The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-12-02
Shelter for Stock during the Win
ter.

Nothing at this season moro impcra-
lively demands the careful attention of
the breeder, than the provision of suitable
shelter for his stock, from the storms of
winter. No argument is needed to show
the importance of making such provision
for the comfort of animals, to all those
who enjoy seeing their stock in fine con-
dition, and who derive positive pleasure
from watching their daily growth and i'm
provement. Such men are easily con-
vinced of the economy of sheds, stables
and dry beds. But there are 1--WE regret
to say some farmers who seem to believe
that course of treatment the most econo-
mical which will carry their stock through
the winter with the least outlay Of capital
and the least care and trouble. The
building of large stables and snug sheds
they look upon as fancy" or " book y
farming, and consider it a species of ex-
travagance to be INDUCED in only by men
of fortune. 1t is true their steers are so
weak in the spring that they can hardly
drag their shivering forms about, and are
SO thin that they cast but an imperfect
shadow, and their sheep come up to be
sheared with the wool loosened and slip
| ping from their bodies, the starvation and
shslterless mode of treatment having
caused it to fall off by handfulls, but they
comfort themselves with the remark that
the steers were sick during the last part
of the winter, and the sheep had the scab.
1t is almost useless to waste time and
words with such people-thanks to the ef-
forts of the agricultural press their num-
ber is now comparatively small.
1t is not our present purpose to take up
this thread.bare subject for the purpose of
impressing its importance upon our read.
ers, but to offer few suggestionsas to the
relative economy of the different kinds Of
shelter for stock that is not put to any
kind of labor. Animals put to service
require altogether different treatment
from those which are not, and hence it is
necessary to make distinction. The
most perfect shelter for stock is the sta
Bile, and many farmers think it the most
economical. This is not, however, our
opinion. The advantages claimed for the
stable are, that the animals being kept
warm consume a less quantity of food
being separated from one another the
strongest do not deprive the weaker ones
of their allowance of food-and the man.
ure is more perfectly saved. 1t is true
that animals consume most food when
exposed to a low temperature but in
confining an animal to the stable you de.
prive him of his natural exercise, and it is
a we'll established fact that most ami
mails lose their condition when subjected
to close confinement When left at lib.
erty animals take moderate exercise at
short intervals, and this seems necessary
to their robust health.
Again, it is rarely the case that the air
of stable is kept fresh and pure, and
in the large majority of cases it is close
and impure.
Nothing is Of more Importance to the
health of every description of stock than
abundance Of good air. Although you
may have raised the average temperature
of your stable, yet as supplies of fresh air
are constantly coming in, there is mark
ed difference between the temperature at
the top and at the floor. The cold air,
from its greater density, fills all the low
er portion and keeps the limbs and feet
cold, thus tending tocheck the circulation
at the extremites, and predispose the an.
imal to a variety of serious diseases of
the limbs. The entire want of exercise at
the same time tends to encourage the
same complaints, and we rarely see sta
BILE of animals closely and steadily con.
fined, in which one may not find some
cases of diseased limbs or feet
! Well arranged sheds with dry floors,
whether of earth or wood, are almost en-
tirely free from these objections-they are
much cheaper-there is an important
saving in the cost of taking care Of the
stock, and the waste Of manure (if indeed
there is any we think more than balanc-
ed by The extra labor required in remov.
ing it from the stable.
There is no serious waste in feeding in
sheds, when suitable racks or feeding box.
es have been provided, and the stock di.
vided (as it always should be) into small
lots. 1t is only when stock are fed to.
gether in considerable numbers, that the
weaker ones suffer from the crowding Of
the strong. This suffering is not so much
from want Of food as from their being
constantly driven about, worried and an.
noyed. The most successful sheep breed
ers understand this well, and their best
sheep are kept during the winter in loti
of not more than twenty, and often moi
more than ten.
Stock, whether kept in sheds or stab
les, should be provided with good bed
and it will be found true economy ever
when you are obliged to purchase it, tt
provide liberal supply of litter.
Now is the time to see that your sheds
and stables are in perfect order, that the
floors are sound--the walls tight 80 that
currents of air may not drive through
them-the racks and feeding boxes il
good order, and every preparation made
for the winter lest its sudden coming fine
you unprepared.-Sock Journal.
Sir" said fierce lawyer, "do you OF
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