The Opelousas courier., 1908-02-01

institutions both clearing houses Of
SEED Information and places where
originate much of the new values il
plant blood.
One of the greatest sources Of profit
to the farmer of the corn belt is the
fattening of hogs. Corn converted
into pork on the land of the farmer
is generally believed to be the most
profitable corn he can raise. But
there is n serious drawback to this
method of converting corn into an
extra profit, and this is the hog choI
era For years the agricultural de,
partments of the nation and the states
nave been patiently and persistently
conducting elaborate experiments in
the prevention and the cure of this
plague. The results accomplished have
IN many instances been most encour-
aging n the results of the expert
ments have been placed before the
farmers of the country through bull
ietins and other avenues of publica-
ton. AS a result of this educative
WORK the farmers have grasped the
idea that hog cholera cannot only be
prevented, but also cured. This con-
Vlctlon is all the groundwork the
cholera-cure" fakfr needs for his
business All the careful and quail
he'd work Of honest and scientific spe-
flal1Sf IN khiC hpar1h - o-.ex..z
is perverted into preparation for the
success OF the swfndler when he finds
a man whose knowledge of facts is
practically restricted to the convic-
tioi that this swine plague is not be-
yond n reach of scientific treatment.
consequently swine disease special
lists swarm like buzzards in every big
aog raising district where the cholera
OBTAINS a start-and there are few. IL
any, localities largely given to the
raising OF swine where, sooner or
later, this plague does not appear.
rms information as to where the dis
ease is prevalent is easily obtainable
oy the hog-cure swindleSs from a sys-
eHlat reading of the farm journals
n agricultural papers. One of the
frst claims generally put forward by
tne swine specialist when he comes
in contact with a farmer whose herd
is afflicted with the cholera is that
his remedy has the Endorsement of
the agricultural department. He sells
the remedy at a high price and if the
plague is general in the locality he
nnds 1t easy to depart with hundreds
OF dollars in his pocket as a result of
a few days work.
VI course some hogs which are
given the remedy recover-in spite of
it-and such cases are made the most
of in testimonials.
Analysis shows that the remedies
are usually compounded after some in.
genious and worthless formula as the
following:
Coal oil-oHe gallon.
asaltpeter-two pounds. 5.i4
"Sulphur-two pounds. III:
"Assafetida-two pounds.
Tobacco stems-two pounds.
Boil the last four ingredients In
water, and then add the coal oil.
Drench each sick hog with a pint of
the liquor"
Some omit the coal oil-perhaps by
way of variety. The result is the
same, for the hogs really affected by
the cholera die, and the Swine spe-
cialist" has the farmers money.
Some of the serums being devised
may prove effective, at least in max.
ing the campaign sooner or later to be
made to eradicate hog cholera from
the country, as the federal and state
governments are now graduating the
cattle tick and the Texas fever.
But the thousand and one inter
nal remedies are quackery, and when
a farmer uses a serum he should get it
only of reputable concerns or Of public
departments.
The feeding Or finishing" of cattle
is another profitable specially of the
corn belt farmer. To take a rough
steer from the pasture or range and
put him in fat and sleek condition in
the minimum of time and the mini
mum of expense for feed is a very
vital problem to the feeding farmer.
So it is to, the nation at large, and
therefore the research departments of
agriculture have given much effort to
the practical solution of that problem.
The balanced ration idea was once
widely exploited by the scientists,
though now not regarded SO important
as formerly. Latterly reasonably well
balanced rations of those common
grains and rough and green forage
foods have been shown to be the real
profitable feeding stuffs. And nothing
is clearer in American feeding expert
ments than that adding SO called stock
foods with their minimum Of well nigh
useless minimum amount of condi-
ments, f1avoring matter and medicines
is practically and absolutely q peuaral