The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-21
AGRICULTURAL.
Rules for Winter.

farmers.
l.. Keep no more stock than you can
keep really we'll. II you have more, pick
out the most inferior and sell them. Bet
ter to. winter ten head well, and have them
in fine condition in the spring, ,hanto keep
twenty hall starved, which it viii require
all the next summer to put into condition.
III. Heat AID shelter are equivalent TO
food. Ask yourself whether i, is best to
spend q hundred dollars in putting up a
good shed, which will last for years; or to
spend this hundred dollars in hay and 9th,
erlodder; in wasted manure, and diseased |
and dying stocka 1t is fully proved that
well-shcltered animals, with racks to ent
from, can be wintered and kept in fine
condition, on one-half the food necessary
where stock is fed out of doors on the
ground, with the lea side Of rail fence for |
shelter, and this without taking into con-
sideration the saving OF manure and many
other items of profit.
lie You cannot make your young ami
malstoo comfortable, or feed them too well.
during the first winter. If they are once
stunted. OF starved, they viii never recov-
crit. This applies 10 all kinds of stock.
bu, especially 10 calves and mules.
Nv. Therefore, make provision not on.
lyfor their shelter, but also for their food.
Hay alone will not do for them. II you
have no roots, feed them on bran, and
crushed oats, and corn. The secret Of
having fine stock, is to keep them always
in growing condition. This they y-do dur
ing summer on the best grass; and the cold
Of winter consumes great proportion Of
the food eaten in producing heat, which in
summer goes 10 constitute flesh and fat =
Iris morally impossible that young AMI
NAL can continue 10 crop during our win
ters.son the same food which keeps ii in
summer. Both the size and health of your
animals, and the milk-producing power OF
your COWS, viii depend on their being well
fedsduring winter.
y. ithas been fully proved, that il your
shespsare shut up all winter, with sufi-
ciepcy Of water, they can be kept fat on
wheatland oat straw alone, and make a
vasti quantity Of manure, though a few
roofs, or alinle grain once or twice week
is better. Thus by having proper build
ing, you can turn all your straw into wool
- =. = y y
at so cents a pound, and the richest ma
nure. instead Of burning it, orle,ting it rot
as is so often done. Would not this soor
pay for shed2
vi. Remember that you raise cattle in
order to make a profit on them. 1t costs,
on an, average, five dollars year to raise
asoommon COW, in the common ia
maturity, at four years old, and then you
barely get twenty dollars Tor it. 1t may
cost you seven dollars year to raise a
fne grade to maturity, at three years old
and you will getfifty dollars forit.. In one
case you barely get what the beast costs
you; in the other, you make twenty
dollars profit. Asregards horses, the diff
ference is greater still. Depend on it, nc
one ever made money on stock by hall
starving and neglect; but you cannot fai
tosmaks money if you breed judiciously
and feed and shelter literally.
VII. II you would grow profitable crops
and prevent your land from being impov
erished, you must manure literally. Thi
manure you must either make or buy,
you can find any one to sell it; for ou
Westernlands must have vegetable, as wei
as mineral manures. Now if you ALLOW
your cattle and sheep to run loose all win
ter. you will make. no manure. If yo'
keep them up all winter, you will make
great deal Of ii. The annual difference is
probably on common farm, twenty bush
els Of wheat. or, this year. twenty dollars
That would pay ten per cent. interest o.
two hundred ddoliarssinyested in buildings
But as you could keep twenty head {
stock shut up, ON the same food that te
would consume running loose, we ma
call the difference Of profit far greater tha
that.
VIII. Again. every heap Of dirty, rotte
strawi is not 'smanure,' though it is ofte
called so by courtesy. Manure is of n
use to q plant, until it can be dissolved
water. Now, ifyou leave heap Of stra
aud dung exposed to the rain and SUI
a-- = = a.
nearly all that makes It useful to plal
runs off, or escapes into the air. After
time. nothing is left but humus, or, ra,he
woody FIBRE 1t is true that rotten WOO
may do some good in some lands; b
why wash your manure clean. of everythin
else before you apply it? The best pr
served and richest barn-yard manure col
sists Of
Water, 65 parts.
Organic or vegetable matter, 244 6
Inorganic salts, 10 !"
Now these last ten parts are worth &
the rest; and yet they run off with fe