Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-11-26
A RICULTURKI.
The Economy Of Shelter.

| The Economy Of Shelter
Shelter is a want of the first necessity IN
our cold climate, and no fStmer may neglect
with safety Of economy many provisions Of
! this nature. Ample provisions shsuId DO
! made to SHELTER domestic animals during
ths winter. The farmer needs gosd house
for the comfort of his family and himself, a
barn TO keep his grain and fodder from che
weather, warm stables to protect his cattle
from cold storms, sheds and cellars in which
tokeeP bis manure, and convenient outhouses
TO store his various vehicles and Implements
in wber not 10 use. Sheds, stables, feed-
ing racks and feeding troushs, often save in
a single winter their entire cost, by avoiding
the needless consumption Of food TO mpsrt
warmth, and by preventing waste Of fod-
! der uader foot.
Much of the profit Of rearing cattle de-
pends upon the manner of Keeping them
through the winter. II they are suffered
to lose aesh during the cold season, and are
turned out TO pasture "spFiug poor" 1t takes
long time for them to regain what they
have lost The practice of feeding and
leaving stock in the open fields, without
shelter or any protection from the cold storms
OF winter, is cruel one; aud that animals
should by such neglscl become poor, or even
discarded and die, is OF surprising. Though
provided with sufficient food, stock cannot
thrive under such treatment. II is tree,
stt0ng animals msy endure il; bun what be-
comes OF the young and weak! It is need
less to say that good animals Garnet be
reared under such treatment II is the tru-
esi economy which looks closest to the com
:-srt and Hf.iit of Ibs stock kept upSn the
f4rsu
Our horses, cstte, and sheep we're origin
ally constituted 50 as to subsist the year
round green and succulent food. By
tohestIcation they have been gradually
transferred from warm to the cold climate
OF the North, where, az with US, they gensr-
ally have to feed on dry fodder for six months
or more every year. This, in some degree,
Is placing them 10 an unnatural condition,
aud, 1t seens to US, is a strong argument in
favor only OF warm and convenient barns
and stables. but of more extensive root
culture tof feeding purposes.
In un experiment with two lots OF sheep,
one lot was placed under shelter in yard,
the other foddered.in field. They allaT re-
ceved the same food, and weighed cut to
tl.en alike. Tn ose under cover were found
to consume nearly one fifth less food while
they made above ene-third more progress.
IN smother experiment one lot was entire
" coveredn, and the other entirely expos
ed, all Of them having pint Of oats apeice
per day. The first consumed, on an aver
aye, bet ween November 18th and March
9Th, eight pounds OF cot turpips and other
roots per day, and increased in live weight
"a pounds per head, the other consumed II
pounds oflurEips per day, each, and increas-
ed "a pounds live weight III that time
These experiments would tend to the be-
lief that twice as many stock can be kept
upon the same food, under perfect sheher,
as when entirely exposed. -.hs'
But suppose comfort able shelter saved but
one quarter of the food which would be
otherwise construed. Farmers who keep
only moderate stock would, from this safiug
soon be able TO omFd all the stables requir-
ed They could then, withoat an increase
OF expense for food, greatly increase the
stock Of their farms. And besides the prof
it frotn incfeasedlsud i'm proved stock, there
is gaiu in manure, when sheltered froaD
the rdinss Many farmer suffers heavy
loss by The exposure Of his nanures to the
weather. The chief value of a fertilizer
hes in that part of it which water wiiidis-
solve. Let it lie and leach through the spfing
and winter, and good share Of it's worth
is gone. By sheiterlng it in sheds or cellars
saving wilt soon be made of more than
their cost; and this will prove the uvesG
economy " here rBuIsnFe 10 valued'and good
Gro Ps disirsd. -uasss af.asss4aae = a.ss
Farmers. all, provide good, comfortable
quarters for your stuck, instead of the cold
ground or snow or straw Il is not only
humane but much more proiitab .-RUrGI
Amer ricda. sar