Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-12-08
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Protect your Cattle through the Winter!
There is no duty which the farmer il North
Carolina more sadly neglects than attention to
his seattle, both as regards sheltering and feeding
them through the winter. Every one is ready
and willing to admit the many comforts which
are afforded US in the various ways in which
cattle are made useful; yet when the cold and
chilly winds of winter are blowing and the
trees are heavy laden with ice, they are seen
to seek the only shelter which is generally af-
forded them in the old piney fields. If the
weather DE extremely cold, they may have a
few shucks and q little straw given them to
prevent death at that time.
We ask, is it to be supposed that under such
treatment as this, the farmers in this State
should have such fine cattle as we see in those
States North of us ? There are many reasons
for our cattle looking so small and badly, all
of which we shall not set forth at this time /;
vet those which we do set forth, are such as
none can deny the truth of. In the first place,
nine-tenths of our farmers have too many cat
tie by three-fourths, which prevent their feed
ing them in such a way as to make them a
source Of profit; they divide among forty
head the food which is really required for ten
by which means, they have a lot oflean and
lank cows, such as we see described in the
Yankee Almanacs as characteristic Of South
ern cattle. There are many farmers VINO do
not see their cattle during the whole winter,
the woods being we'll set with reeds, which
serve to feed them during that time; but such
as practice this plan, lose the manure and the
milk besides, and their stock are only of use
to them one half the year.
How much better would it be for the farmer
only to keep as many COWS as he can feed and
Shnlknr fhrOI1uh tho NyIDtar npd thap bo yvOulC
have fine milk and fresh butter all the while
E besides the manure, which Will pay the expense
: of the feedi if they are properly attended o.
\ Another reason why our cattle look so small
is this: when a COW has a calf, in four weeks
time she is turned away from it in he morning
and is not suffered to return to it until NIGH
S and then the calf is allowed only about hal
the milk, which is not enough, when the coy
. has only obtained what she could from tn
woods. Indeed, our farmers are by their COW
as by their land. The question generally ask
" ed is, how many COWS do you miIk-not ho7
much milk do you get. The calf under thi
treatment, is about at the end of the year ha
as large as he should be; he is checked in hi
growth in his infancy, and he never gets owe
it. AS proof of this fact, we will remark thi
we have tried this experiment, by taking tt
milk from one cow and letting the calf have Il
: whole of it from the other, and there was
marked difference in favor of the calf that h;
, all of the milk. But, says the farmer, shall
~ give all of the milk to the calf, and 90 witho
h. any better? We say not, but feed the 90,
y and she will give an increased quantity, enou!
p for the calf and the family besides. The be
plan though, we think, is for the farmer
yn have Il lot Of lows for raising from especial
and another lot for milking. We know fro
,at what we have seen, that by this treatment, o
stock may be very much improved; for
have seen the past summe, on the farm of [
vid Carter, Esq, of Hyde county, six as fl
cows raised by him as you would wish to $
. He had them grazing on a clover field, and tn
- gave each two gallons OF milk daily.
Farmers, attend well to your stock, for nj
fall we wish to see a fine turn out at Tarbol
is at the first Agricultural Fair in North Carroll
fly Here some fellow says: What, Fair in No
ms, Carolina! Poh! You may make light of
ted yet if you live and attend you shall see it.
,;s n. G. Farmers Journal