The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-25
aaritultural.
On wintering Domestic Animals.

There is no great amount of labor to bc
done out of doors in this climate, during
December. The most important labor Of
the farmer now, is the care of his domestic
animals, to SEQ that they be well sheltered
from cold and wet, and properly fed and
watercd. The years profit or less Of the
farmer depends greatly upon the manner in
which he winters his stock. The milk of
the ensuing season, the wool, and the ability
for labor, all depend in a great measure up
ON the care the farmer gives his cattle, sheep
and horses during the winter. The Cultiva-
tor, some years since, most truly said-''li
there is one truth respecting animals more
deserving Of remembrance than another, IT
is that the animal, entering the winter
months in high condition, is already hall
wintered-that is, the care and food drequircd
to bring him out well and hearty in the
spring will not be one half as much rs will
be required by the one that commences tho
winter spring poor. a fat strong animal,
will he warm and comfortable where poor
weak one can hardly live, and the hearty
vigorous one will digest and aSsimilate food
which the weak one would scarcely taste
Regular hours for attending to all matters,
is important, but in no department more than
in milking cows, foddcrinS or feeding, water
ing and carding stock. Cattle should be
FED often, and but little at timc,--say four
times in the twenty-four hours, will keep
cattle in better condition and at le>s expense
than to feed but twice day, being careful
never to give them 50 much at time that
they will leave their feed before il is all con-
sumcd.
Cattle thrive better when their dormito-
ries are kept clean and freely Uttered with
dry leaves or straw, being mindful not to
forget the frequent use of the card and cur
rycOmb. Cattle, horses and sheep, should
have access to it whenever they desire it. \
gentleman informed me that some ,years
since he lost many horses annually, but
since he commenced to salt his horses three
times week, or feeding ON salt hay, he has
lost none.
Sprinkling hay with salt dissolved in wa
ter, or salting hay too freely, is injurious, us
ovcr~lltins diminishes the nutriment, and
weakens and keeps the animals too loose !;
but when they have free access to use or not,
they are not apt to take more than nature
requires.
Cutting proyender, corn stalks, straw or
coarse hay, is great saving. When cut,
it's all eaten. there is no loss of MATERIAL
A good mich COW will tell her mixer good
story when well supplied with chopped corn
stalks, or rye, or cat straw, wet and well
powdered with corn ground with the cob or
wheat shorts, or buckwheat bran, and lit
tie powdered oil cake. Ny COWS incrascd
their milk and flesh, and my sheep pimprovcd
last winter by Col. Jaque's mixture, which
was two bushels Of turnips .cut fine, one
bushel wheat bnn, half bushel powdered
oil cake, with seven bushels cut hay, wet
with ten gallons Of water-the mixture well
stirred and intermixed, giving them Us much
as they would eat Of il thrice day, and
once day feed Of good English hay, with
tub of soft clean water to which they had
access as often as they ehOse.-Comiry Gen.
temdn.