Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-12-05
FARMER : DEPARTMENT.
Horse Stables.

Most stables are constructed in direct
violation Of every law of nature. They
are made to slope from the hay-rack
back to the heels of the horse, when q
horses natural position, is with the fore-feet
the lowest. The hay-rack is SO high, the
horse is compelled to reoch up to get the
hay. His natural position, while feeding
is with his head down to the ground. The
stalls are so bigh that he cannot see bis
companions, while he is naturally grega
rious and loves company. In the stable
he stands on the floor naturally, on the
earth. In his natural wilds he is racing
animal in the stable he is SO confined
he cannot lie down, and can scarcely turn
himself
Is it not wonderful, then, that neoriy
every horse is unsound. Standing with
the fore-feet the highest, throws the weight
aud strain on the fexor-.endoms, and
'destroyes the back. Turning the nose
unnaturally upward strains the tendons Of
the neck while he is eating and'is often,
unquestionsbly the cause of poll-evil.-
High and separate stalls destroy his natu.
raj social qualities, and makes him sour
and morose; and hard plank floor, on
which he is doomed to stand for twenty
and twenty four hours at time, will pro-
duce ring bone.
Another defect in many stables is, that
they are too tight, with q NOW of hay
over them. The ammonia arising from
the urine has no chance to escape the
horse is continually breathing it, it pene.
trates the hay. and he is continually eat
ing it. How often do we enter a stable
in hot weather, when the ammouicsl air
is so repugnant that we can scarcely
breathe it; and yet the horse is compel
led to stand in it, and breathe it, and cat
his food which is completely saturated
with it. Can We wonder that the horses
is subject to unusual and acute and fatal
diseased 1t is more to be wondered
that he lives at oil under such circumstan.
ces.
Hay should never be placed over a
stable, so as to receive the ammonia al gas
but stables should be ventilated above. so
as to let the gas and foul air escape.
Another error in the construction OF
stables is the openings for throwing out
manure and ventilation In most stables
the openings are for two-fold purposes. In
the first place, the openings are too low and
allow the current Of air to blow on the
horse. The effect is the same as a current
OF air on human being, producing cold,
fever, cough and consumption.
Nor is this all this cure ut of air which
is all the good air the horse has, comes in
from the manure heap, and is but adding
more poisonous gass to that already ex-
listing.
1t is wrong morally, as well as econom.
ically wrong, thus to treat the horse, one of
the best and noblest of the brute creation,
SAvETHE SooT-This, though generally
thrown into the street and wasted is one
Of the best manures. 1t is extensively
used in England, and when only Is or 90
bushels are applied to the acre, it induces
the most luxuriant crops of wheat, and
other grains. 1t contains, in small COM
pass, almost al the ingredients of the coal
or wood used for fuel. 1t also contains
several salts of ammonia, magnesia, lime
and muriatic acid. Its components are
the natural food or stimulauts of plants,
and it can be used to great advantage as a
concentrated fertilizer, to stimulate germi.
mating seeds in the drill. 1t is not only
sown broadcast with the grain but it is
applied to the root crops with the best re.
suits Potatoes and carrots, especially,
benefited by it. Six quarts of SCOT to a
hogshead of water make an excellent liquid
manure for garden. 1t can be applied
with safety to all garden crops, and will
pay we'll for saveing. In putting the stoves,
furnaces and fre-places in order for Win.
ter, bear it in mind, that SCOT is valuable,
and will be wanted for Spring use. One,
two, three or more barrels can be saved
easily in most families, especially where
wood is burned.
NEW EARLY GRAPES What we have
long needed, and much desired, is some
variety of grapes as good as that of
favorite sort, the Isabella, and several /