426 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June 14 
Live StockandDairy 
m 
ROUGHAGE AND ROOTING FOR 
SWINE. 
How to Obtain Large Strong Litters. 
I purchased the first brood sow I ever 
owned in 1889. I supposed the ordinary 
methods usually employed would yield 
a profit, but soon found that the losses 
were too great and the yield too small 
for the difference to pay for the feed 
and labor. An accurate account kept 
for two years showed no profit. I con¬ 
cluded that a “scrub” sow was no good 
and purchased a purebred sow of a well- 
known breed. Kept in the same man¬ 
ner she proved no better, and I found 
that breed alone would not fill the bill. 
One litter was small and weak, another 
was large in number but weak in 
strength, and they were all lain on by 
the big fat mother in less than a week. 
Another was eaten by the corn-crazy 
mother, and the last starved by the poor 
milker with caked udder. About five 
coming to maturity was the average. 
Early Spring farrows did not have vital¬ 
ity enough to stand cold weather and 
poor pens; and late Spring farrows 
made a second Fall farrow impossible 
or too late to feed profitably and get 
out of the way of prospective Spring 
pigs. A grain-fed confined sow with one 
farrow per year, or two poor ones, is 
not profitable. To improve 1 made a 
good house, double-boarded and stuffed 
with straw, and nailed a frame eight 
inches from the sides and a foot from 
the floor around one pen to prevent the 
sow lying on the pigs. The sow showed 
her contempt of the device by con¬ 
tinually working at it until she rooted 
it loose and tore it all down, but the 
temperature was all right. With a good 
warm house and a purebred sow meager 
returns continued the same. In disgust 
I turned a long, lean, slab-sided, wedge- 
shaped old sow into a swamp pasture in 
the Spring and told her to “root hog or 
die,” and she took me at my word, turn¬ 
ing about two acres upside down. In 
the Fall at farrowing time she broke 
out of the pasture and made a nest in 
the middle of a horse manure pile. The 
hole was two feet deep and with weak 
pigs every one would have been smash¬ 
ed, but her 13 “swampers” were all 
alive and energetic. She had no trouble 
to give milk enough for all. Something 
had surprisingly transformed that sow 
into a producer from a consumer. What 
was it? A vegetable ration, plenty of 
work, no loafing or high living. A good 
recipe for meanness, or sickness in any¬ 
thing. 
Why had I not thought of it before? 
Everybody knows that the natural 
habit of swine is to roam, dig, work and 
exercise; that the natural food of the 
hog is vegetable; and that they are not 
found wild where this food cannot be 
obtained during Winter. We confine 
our swine not because it is best but 
more convenient, and we feed them 
grain because it is obtained with less 
thought, not because it is better or 
cheaper than vegetables. It requires 
some thought and planning to provide 
a good continuous yearly supply of 
vegetables for a herd of swine, but the 
success of the experiment made it clear 
that success came from adopting nat¬ 
ural conditions. Pasture in Summer 
consisting of clover, rape, oats and peas, 
rye, and sweet corn, foliage and all, 
constitutes the food of the breeding 
stock supplemented with wheat mid¬ 
dlings (fine bran) and water for young¬ 
er ones. Beets and flat turnips with the 
middlings for Winter are all that is 
needed with warm dry pens. With the 
adoption of these methods all vices and 
necessity for devices disappeared. I was 
not obliged to sit up with a farrowing 
sow; in fact, she did better if left alone. 
By breeding them young, and giving 
careful, liberal feeding while they were 
suckling the young the liability of their 
becoming fat was overcome, and a milk 
giving habit formed. The bulky food 
made them large bellied and not exact¬ 
ly of show shape, but the loose muscles 
and flexible bodies made farrowing 
easy. After years of proper feeding the 
progeny is full of inherited health, and 
disease is unknown. I have no sick 
hogs and would not know what to do 
with them, or for them, if I should 
have. To accommodate the increasing 
number of the progeny I selected fe¬ 
males with fourteen teats and from 
large milking dams. To retain a good 
form I selected males with square hams, 
full shoulders, broad backs and small 
heads, ears and legs. In every litter 
there will be some pigs of both types. 
Some would make show animals and be 
perfect pictures, models, such as are 
seen at the fairs. Others from birth 
show that long conformation which 
gives the desired dairy type, and they 
are kept for future breeders. The only 
sure way to test a theory is by the re¬ 
sult, and an average of 26 pigs per year 
from the mature sows for three years, 
no losses by pig eating, no caked ud¬ 
ders, and stock which will make dress¬ 
ed pork at three cents per pound seem 
to me sufficient proof that the theory 
is all right. c. e. chapman. 
USE OF EMBALMED MILK. 
I have received circulars from a firm 
offering stuff which is said to preserve 
milk. What is it? 
Most likely formalin. 
The stuff we use to kill scab on pota¬ 
toes? 
Yes, and also what undertakers often 
use for embalming. 
Is it injurious? 
Certainly. In full doses it is a deadly 
poison. There are many cases on record 
where people have been made deathly 
sick by using milk or cream in which 
this stuff is used. 
How does it “preserve” milk? 
By killing the germs or bacteria which 
cause the milk to sour. These germs 
get into milk in various ways, and at 
ordinary temperatures they multiply 
rapidly. 
If these people are selling poisons to 
put in human food cannot their busi¬ 
ness be stopped? 
How would you stop it? 
Why cannot the Post Office Depart¬ 
ment hold the mail in which they send 
their circulars? 
We wrote the Postmaster General 
about this, and he replies tnat while the 
sale of these milk poisons may violate 
the laws of New York there is no evi¬ 
dence that their sale is a scheme “for 
obtaining money or property of any 
kind through the mails by means of 
false or fraudulent pretences.” 
But is it not a fraudulent game to sell 
these poisons? 
Not under the present New York law. 
The former law prohibited the sale of 
“preservatives” in milk or its products. 
The courts called it unconstitutional be¬ 
cause it might stop the use of salt or 
sugar which are used to “preserve” food. 
A new bill was introduced into the 
Legislature prohibiting the use of “pre¬ 
servatives injurious to health,” but this 
failed of passage. It is then no crime 
at present to sell these poisons, but is 
is a crime to use them in milk. 
That puts the crime on the farmer 
who uses them? 
Yes, and justly so. He has no busi¬ 
ness to use such stuff. He knows bet¬ 
ter, for every man who can read knows 
that the stuff he uses is dangerous and 
that its use is against the law! 
Swine-Raising for Women Farmers. 
Mrs. G. L. Ross, in The R. N.-Y. for 
April 19, gives her very successful ex¬ 
perience in raising pork. I have been 
interested in swine raising for nearly 
six years, and have found that a brood 
sow is about the best money maker on 
the farm. I think I have told R. N.-Y. 
readers about my purebred Cheshire 
sow Piggins, but I may not have men¬ 
tioned that she was owned, and for the 
most part cared for by women. She 
came to me about three months old, and 
has always been petted and made much 
of. Cheshires are notably good-tem¬ 
pered, and though Piggins is now nearly 
five years old, and is rearing her eighth 
litter of pigs, she is as kind and docile 
as a kitten. I go into her house, handle 
her or pigs as necessary, and unless the 
little folks make a great disturbance, 
which is not often the case, she does 
not even look to see what is being done. 
She has not always been handled to the 
very best advantage, and she has been 
unfortunate sometimes. One litter of 16 
pigs were all lost but one. Another 
time she lost six out of a litter of 15, 
but if any business had but one side, the 
fortunate one, what a difference it would 
make. There was one interval of 13 
months when Piggins gave me $137 in 
cash, a porker in the barrel and seven 
vee piggies, nearly old enough to sell. 
I kept one of these wee ones, and she 
will rival her mother, I think, as she 
has produced 29 pigs at her three far- 
rowings. Her last litter, which came 
March 10, has nearly all been sold for 
breeding stock, only three being left. 
Let some of the farm women who wish 
to make money try a registered sow of 
some good breed (of course I think she 
should be a Cheshire) and see whether 
swine breeding does not prove for her as 
it has for me, a sure money maker. 
Seneca Co., N. Y. sara a. little. 
Breeders’ Directory 
REGISTERED Jersey Bull CALVES 
from Ida Stoke Potris and Golden Lad at fair prices. 
R. F. SHANNON, 907 Liberty St., Pittsburg, Pa. 
JERSEY BULL CALF. 
Dam a 16-pound oow, sire Count Allison (See The 
R. N.-Y., April 26), a very fine calf. 
IRA WATSON, Fredonia, N. Y. 
A Foundation Herd of 10 or 20 young registered 
HOLSTEIN COWS is offered at a special price 
by DELLHURST FARM, Mentor, Ohio. 
Pnr Colo - PUREBKED holstein-friesians 
lUI 0(110 Bargains in BULL CALVES at the pres¬ 
ent time. Also BERKSHIRE SWINE and SCOTCH 
COLLIE PUP8. W. W. CHENEY, Manlius, N.Y. 
PhflChirOC -Apr11 plgs- Brown Leghorn breeding 
UIIGOllllGO stock cheap. S.A.Little,Malcom,N.Y 
IMPROVED LARGE YORKSHIRES “i™;;!*; 
h °K- pig® of all ages from imported stock for sale. 
MEADOW BROOK STOCK FARM, Rochester, Mich 
RegJ\ Chinas, Berkshires and C. Whites, 
Choice Pigs, 8 weeks old, mated not 
akin. Bred Sows and 8ervlce Boars. 
POULTRY. Write for hard tlmei 
prices and free circular. 
HAMILTON & CO., Rosenvick, Chester Co., P*. 
iNfiflRI OflATC »e handsome, hardy and 
MCIUUnK UUH I d profitable Prize stock. 
Low prloes. Large olr. B. W. Cole & Co., Kenton, O 
St. Bernard and Great Dane Pups, Make fine watch¬ 
dogs; very kind. C. H. AVERY, New Britain, Conn. 
fnlllP Pune— Spayed Females. Circulars. SILAS 
VAHHC I upa DECKER, South Montrose Pa. 
pm I |C DIIDC~ Prize-Winning,Imported 
UULLIC rUlw Sires and Trained Dams. Fit 
for Bench. Ranch or Farm. Both sexes; ail ages. 
Also a Book on the Care and Trainirg of the COLLIE 
for all Practical Uses. Price, 60c. Book free to pur¬ 
chaser of Collie. Maplemont Sargent, Albany, Vt. 
NO SPAVINS 
The worst possible spavin can be cured in 
45 minutes. Ringbones, Curbs and - Splints 
just as quick. Not painful and never has 
failed. Detailed information about this 
new method sent free to horse owners. 
Write today. Ask for pamphlet No. 88 
Fleming Bros., Chemists, Union Stock Yds., Chicago. 
THE MONEY SAVER 
BEST f or Catlle - blieep .or Swine. Kills ticks and lice.. Cures mange, 
itch and scab. Prevents contagious abortion. Keeps flies off 
cattle. Prevents hpj; cholera. Kills chicken lice and prevents chicken 
cholera. 
PREVENTION OF DISEASE IS TRUE ECONOMY 
ir~i X y 
bend to us. We -will'shipi pre- 
c 'Special prices in large* lots. 
»• .Write for our FREE bo'c*^ThtTP r e-y |£tive TfeMment,” Cattlel 
Sneep, S>v.ne or Poultry. WEST DISINFECTING GO , 4 E. 59th SL.-N.Y. 
Horse Owners! Use 
GOMBATJLT’S 
Caustic 
Balsam 
A Safe, Speedy, and Positive Care 
The safest, Best BLISTER ever used. Takes 
tbe place of all llnaments for mild or severe action. 
Removes all Bunches or Blemishes from Horses 
and Cattle, SUPERSEDES ALL CAUTERY 
OR FIRING. Impossible to produce scar or blemish 
Every bottle sold is warranted to give satisfaction 
Price SI .50 per bottle, Sold by druggists, or sent 
by express, charges paid, with full directions for 
Its use. Send for descriptive circulars. 
THE LAWRENCE-WILLI AMS CO., Cleveland. O. 
Newton’* Heave, Cough, Dis¬ 
temper and Indigestion Care, 
A veterinary speoiflo for wind, 
throat and stomach troubles. 
8trong recommends. tl per 
can. Dealers, mail or Ex.paid, 
h'ewtoji Horse Remedy Co. 
( y ) Toledo. Ohio. 
The Superior Cream Extractor 
“It gets the Cream.” Twenty per cent 
more than by setting In pans. 
WATER IS NOT MIXED WITH MILK, 
therefore, impure water does not taint 
the cream, and the skimmed milk is left 
pure and sweet. IFr pay the Freight. 
Descriptive circulars, reliable testi¬ 
monials and prices mailed on request. 
Write to-day. Can’t get in touch with 
such a money-maker too quick. 
Superior Fence Machine Co., 
188 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Mich. 
Shoo-Fhf 
•; 'C* •**! •. * 
Half oent’s 
worth saves 
2 quarts 
milk and 
much flesh. 
Cures sores, hoof ail* 
Shoo-Fly is the original 
stock protector used by same dairymen 
since 1385. Thousands have duplicated 10 
to 50 gallons seven consecutive years. Beware 
of imitations thatlastonly a # ew hours and make sorts. 
If your dealer does not keep Shoo-Fly send us $1*00 for 
latest improved double tube spra3'er and enough Shoo-Fly to 
protect 100 cows, or 25c for liquid. 
Quart FREE to those naming imitation they have used, 
and promising to pay express. To these will send Sprayer for 60c. 
BUGOLEUM effectual SHEEP DIP 
Kills all Lice, Tick*. Cures Scab, Mange, Horen, The best 
known disinfectant. Prevents contagious abortion. PriceS1.25 per 
f al. Add from 20 tolOO gals, water. Cattle dipped or sprayed in 
Sugoleum (1 to 30) will be free of ticks and pass the quarantine. 
SHOO-FLY MFG. CO. 1005 Fairmount Ave., Phila.,Pa. 
Experience has proven Shoo-Ely to be O. K .—EDITOR. 
The BEST Cattle 
Fastening. 
SMITH’S » el f- 
Adjusting Swing 
Stanchion. The only 
Practical swing stan¬ 
chion Invented. Thou 
sands In use. Hlust'4 
Circular free. 
GLENORA MFG CO., 
Glenora, Yates County, 
N. Y. Infringements 
will be prosecuted. 
