Litchfield enquirer., 1857-08-27
a1rttnituraI.

MEssRs. EDITORS ;-Experienee is a good school, although We too often ply high tuition for that branch of education The experience of last winter has proved such to many farner ill this section of the country and it has taught them a lessoi that they will not soon forget. It has been the practice of many to put up just what hay they thought would possibly do by letting their cattle run in the stalk field after the was picked. Here they would keep their cattle until they had eaten because they were forced to) everything they could eat, of the trost-bttteu leaves of the cornstslks, before they would any hay even corn. The winters prev.- ous to tftysix and seven have generally been very mil in this portion of country 50 that it has required but little and attention to winter stock. many proph ssied open winter last al and for that req son laid up but small portion of feed for their stock cut up but little ii any of their fodder but left it for them to pick for themselves, as heretofore.
 What has been the consequence! Winter set in very early, and very severe with heavy body oi snow that the corneld that was designed to keep the cattle for m onth more was entirely buried under snow, and remained so until the last of Feb ruary. The small quantity of hay that many of them had on hand was entirely fed out The straw, when the wheat was threshed of from it, thrown into pile and of course was of but little After the last January, the middle of February, many ont feed especially those that were too lazy or negligent to cut hay for stock and the result that many of them died.
 When was quite young I was sent from home. owing to the misfortune of having poor father, to pick my own living" and as 1 had the good for tune to get good plac, stayed there for fourteen years and during that time my boss told me- when l went fr myself to be sure and '' lay in a good supply Of foder to everything that would make good food for cattle, aud to be sure to have enough in the fall to last through the winter. ' This advice have followed Last August 1 cut a good supply of hay and then cut and secured my corn fodder so that 1 had sufficient to last me thi ongh long and severe winter.
 This country has taken curses for it's back ward spring than you could shake stick at. . Every one has growled because he has not had feed enough to keep his stock through the long winters and it is the ' mcancst country in the wprld.' Who is to blame? Is the Almighty the to find fault with because have not feed enough, when he has furnished thousands of acres of grass, and all had to do to cut it and put it up! No it Was own negligence. There the grass, and why did we not cut it?
 Last winter was severe one. Let Us take heed from it, anu never let another fall pass heads without putting up a plenty of fodder as long as there is plenty of it to cut Let us take of our fodder, cut 1t up, and secure it, and learn lesson from the past to guide in the future: One million of dollars would not cover the money that has been lost by cattle dying for the want of fec1, and this in the State of Iowa. Iowa farmers, lay in fodder this coming fall for the extra forty days of winter. Do not say did Ezekiel, 'c can these dry bones live?" but say that these lazy bortes shall move" Mir. Editor, may the past winter teach Oli- Skftless and Mr. Negligent to prepare while in health for sickness. May it teach lIr. Let-go-to- waste to take of what he has got ard not let his dumb beasts starvc. Simon Go-to-town too oft en, stay at honc and put up feed enough to winter your cattle. Do not find fault with Him who makes the grass grow. because you not at home long enough to cut it. It is your fault not His.
 Farmers, and pretend-to be farmers, take heed from the past for another winter will soon be upon L. 5. SPENCER.
 LYME, Warren Co.,, Iowa.
 Not all parts of the country like that of our cor respondent have grass enough, and to spare, do all plrts give hay for the cutting, But where tho winter food can not be increased at pleasure, the stock should be diminished good sense and fore thought may decide. It is bad policy and worse humanity to begin our winters with less feed than stock. Every farmer should be prepared for hard wnter.-ED. PLOUGH