Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-02-16
From tie Neo England Farmer.
WINTER WORK.

The caro- of the stock on the farm, is
the important business Of winter. Our
animals should be kept dry, and tree from
exposure 10 currents OF cold air, rushing
in through holes aud cracks IN The sides
Of the barn. These may soon be stopped
around the lean-,o by few shingles and
nails. 1.-THE shingles would be too con.
spicuous aud uuseemy on the outside,
then batten on the inside.
That it is good for our animals Of all
kinds 10 be kept com Portable there can DO
no doubt. But how much warmth il ~
desirable 10 produce in the barn in order
TO have them truly comfortable, that is, IN
order to have them be most healthy, is
not settled point. 1ha, good fresh air
for them to breathe, is highly important,
can hardly be- doubted by any one paying
the leost attention TO the laws OF health.
But the barn can be kept cool enough,
even when all holes and crevices itnmedi-
alely around and under the cattle are
carefully and completely stopped.
Some farmers make cellars under their
cattle stalls, lay tho floors not tight, aud
leave the cellars open for the free admis-
sion 10 the coolest OF winters winds. -
These winds must be rushing up aud
blowing upon those parts Of the animal
which are the most susceptible Of harm
and discomfort from cold. The belly is
much more easily harmed than the back.
A barn cellar in winter should be closed,
this makes it better for the cattle above
il, and better for the manure in il. II YOU
fear that closing up this much will make
the barn too warm, the evil can be eBslly
remedied by opening a door or window
IN the upper part Of the barn. We sup
pose that cattle may be kept too warm in
cellars or basemenis.--They may there
be made sickIy. The evil, however, is
not so much occasional by absolute
,carnth as by the impurities Of confined
air that is brealhed over and over again.
Above ground there IS no danger Of get.
ting the temperature too high, excepting
for short time in November and Decem.
Der, when the barn is full Of hay.--More
cattle suffer from cold in our winters than
from undue warmth. There but few
farmers whose barns are such that il will
not be best to make them us warm as pos
slble.
la addition to good protection from cur
rents of cold air, give your cattle the plea
sure and benefits Of daily cardiDg--ibis,
not so much for the purpose Of making
the hair look smooth and glossy, as for
the purpose Of keeping open the pores Of
the skin and promoting its healthy action.
Careful feeding promotes the thrift aud
health Of cattle, aud saves fodder. A lit
tie hay only should be given ut time
The hay should he we'll shaken up
Where there are various kinds of fodder.
as fresh meadow hay, salt hay, oat and
harley straw, &C., &C., il is best to mix
the different kinds thoroughly and 10 put
10 also some good hay--as much Of this
os your supply allows. See to il that
your stock is kept IN good order al all
times. There is no economy in trying 10
keep them al any time exclusively or
mostly on very poor fodder. Better is il
to keep but seven cows and keep them
sceH, using a considerable portion ofyour
meanest hay for litter, than 10 keep ten
but poorly, making them consume all the
coarse fodder. Spend time enough inthe
barn to put every thing that IS given 70
the cattle, into the best possible state for
their use.
Fuel--partly for this and partly for
next years use, is 10 DO cot and brought
10 the woodward.