The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-11-15
Winter Care Of Administrations

Winter Care Of Aninais... Horses.
We advert to this subject thus early 70
the reasons that, many spare moments ma,
be at the disposal of the farmer ere tn
SHOWS and frosts of winter come upon US
and because the habtatiOns of domestic ami
mails should be fully and comfortably pre-
pared for their reception long ere necessity
compels them and us to seek shelter.
The first requirement in the winter care
OF horses is a good stable. The choice o
situation, and there is a choice, is an i'm
portant item. A high and dry spot, or one
....". :-'ii admit Of drainage, is as necessary
for this purpose as for the house Of the
farmer. Stables should 30 dry. Damp sta
bleS are productive Of as many evils as damp
houses, in fact many Of the most violent dis
eases to which the horse is subject are often
attributable to this one defect. Shelter from
cold and bleak Winds is another GeSideratuu
which should receive attention. Stables
should also be easy Of access-hcre, how
ever, the farmer consuts his own comfort
and on this point it is unnecessary to diiate
The second necessity is that the stable
should be of good size. Not unfre9uently
horses are crowded into space so small as &c
be not only extremely uncomfortable for
them. but highly injurious to their health
Stables thus crowded undergo sudden and
remarkable transitions of .emperature--thG
air becomes so heated that the animals are
almost constantly in perspiration, and on
/ being taken out to perform work are mmc-
diately chilled; and colds and coughs soon
/ produce their ultimate and inevitable results.
| Another want and a very great one Is
I windows. Dark stables are undoubtedly in
/ jurious,-if they were not, the necessity that
will at times arise for light to render AID to
animals that may get cast or injured, periods
when prompt and efficient action is needed.
demand a reform in this respect
Again, proper and thorough ventilation
should, in the construction ba one of the
prime objects sought. Man sees the nsces-
sity for circulation Of air in his house,
where breathing is the only thing that de-
stroys the purity Of the atmosphere
much more necessary is it in the home Of
the horse. where the emanations from the
surface Of the body, thc manure and the
urine ali mingle with it and taint it.
Having provided comfortable quarters, the
duty of supplying them with 4 sufficient
quantity of good food, and that at regular
intervals, dcyolves upon the keeper. For
many years experiments have been in pro-
gress with the purpose Of asccrta ming the
kinds best adapted 20 the wants of the ami
NAL at this period of the year. Persons diff
fer as to the relative value of many articles,
yet all agree that variety Is essential. Oats
are not the only food that will fit horse for
labor or the road-roots are oftentimes much
superior. Carrots are perhaps the first in
this class--and are noted both for their ac-
ton upon the internal organization and in
an improved external appearance. \ loose
mellow hide is observable ia all animals
where this root forms portion of their
food. In this connection it may be proper
TO say, that every barn should have hay
or straw Gu ter, and that the Instrument
should be kept in daily use. Every method
10y which the digestion can be improved,
ought 10 be reSort-d to-for the stomach j.
the great iuruisLer of motive power, and
should the steam 90 down locomoion is i'm
Ieded or brought 10 4 full stop.
Regularity in feeding is thing that must
not he overlooked, if we BIN at doing every
thing in our power for our stock. Every
merous times when he
'Moodly L.. listened long,
To hear ihe dinner horn
And knows, however tired previous to the
welcome sound, with what alacrity has been
- laIi down the shovel and the hos" and the
most direct course taken for the well spread
board. Animals possess some humanity in
their composition, and If il can be discover
ed nowhere else, it is readily found il the
stomach. Once more we would repeat feed
and water regularly.
The cleanliness Of the horse is ,ndispensa-
ble to the preservation Of his health. Sta
bles with every appliance Of comfort. food in
abundance and Of the very best description
# every want be uppIied-without the ami,
NAL and his quarters are cleaned daily and
kept SO it is OF no avail. In addition 70 en-
HANGING external appearance. there is but
little doubt that the friction caused in the
process of cleaning is promOtiye OF the well
being of the animal The hair of the we'll
cleaned horse is soft and oily, and conse-
quently it better FITS him to withstand the
cold rains SO frequent during winter and
early spring. The amounting matter is con-
ferred through the agency Of the skin, and
this sccretory process is doubtless augment
ed by good grooming. In the horse that is
seldom or never Groomed the hair stands in
all directions, is rough and harsh to the
feel, and in addition he has 4 dull and sicklv
look. Sooner or later mango will manifest
itself in an animal thus cared for, and the
sympathy OF the outer with the inner or
ganzation, will rapidly affect the entire sys-
TEN.
Each department Of the animal economy
ought to receive its due proportion Of care
and attention, and must, if we expect the
entire system to be benefited. Let careless
ness infringe upon the wants, in any one
particular, and the de;rimcnt Of all will be
the result. Temperance, purity of the at
mosphere, quantity and quality of food, in
fact everything that viii rebound to the ami
NAL comfort is worthy of the closest scruti
ny on the part Of the owners Of horses
Wool Gr0aseg.
RIcE AND NUDITY-A correspondent OF
the Philadelphia Inquirer gives some in
teresting particulars concerning the city OF
Bankok, in Siam, and the Buddhist religion.