71 



For the Purple Kohl llabi I made au extra rich bed, near the stable, in- 

 tending to transplant, but the plants were all eaten up as fast as they 

 appeared. (Moral : Do not make open hot-beds near stables, because 

 worms, bugs, beetles, and Hies there do most congregate in early spring.) 



The seeds from the department luxve been remarkably pure, more so 

 than any I ever purchased, and are almost all fine varieties and valua- 

 ble acquisitions. ■ 



Nicolct County Minn. — 1 have tried the English vetches, but they 

 were a total failure. 1 also tried the mangel-wurzel as a substitute for 

 corn for hogs and cattle ; the trial was satisfactory, and I think one acre 

 will fatten more hogs than two acres of corn, and with the same amount 

 of labor. They should be planted in rows three feet apart so as to be 

 attended with a small plow or cultivator. If too thick when four inches 

 high they sliould be thinned to six inches ; they are well suited to a cold 

 climate. Many of my neighbors intend trying them next se-ason. 



The wheat received from the department last season was more than 

 an average crop; the oats and barley did not get a fair trial, but I 

 think next year they may do better. I will send you a sample of the 

 wine rhubarb seed. The plants were imported five years ago from Lord 

 Cremorne, county Monaghan, Ireland. It cannot be too highly recom- 

 mended where fruit is scarce. It is said to be superior to any variety 

 ever seen in this part of the country. The seed should be sown in drills 

 as early as the grouud will permit, covered about one inch, and the fol- 

 lowing spring transi)lanted five feet apart each way, as the leanes grow 

 very large. They should be planted on rich soil, with plenty of rotted 

 stable manure. They will l)e fit for use the second s<-ason after sowing. 



HOG CHOLERA. 



Hickman^ Keninelo/. — .Judging from post mortem examinations, I am 

 satisfied that hog cholera results from diseased liver or worms in the 

 intestines. I killed a shoat some time since, and its liver was twice ais 

 lai'ge as it ought to haVe been, and full of boils. I killed a hog the 

 other day, and its smaU intestines were covered with small }»imples, very 

 hard ; i opened the gut and it was full of fiat white worms v/hich ap- 

 peared to be dead, their heads sticking fiist in the gut and making these 

 pimples on the outside. 



I am inclined to think that if a remedy can be Ibund that will expel 

 these worms, we will find a cure for hog cholera. The liver of the 

 hog above named was perfectly sound. He was one of m> pork hogs, 

 and had been eating salt and ashes twiee a week for two months, which 

 had ke])t his bowels open, and prevented the worms from blocking up 

 the canal and producing constipation, which is really what we call hog 

 cholera, for if a hog purges he almost certainly gets well. Curing a sick 

 hog is iill stulf : i believe nine times out of ten the hogs ciu-ed would 

 have got well anyliow. I believe in ])reventives. As soon as your pigs 

 can "crack corii" cover the pen with ashes and sprinkle salt on it and 

 shell the corn to them. Move your hogs as often as you can conveniently, 

 and never feed long or let them sleep for a long time in the same place. 

 In this latitude never suffer a hog to go under shelter ; further north it 

 may be necessary. Dust is the worst thing in the world for a, hog; 

 straw the next. " If a hog should be taken sick move the well ones away 

 from him and kill him, or leave him where he is. Green apples and red 

 clover ar(? also a good preventive. I have never had the hog cholera on 

 my place but once, and scarcely ever have a pig or hog to die. 



In the last two years my sows have had <me hundred jngs, and 1 have 



