316 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 16, 1891. 
SWINE FEVER. 
IMr. Sanders Spencer of St. Ives is the most successful 
lireeder of pedigree pigs in this country, and any advice or opinion 
-of his is received with the respect and attention it merits ; yet it 
was with a sense of disappointment that we read his recent paper 
•on this subject, simply because it was so ndefinite. According to 
him this terrible disease had its origin in this country from 
imported animals, but he is unable to fix the date of its introduc¬ 
tion, and can only point to the time when the disease became so 
^serious as to attract attention. One thing is certain, and that is, 
that in every country where swine are bred in large numbers an 
‘infectious disease prevails among them. The hog cholera of 
America, the rouget of France, the rothlauf of Germany, and the 
•swine fever of this country are alike infectious, and it is unlikely 
that the disease originated only in either country, and was carried 
to the others by infected animals. 
The fact of its existence in our midst is undeniable, and the 
best method of its prevention or eradication is all-important. Mr. 
‘Spencer says : “ If ive really expect to get rid of swine fever we 
must submit to the compulsory slaughter of all diseased pigs, and 
Ml those which by any means have been exposed to infection, the 
disease being both contagious and infectious, and the virus of so 
deadly a nature that it is simply impossible to rid our herds of 
•swine fever unless every possible host of the microbe is slaughtered.” 
■Compulsory slaughter has surely been in force sufficiently long to 
have had a fair trial, yet the fever continues alarmingly prevalent. 
If to compulsory slaughter compulsory cleanliness avere added, 
“then indeed we might hope for improvement. 
It may be that it is spread solely by infected animals, but 
whether this be so or not, it is well to consider what is the 
duty of individuals in the matter. Most wmrthy of attention 
was the remark of an eminent London physician, that healthy 
persons had nothing to fear from disease microbes floating about 
in the atmosphere of the metropolis, simply because of their 
robust condition. It is the delicate sickly persons, predisposed 
±0 disease, who are in danger from such a cause, said he. Their 
bodies are in a condition to form a suitable nidus for the reception 
and growth of the microbes, for the spread of infectious disease, 
whose victims they become. Might not the same remark be made 
with equal truth about animals, and especially about pigs ? For 
'the conditions under which they are so frequently kept are 
certainly not conducive to health. 
The spread of disease among pigs is owing in a considerable 
degree to carelessness. Because they can exist in a state of filth, 
-and consume loathsome garbage with apparent impunity, they are 
'frequently left very much to rough it, without a thought being 
given to the possible evil consequences of an accumulation of filth 
upon their health. Often have we seen pigs, large and small, 
burrow into dung heaps and disappear from view under dung hot 
with fermentation to enjoy the pleasant sensation of such an 
envelopment of heated matter. The effect of this hot vapour bath 
upon fat pigs must be an abnormal feverish condition, and the 
shock to the system must be severe when they emerge from it to 
the open air—severe, precisely in proportion to the change of 
temperature. Can we wonder that disease often having a speedy 
•ending in death is the result ? 
In the management of pigs, as in that of all other live stock 
of the farm, the general tendency to tax their powers of endurance 
to the utmost is wrong. The principle is as unsound as its effects 
are mischievous, and if it were possible to trace each form of 
disease to its source, we should find mismanagement and careless¬ 
ness the chief cause of it. Most praiseworthy as efforts to stamp 
out swine fever are, we ought not to depend solely upon the 
destruction of tainted animals. With this a general effort at 
improved management is also certainly desirable, upon the sound 
principle that prevention is better than cure. Let not any ardent 
reformer rush to the conclusion that a set of new piggeries is 
the first step in this good work. We like neat convenient build¬ 
ings as much as anyone, but it is well to avoid unnecessary 
expense, and so much may often be done with the means lying 
ready to our hands, but which because they are rough and ready 
have been overlooked. Failing the piggeries, we have been 
content to make shift with an open shed or hovel and a yard. 
For example, at one of our farms we have a set of model build¬ 
ings, paid for by the insurance money after the old homestead 
was destroyed by fire. The piggeries are most elaborate and 
costly buildings, replete wdth convenience, and the pigs there 
have always answered well under the care of an intelligent and 
able bailiff, but ave are bound to say that at another farm where 
most of the pigs are kept and prepared for market in open hovels, 
the bailiff is equally successful with his pigs, and we have never 
had sw'ine fever at either farm. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Prospects of a favourable season are increasing, the whole of the 
spring corn was sown early in one of the best seed beds we ever had. 
Land intended for roots was then prepared for sowing so far as was 
possible, and the Mangold seed has been soovn in time to derive full 
benefit from the frequent April showers which have fallen daily. 
Though growth is slow, it goes steadily on, and the pastures are every¬ 
where becoming greener daily with new growth ; spring corn is showing 
a nice full plant, and Clovers are now forward enough to be of use for 
sheep where feed is scarce. 
A watchful eye must be kept on the flock to prevent an undue con¬ 
sumption of tender green food, which may bring on scouring, and do 
much harm. This will be prevented by the regular use of dry food in 
the troughs, and a frequent change from pasture to folds on Rye. All 
the ewes with forward lambs are now in Rye folds, and are doing 
exceedingly well. There is very little scouring, the lambs are growing 
fast, and now consume a considerable quantity of lamb food. The e'wes 
are all choice young animals, and casualties have been exceptionally 
few and far between. Very different to this satisfactory state of things 
is that of neglected or mismanaged flocks, several of which have come 
under our notice during the past week. In one case where the ewes 
were dying fast, a shepherd of high local repute was sent for. He 
stayed with the’ flock for a few days, and then left in disgust, for the 
ewes continued to die, and nothing he could do would prevent it. The 
mischief was done by the state of semi-starvation in which the sheep 
had been kept all the winter; they had become so feeble that they 
positively had not sufficient strength to bring forth young. Do not 
suppose that the owner of the flock is a young inexperienced beginner. 
No, he is well advanced in middle age, and yet is evidently ignorant of 
the mere rudiments of principles governing his calling in life. Well 
said a lecturer on agriculture recently, that such knowledge makes the 
difference between success and failure, between affluence and poverty, 
between happiness and contentment, and anxiety and struggling for 
bare subsistence. Let us urge home farmers to rest content with nothing 
short of a thorough knowledge of their business. We must know the 
reason why we succeed or fail, must have nothing to do with luck or 
chance, and must see reasonable cause and effect in all we do. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32^ 40" N.; Long. 0° 8^ 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 AM. 
IN THE DAT. 
gfr S_; 
Hygrome- 
o • 
Shade Tern- 
Radiation 
fl 
1891. 
ter. 
r d 
• d 
d- S 
perature. 
Temperature. 
c9 
April. 
S 
In 
On 
WS a 
Dry. 
Wet. 
5o 
H 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
grass 
Inches. 
deg 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday. 
5 
29.576 
4^ A 
47.8 
S.E. 
41.1 
56.2 
39.2 
92.5 
33.2 
0.248 
Monday.. 
6 
29.^92 
45.4 
43.2 
S.W. 
42.0 
56,9 
89.4 
100.2 
35.4 
Tuesday .... 
7 
29.702 
41.6 
40.1 
N. 
42.9 
43.4 
39.1 
76.1 
.35.9 
— 
Wednesday.. 
8 
29.927 
40.9 
36.7 
N.W. 
41.8 
47.8 
32.1 
87.1 
211.8 
0.108 
Thursday.... 
9 
29.982 
40.3 
39.7 
N.E. 
41.3 
44.9 
37.1 
63.9 
36.4 
0.063 
Friday . 
10 
30JG3 
44.2 
42.1 
K. 
41.2 
62.4 
38.9 
74.8 
37.9 
— 
Saturday .... 
11 
ui),135 
40.2 
39.1 
N. 
4t.9 
48.7 
36.0 
77.2 
2S.1 
0.013 
29.883 
43.0 
41.2 
41.7 
50.0 
87.4 
81.7 
33.1 
0.482 
REMARKS. 
5th.— Dull, with frequent showers in morninK, some sunshine in afternoon, and heavy 
rain from 4 to G P.W. 
6th. —Bright and mild throughout, except for a few spots of rain at 3 P.M. 
7th.—Overcast throughout. 
8th.—Brilliant morning, frequently cloudy in afternoon, overcast evening. 
9tn.—Light rain all the morning, then dull till 4 P.M., and rain again till midnight. 
lOto.—Fair morning ; dark after 8 P M ,and a few large drops of ram at 6 P.M. 
nth. —Generally overcast; a gieam of sun at 10 A.M., and showers at midlay. 
A cool week, with little bright sunshine for the time of year.—Q. J. SYMONS. 
