The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-11-02

HINTS FOR OCTOBER.

the stiuted growth OF corn, potatoes aud
root crops, We apprehend that every far
ner having stock to keep VIII he obliged
10 ecouomise food in every possible way,
and Is resort to every available means to
render the coarscr kinds Of fodder paIa-
table and nutritious Cornstalks that oth,
crwise would be rejected and trampied
under foot bv stock, if cut by machine,
steamc,l-either by means OF a steam box
constructed for the purpose, or by putting
;bcm into a large box or hogshead, pour
5uo loi,inc water over them, and cover
inG No tightly till cold-and mixed with
bran. shorts. middlings, or grain for the
purpose, will 90 much further in econo-
mizing hay aud grain than if fed without
any preparation Another means of di-
miuishing the use of hay and grain, is the
more general use of oil-cake. If Eng
lish farmers have found its value to be so
great that they come to our own mar rkets
TO purchase; and then transport 1t three
thousand miles to be converted into flesh
hv their own stock, surely it is worth ouI
while to retain at home so valuable an
article of food Another important con-
sideration, worthy OF note, is the increased
value given to the manure. Repeated
experiments have satisfactorily shown
that the manure dropped by animals fed
on rich and highly nitrongenized food is
worth far more than that from animals
,cantily fed, and not kept in thriving
condition; also that manure from full
grown animals is worth more than that
from young stock. In the one case, only
those portions of food requisite to supply
the daily waste, and that aid the depoSi-
ton OF Fat in different parts Of the system.
are absorbed by the nutrient vessels; in
the other, not only arc the materials ne
cessary to supply the daily waste absor-
bed, but also those requisite for the for
nation Of bone and muscle, and the diff
fercnt tissues of the animal. 1t is thus
material point that we use that food
which will economisc the labor Of the an
imal machine-that is, to convert it into
flesh, milk, &c. BY bruising grains, and
and cutting fodder, and softening the
woody portions of plants, we assist nature
TO a certain extent, and even render less
amount III bOlk adequate to proper nourlsh-
mcut.
Another condition in the economical
keeping aud feeding Of stock, is the pro-
yiling Of proper shelter, guarding against
exposure to cold and driving storms, and
keeping your animals in such a state of
physical warmth and comfort that a |
hcalthfui growth shall at 40 time be ar
rested. No one who pretends to be a /
humane man will allow his animals to be |
sliycring 10y the roadside Of trying to get
the protection of fence only, from our
cold Win!ry storms. An acquaintance in !
the central part of this State, two years
since constructed six boxes, or stalls, in
the cellar of his barn, the barn being
Situated on 4 hill side; the cellar being
entirely open to the east. The sides Of
these boxes were about six feet in height
Each box had door swinging on a wood
en- pivot inserted into a block Of wood
sunk into the ground-the upper hinge
also formed of wood 1--WE mention these
points to show that these fixtures were
made by using such materials as every
farmer can supply)-and when closed
fastened with sliding bolt. A good
plank floor was laid in each one, and
straw Tor litter was plentifully supplied
Alter weeks time each animal knew its
place; and when turned out for air and
exercise an hour or two each day, you
could see them anxiously waiting for the
liberty 10 enter. His experience, as re- /
lated to the writer, showed conclusively !
that animals cared for in that way were
fed with more economy, and with far
greater convenience, than by promiscu-
GUS fcclsing in the yard; and last, what
may more interest the miIk-maid, it was
much more pleasant and agreeable to O.
rcu the door and sit down by the side Of
gentle and clcanly-kept COW, than, as
formerly, to select if possible dry spot
In the yard for milking.
Warmth, to a certain extent, IS an G.
qnivalcut for food. BY wise provision
o. nature, whatever may be the external
temperature, the living animal has its
own :nvariable standard Of vital heat
This degree Of heat varies in different
races of animals, but each has its own
by the consumption of food this temper
ature is maintained; and the colder the .
external temperature, other circumstan-
ces remaining the same, The more food
must be consumed to keep up the vital
heat. Now, precisely at this point every
ones experience tells him that, to a GER
tain extent, shelter is an equivalent for
food. We might give numerous illustra-
tions on this point; but viii give only one
experiment from Jo]t52St0n'S agricultural
Chc11cSty, page 609:
"A lot of sheep, twenty in number,
were fed in the open fields, during the
months Of January, February and March
Another lot Of twenty, as nearly in size,
weight and condition to the former as
possible, were fed under shelter. Both
lots were fed upon turnips, as many as
they chose to eat, half pound of linsccd
cake, and half pint of barley, to each
sheep per day, with little hay and salt.
The sheep in the field consumed the same
quantity of food, all the barley and oil