The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-04
other Appointments.
CARE oE PIGS IN SUMMER.

From the Farm and Fireside.
A farmer in Indiana writes me that
the past two years he has lost most of
his pigs by cholera during the month of
August. He says: IT have no trouble
with them at any other time of the year,
and always have a fine lot of spring pigs
which l can get along as far as August
when lose most of them The trouble
seems to be Just plain cholera. It may
be something else. but If 1t is I don't see
what it can be-" I rather suspect 1t Is
disease brought on by bad water-probably
a disease of the liver. He says that their
water supply comes from a small stream
that flows through the lot, and he admits
! that 1t become "a little foul" during the
summer. 1t seems strange that there are
still quite number Of farmers who think
that any old stuff is good enough for a
hog, and that 1t should remain healthy
no matter what 1t eats or drinks. The
fact is that to be healthy pig needs clean
food, pure water and sanitary surround
ings, the same es any other animal. With
out a doubt that little stream is the real
source of the disease that has destroyed
this mans pigs the past two summers.
One would think that this would occur
to him, and that he would promptly take
measures for keeping them away from
1t, but he continued to allow them ac-
cess to 1t. and relied on some uuaek COM
pound to prevent diesase. Many farmers
think that hogs should have a mud hole
to wallow In to keep cool during hot
weather, and some provide one In the
form of a nasty puddle that gets covered
with green scum in hot weather and Is
about as foul as anything can be. There
is no Necessity for anything of this sort.
I he shade Of trees is vastly better
During the summer months hogs need
/ Iotc Of 80. >
green feed. The water should be kept in
large covered trough, all out side of the
yard or pen except about a foot of
one end. which should protrude through
an opening In the fence. Make this end
of the trough especially strong and the
opening to the water just large enough for
one hog at the time 10 drink. This ar
rangement will assure clean water all the
time. II the whole trough is inside the
yard the hogs are certain to befoul the
water more or less, and also upset or
damage the trough unless 1t is made
very secure TO strong posts. A friend
or mine who annually raises about twenty
pigs and does little else has arranged a
fountain, which he allows to play on the
herd during the middle OF hot DAYS and
/ never saw animals enjoy anything more
than they do this His tank is a barrel
set up on a frame about six feet In height
nc otpch wen ID Iltteu with q 1OIce-
pump. and to this is attached a piece Of
hose fifteen feet long reaching up to the
top Of the barrel Tightly screwed IN the
bottom of the barrel Is a piece of iron
pipe, covered at the outer end and hav-
ing five very small holes through this COW
err When there is water In the bar
rel, five tiny streams flow out Of these
holes with considerable force, and fall on
section of the yard that paved with
brick. If the day is Iultry the barrel is
filled by means of the force pump and
hose the cut off in the iron pipe opened
and the fountain begins to play on the
brick pavement, which is sheltered from
tne sun by three large maple trees The
hogs gather there and seem to enjoy the
shower bath az muc.i as a boy does a
plunge in the old swimming hole in the
creek.
MY friend thinks that this clean shower
path on these hot days t-s fountain flows
ABOUT an hour and halo has much "a
40 with preventing his. little herd from
taking cholera when 1t is prevalent In the
locanty- At any rato his little herd has
never been attacked by this dread disease
during the nine years he has lived on
tne place. while his neighbors have lost
an their stock at two different times
! rather think that his careful methods
OF feeding and clean housing are more