Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-11-11
5griitultural
The Economy of Shelter.

Ut ECOuUufy vi OuOitNf'1.-
Shelter is want Of the first necessity in |
our cold climate, and no farmer may neg
lect with snfefy or economy nsny provis-3
ions Of This nature. Ample provisions
should be made for shelter to domestic AMI
mails during the winter. The farmer needs
a good house for the comfort OF his family |
and himself, barn to Keep his grain and
fodder from tie weather. warm stables to
protect his cattle from cold storms, sheds
and cellars in which to keep bis manure,
and convenient outho1ses to store his vari-
Gus vehicles and implements in when not
in use. Sheds. stables, fe eding-racks and
Seeding-troughs, often save in sing lie win
ter their entire cost, by avoiding the need
less consumption of food to impart warmth,
and by preventing a waste Of fodder under
foot.
Much of the profit of rearing cattle de-
pends upon the manner of keeping them
through theiwinter. If they are suffered
10 lose Hesh during The cold season, and are
turned out 10 pasture "spring poor" II
takes long time for them to regain what
they have lost Tha practice of feeding
snG leaving stock in the open fields, with
out shelter or any protection from the
Winds and storms of winter, is cruel one;
and that snimals should by such neglect
become poor, or even discarded and die, is
not surprising. Though provided with sui
fcent food, stock cannot thrive under such
sysstment. il is true, strong anime Is may
endure it; but what becomes of the young
and the weak! Ii is needless TO say that
20 cd animals cannot be reared under such
tire atment. II is the truest economy which
looks closest to the comfort and thrift oI
the stock kept upon the farm. i
Our horses, cattle, aDd sheep were origi.
naiiy constituted SO as to subsist the year
rouLd on green and succulent food. BY
5oInesticetion they have been gradually
NaReferred from a warm to the cold climate
sfthe North, where, as With US, they gen.
erslly have to be fed on dry fodder for six
months or more every year. This, in some
degreesis placing them in an unnaturalcon
difion, and. il seems to US, is strong ar.
gumeut in favor not only Of WI arm and con
venient barns and stables, but of more
extensive root culture for feeding purposes
In an experiment with two lots of sheep
one lot was placed under shelter in yard
the other folded in field. They all re
ceived the same food, and weighed out tt
them alike. Those under cover were founc
to consume nearly one-itth less food, while
they made above onethird more progress
In another experiment one lot was en-
rirely covered in. and the other entire J.
exposed, all of them having a pint of oat
per day apiece. q The first consumed, oil
an average, between November 18th an
March 9th, eight pounds of cut turnips an
other roots per day, and increased in liv
weight twenty -four pounds per head, tn
other consumed seventeen pounds Of tur
nips per day, each, and increased twenty
two pounds live weight in that time
These experiments would tend TO the be
lief that twice as many sheep can be KEEP
upon the same food, under perfect shelter
as when entirely exposd. 7.s -tfi
But suppose comfortable shelter save
but one quarter of the food which woul
be otherwise consumed. Farmers who kee
only moderate stock would, from this saving
soon be able to build all the stables an
sheds required. They could then, withor
an increase of expense for food, greatly in
crease the stock of their farms. And be
sides the profit from increased and imprt
we'd stock. there is gain in the create
value Of the manure, when sheltered froI
the rains, Many farmer suffers heav
loss by the exposure OF his manures to th
weather. The chief value of fertilizt
lies in that part of it which water will di:
solve. Let it lie AM leach through tn
spring or winter, and good share of il
worth is gone. By sheltering it in shet
or cellers. a saving will soon be made
more than their cost; and this will prov
the truest economy where manure is value
and good crops deserted.
Farmers, all, provide good, comfortab
quarters for your stock, instead of the Co
ground or snow, or straw. 1t is not OIL
humane, but much more profta ble-Rar
skRericaa.