Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-09-26
THE HORSE PLAGUE;
A PLAN TO AVERT.

The men who are now In Abilene
introducing the germ destroying
method OF horse plague treatment
known as the Bacili-KiI steriIizing
method and which thus far seems
to bring good results have this to
say about care and feeds in a cir
cular issued concerning general
treatment OF all horsess
The prevailing horse disease Is
due largely TO the accumulation OF
disease germs in old pastures. old
meadows, stagnant ponds and slug
gish streams and in the accumulation
OF manure piles and old straw and
old hay around the premises. All
old pastures and upland prairie hay
lands are liable to be contaminated.
Alfalfa land which has within the
year been top-dressed with manure
is also likely to be contaminated,
but alfalfa land which has not been
so top dressed is less likely to be
contaminated, and fresh cut alfalfa
grass is likely to be free from con-
tamination. All bottom lands are
more liable to be infested than
higher ground. Therefore. keep the
animals away from bottom lands and
old pastures; Craze on clean alfalfa
ground or cut and haul green al
falfa and green corn, or any other
fresh green iced available. Small
grains may be more or less infested
with the disease germs, but these
grains and corn may be rendered
perfectly safe to feed by soaking
them for half hour before feeding
time in dilution of Bacili-Kil and
water in proportion of one part to
1913.
This will effectively destroy ev-
cry disease germ of every nature
which may have come in contact with
the grains. Where no green feeds
are available the hay may likewise
be soaked in Bacili-Kil water for
J half hour before giving, thus de-
stroying disease germs in the hay.
Bran and oil cake should be fed
freely every day. Effort should be
made to restrict the feed of the
animal so far as Practicable to very
soft, nourishing food and to elm
mate so far as possible all old hay
and it is absolutely imperative that
the old pastures be abandoned or
burned over.
1t is important that every farmer
Immediately plan campaign to
avoid repetition of this scourge next
year. This plan should be about as
follows: Sow Immediately some fall
rye which will give late green feed
and early spring green feed. Haul
all manure to such old pasture land
as may be possible to plow. Such
land should be plowed roughly this
fall and put into corn or similar
crops in the spring and should be
kept in tiflage for at least three
years. Suitable clean alfalfa ground
or other clean land should now be
fenced and arranged for horse pas
ture next year. Very early in the
spring, as soon as the ground is
open, we recommend sowing small
patches Of peas and oats at intervals
of about two weeks apart. These
patches will in succession be ready
for use after the spring rye has
ceased to be useful and by the time
the peas and oats are gone there
will be plenty of alfalfa available
and later in the season green corn.
Such plan as the above care
fully worked out will furnish the
horses green feed, succulent food
throughout the entire season. BY
using the sterilizing method for 10
days and by carefully studying the
above plan of feeding and following
it out vigorously we see no reason
why the present horse scourage may
not be promptly stamped out and it's
recurrence prevented absolutely.
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