The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-11-20
agricultural.
Wintering Stock,

90 drpeuaa quite aH much az upon any other
thing, his success la stack growing aud iu
farming A few suggesiions upon the topic
may not be- without beneRt
"Ihe ihrmerA first care for his Einck Lhaull
be warm shed and stable room, for the rh0tr
herd, la our opinion, the HaJis IL the most
profitable.
stock, to do we'll, must be kept warm, as Il
I. imposAble for thom Co more than li,e while
sh,rrlng on the sunny side OF the harn,
stock yard, OF rail fence. Every good farm
er understands that "a certain amount 81 ami
NAL heat 10 10 bo kept up, aud this Il done
10y the consumption OF hay, straw, and grain,
~ heat IL kept up In a stove by the coiifbus-
uon Of wood or conl. IL II not proposed Ia
enter into the chemical changes produced Ia
the case Of the foods wood -hoth are we'll
admitted trulhs-aud the question presented
10 the farmer IN, whether his animal or stove
will be most easily and economically kept az
proper temperature under well construct
ed slablc or house. or outside exposed tn the
cold wnls'of our northern winter,
IL you haNe The ainhlcs and shrls All pre-.
pared, you will make a note, aid begin to
look after the stock. You will find u bad
economy tu let thcm range through mruduw,
hrld, utchbrd, and wood, until compelled to
come home 10y the thick falling SNOW. You
may, il IL true, have your NOV aud stacks IN
touchrd-b but the culd frost-bitten grass has
afforded 80 little nourishmcnt that YOUR stock
has already lost flesh. Believe, me- dear sir.
every pound lost nov will cost The value oi
more Than double the number tu'rcpllce alter
they euHe To dly food
Commence early 10 put cattle in the stalls
fof the night, and feed them there, iu prefer.
cucc 20 feeding IN the yard or around some
stack ~ "a distant field Cattle will run over
hay au th,s 4t.ttt,t .tt,l ,..at. p.,t.L ~ a.
Stacking Ut best is bat poor method. Tor il
will not take much cyphrdtg TO SHOW that
the waste ~ saving and feeding out Of door,
will soon pay fpr comfortable barus and feed.
ing siall,. By beginning carly to feed a.
night the stock may run out days
Good hIN answers every purpose. but
there are stalks, ont and wheat straw which
farmers design as part uf the forage i,f win
ter Use. No one considers bread or meat
alone, palatnblr food Tor himself aud famih 4;
neither should ,hc calculate to keep his herd
through the winter on has or straw alone,
lie may bc tod oucu day, and a. change.
cut straw With the addition uf litllc euru or
uht meal, or shorts would hc ,VvrN adj, is1blc.
Perhaps hay that is good does not require
oDttiug, hut stalks aud straw ropa, cutting
many fold. We are satisfied lhst /, Wonld
br economy in all respects % have a good
straw cutter and hire nan. Unnecessary, To-
take care at the whole herd, rather than feed
coarse fodder whole.
Roots should not he overlooked To keep
cattle in good condition, they arc very uuti-
Guus. nud sriNe - change from, the tf,
food in general use. Carrots turuips aud
beet, can be 90 easily aud probably grown
tiir' f,o''t h-rtlsmsr should ti-p-rt-t.- iti
,hcm. They are easily kept AMI cut md
should be used once dty at least n,ycd
vilh cut straw or stalks, or by themselves
IL would be just as reasonable to keep the
farmers family ON ono kind Of food, through
iheN- -licr- ~. in LrIp = lstl afSaitle ai.. .la4
alone. Variety is essential 10 u good appetite
and il is unquestouahly true that roots vii.
have the effect Of making rattic more healthy
just aS fresh food and Vegetables ar, better
for those who 60 down to the sea IN great
ships. Many Of the wasting and fatal dis
cases which diminish the herd in spring, in
our oJiuior, ight be prevented by q judici-
ous use oiroois and grain IN winter.
Water should not be forgotten when pro-
Niding for stucS. II il not enough that there
~ a brook IN yonder hollow, near half mile
from the barn, for rattic can hardly afford 10
20 80 far in wet ane muddy weather, aud in
the deep snow OF mid-minter they will sutTur
for want of water before they will cxpose
Themselves TO tn, drifts and cold bleak winds.
The water should be in the yard where Il will
be- warm as possible, ard where elttln MIL bs
from tho cold wind while drinking.
Every ore has observed the shiverng Of ami.
mails after drinking largely in mid-wntcr
To prevent this they should have il often, not
less than twice day. 1t is the practice of
many farmers to let sheep go without water
eecePt that obtained by eating snow, nit
through the wiIAcr. 1t is a great mistake.
They will dring three or four times in n day
when they can have water without trouble.
Salt is important in the winter treatment
ot all kinds OF stock. \ supply should be
placed whore they can obtain Il at any time I
This may be done by putting some Jumps in /
a box under a shed. They will taste lttle f.
'very day, never eating more than they need. .
W hen salted only at long intervals they cat
90 much. producing bad consequences.
One great object with farmers in wintering !
,tock should be to make as much manure ns
possible, and save all that is made. For this /
purpose, il not kept in stables the cattle /
should bc confined to the yards. An the /
manure dropped in the snow path, when wan
lcring after water, or running at random over
he ;lelda is nearly loss Domestic animals
ne the tHrtpers apparatus by means OF which /
lis hay, gram, straw, roots, etc. are manu-
nctured into flesh, muscle and bone, as well |
IS elaborated for manure with which TO feed |
he growing crop, and keep the whole farm
II the best condition. They should claim a
orge share Of the time and attention Of every
armer, Tor those who give such caro reap
ch reward"
Another writer says
"it is impossible to keep animals in good
unprotected from the cold, cs-
'ecialy youung and growing ones. lts well .
,nown that animals in cold Countries require
uorc hearty food than those of warm climates.
\ certain amount oi'food being necessary to
.eep up the natural heat of the system, the
,reater the cold the more food required,
which not being supplied the animal lives
lpon itself, or grows poor; much less food (
,eing required when the animal is protected
rom storms and cold. When projected, all
God not requiredIo maintain the natural
waste Of the system goes towards Increasing
he growth of the animal. Toiobtsin perfect
o1trr, uuimuis shouid he kept continually +
growing until they arrive at maturity. They
r. often turned out in the spring so poor
= 4 IL