The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-01
AGRICULTURAL.
CARE OF ANIMALS.

Every kind Of animals require much care
IN cold weather. or at any season when shut
up, in order 10 preserve them in good health
and condition. For want of attention they
frequently become diseased and die, or grow
poor, 10 the great loss of the owner. And
il is frequently the case that animals thus
treated or rather neglected, consume about
as much food as would be necessary 10 keep
them in good health and flesh with proper
care. Salt should be giren TO animals &C.
casionally, both as means of thrift and pre-
yentive of disease.
By the free use of salt we have known
severe disorders that have appeared among
herd of cattle, first mitigated TO a mild
form, and finally arrested before going half
through the stock. when without some pre-
Venlive means, such diseases prevailed thro'
the nerd.
In cold weather salt should be given in
small doses, lest it open the pores and pro-
duce colds. Wood ashes mixed with salt
in the proportion Of four TO seven quarts 10
a quart of salt, is considered excellent for
sock, as it promotes an appetite and pre-
Ven;s diseases. 1t will prevent bots in hor-
ses and rot in sheep.
We have given this mixture with evident
success. Cattle and sheep will generally
cal ii freely. Horses are more particular
ilan most other animals as 10 what they eat
or drink. Some of them Will not eat this
mixture. In such cases mix small guam
iiiy Of ashes with salt at first, and put them
On roofs ofwhich the horse is very fond, and
in this way he will get accustomed 10 eating
this wholesome condimedt.
Animals should have a good supply of
pure water. Some persons think that sheep
DO not reed water in winter when they have
access 10 snow, but if such persons will sup.
ply them with water, they will see their
great mistake, not only from the decided
pEefcrcnce which the animals give TO water.
but from their superior condition; and The
advantages will be evident by the greater
number, size. and superior condition Of the
amos. Sheep will 90 a considerable dis
lance after water, and GO oftener than cat
lie, after they have first been coaxed or gen.
ty driven 10 it, that they may know where
to find it.
Cattle should be fed regularly and have
but a small quantity Of fodder at time, as
hey will breathe upon it and render it un-
Pleasant or offensive. To prevent this, in
some measure, the cattle house should not be
boarded up in front, excepting above the
heads fthe cattle, and one board at bottom
to keep the hay in its place. Then the breath
the animals will pass off with less injury
10 tie fodder and afford good wholesome air
Tor respi alton.
Boys should be early learned TO feeG stock.
as ii is a business that requires much expe.
renee, and sound judgment, according 10
The kiad and condition of stock, the fodder,
Wnsiher, &c. But they should have the ad-
vantage of constant instruction ard superIn-
tendance Of some one of ripper years. This
Supervision is necessary where boys are
faithful and attentive. In some cases boys
are negligent. and then il becomes more
Important, as they may manage somewhat
Ike the old negro, who threw all the hay 20
Inc master OK and requested him to divide
II among tnem.-Fdrmer's Journal.