Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-06
Corn and Cholera.

1ueie Is dill opinion very prevalent
among farmers all over the west tha
there is preety close connection be
twixt new corn and the diseases com
monty called hog cholera. A great
many farmers have a conviction
that there is very close connection
between cheap corn and hog cholera
They have noticed that cholera pre-
wales most extensively in the fall ol
the year, the time when new corn is
fit for feeding. They have noticed
also that in years OF high priced corr
there is comparatively little cholera
and hence come to the conclusion that
cholera is largely the result of over.
feeding with new corn in the fall OF
cheap corn all the year around.
There is great deal that we don't
know about hog cholera. 1t has re
quired a great many books to hold
what the wise men know, or think
they know; but it would require a
great many more to hold what they
don't know. 1t does seem pretty
we'll established, however, that choi-
era is a germ disease, or rather,
various diseases caused by various
germs. This being the case, it is
hard to see how feeding new corn or
cheap corn can introduce the germs
into the hog yard.
1t is, however, quite possible that
there may be a greater number of
diseases passing under the name Of
cholera than we now realize, and
that some of these may be nothing
more than indigestion, and we can
readily see how exclusive feeding OF
roasting ears or new corn twice a day
and to the limit of the appetite of the
animal might develop disease
which to the farmer would have many
Of the symptoms of genuine hog
cholera or swine plague. In fact, il
the farmer were fed on an exclusive
diet of roasting ears three times a
day for a space oftwo or three weeks,
he might sympathise with the hog in
his tribulations. Therefore we sug.
gest to our readers that they feed
new corn sparingly to begin with
1t is always wise policy for the
farmer to have few acres of very
early corn, maturing IN ninety to a
hundred days and plantedearly, in
order that he may have cheap feed
for his hogs in the fall. Even then,
however, it is not wise to feed it ex
clusively. On almost every farm
there is damaged wheat, oats or bar
ley, which can be fed with new corn
or with the old. and thus prevent
that arrangement Of the system
which is, to say the least, possible
when hogs are fed exclusively on
new corn.
There will be great temptation
this yearto feed new corn exclusively
to hogs. Notwithstanding the large
crop last year according to the state
and national statistics, the country is
bare of corn now. Farmers are pay
ing about fifty cents perbushel. The
corn crop promises to be good one
with possibly lower prices, and the
farmer will be tempted tosave money
by feeding it extensively. 1t may in
the endlose him good deal of money.
The important thing is to keep the
hog in good thrift, growing right
along, and make gains surer ifslower.
Fortunately there has been very
little cholera in the west for the last
two or three years. We shall no
doubt hear of it in the fall, but the
probability is that most of the So
called cholera will be simply the re-
suits of indigestion brought about
by too exclusive use ofnew corn. Hogs
are bringing good price now and
with the good corn crop farmers
should make good profit from that
department of his farm for the next
six months, if he feeds judiciously.
Otherwise, he may throw away a
considerable portion of his years
profits. Wallaces Farmer.