choose pure surroundings in place OF nlire. |
we will feel that a great victory has been |
gained.
The next move will be TO cross the |
breed with the least filthy of ordinary |
hogs. II is a well-known theory of evolu |
ion that once a progressive tendency be- |
,omes implanted in the life of a species of |
animal. its development along that special !
Inc is more rapid than along the beaten |
racks.
Will Never Become a Household Pet.
"Of course II is not believed that the
hog viii ever become household pet, or
hat its ereediness can be eradicated by
my amount OF training. 1t is highly i'm
probable that any amount of education
sould induce II to adopt more temperate
labiis of diet. II is thought, however,
hat it can be largely Influenced for the
}. tier in its choice of foods. This is, |
however. only speculation.
Il read an account in Western news
'aper some months ago of 4 man who
laims TO have gotten most marvellous re-
ults from family Of pigs reared under
hese conditions. Some of the statements,
oweyer, saYored OF exaggeration. He
lalmed that one of the most intelligent
4 his pigs was. at the age of five years,
ut into a pen with a number of other |
igs that had not had the advantages OF
ulture. The educated animal became
lex and refused TO touch the food put be-
Dre 1t. showing every sign of disgust and
istress.
"As 1 said do not give entire crcdence |
o the claims of the Western stockman.
sut In view of the incalculable benefits |
o the pork-using people OF the entire
'orld, Ii seems TO me that the struggle {
,r the uplifting of the hog should be con- !
lstently and increasingly waged."