Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-11-21
A Plea for Horses.

We have word TO offer TO our farming TRENDS
who employ horses as their chief draught animals
The horse. of all ANIMALS, is one OF the most SEN
sitiye to sudden changes of temperature, ana 10
imnure air. or want of cleanliness. we speak
from observation, when we say that not hali the
stables in the country are, at this season. kept IN
fit condition 10 be occupied by horses, even "hile
put in an hour for the noon feeding.
The ofal Of horses are among the most quickly
fermenting, easily decomposed manures In
warm weather the work Of decay commences i'm
medately and in very few days one half :or
more of the weight goes off in a gaseous FORM
This keeps the air constantly loaded with nox'
ious- unhealthy matters, which are just as delete
rous to the health and vgor of horses as those Of
man. During the busy season OF harvest ana
seeding cleaning stables is scarcely ever attended
to regularly. The animals generally occupy them
short time in the morning, at noon, and perhaps
in the evening for graining but the stables iis
untouched for days or weeks--we have seen them
lie for months. The horse is tied up for an hours
feedinr and rest in the heat Of the day, but IN
stead Of standing in COOL sweet, ventilated stable
ten chances to one, he stands sweating and pant
nq. with scarcely breath of air which is not III
eraIly loaded with noxlous fumes, and he goes
forth tired and debitated instead Of refreshed, tc
underpo the severe tolls Of drawing the plough du'
ring the sutry hours ofthe afternoon.
The remedy for this is very simple. II the
stalls do not have free circulation of air, let a
hoard or two re knocked off in front or on the
sides at the head oflhe stalls; they can be easily
replaced when cold weather comes on. Lei some
such plan be adopted, and in every case let the
stables be made as cool and airy as possible.
Let all excrements, however small IN ,quantit)
be removed at least once day, and by all means
keep the floor well sprnkled with some deodofl
zinc material. A weak solution OF sulphurc o.
nuratic acid is excellent for this purpose ou
these are often inconyenient and troublesome, ever
II readily obtained Plaster of Paris, Gypsum O.
sulphate of lme is very good common salt is als'
good. Each ofthese substances increase the val
ne of the manure more than it costs Dry stra"
and muck are also valuable for the same reason
We have frequently known lime and ashes re
commended for this, but these rapidly decompos'
the manure, and greatly diminish IFS value TOR ap
plving to the crops, and they should never b'
used unless with muck, or with long manure
which is 10 be Immediately covered In the SOIL
These may seem trifiing considerations, but thel
are really Of great Importance.
As before stated horses take cold very easily
On this account they should never be turned from
warn stall, where they have perspirsd for al
hour, directly into wet, damp pasture. A hors
should never be compelled to lie down over nigh
in wet. unsletered pasture. Let them Away
have dry plot, or what's better, shed or stable
to retire to when they have completed their even
inq's grazing, especially if there be heavy dews
f,gs. or rain. A horse will never lie in an opeI
field when sheltered spot is accessible. Ever
one must have observed that they always seek tn
drest spot to be found, and generally lie near
fence. shed, or tree.-.N. Z. Times.