The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-01
AgriruItl,roI.

TIE ECONOMY OF SHELTER-Shclter is n
want Of the first necessity IN our climate, and
no farmer may neglect with safety or ccono-
my many provisions Of this nature. AmuIs
preparations shon,d be made for shelter to
domestic animals during The winter. The
farmer needs good house for the comfort Of
his 'amiv and himself barn to keen his
grain aud fodder from the weather. warm
stables to protect his cattle from cold storms,
sheds and cellars in which 10 keep his manure,
and convcrignt o1lhouscs TO store his various
vehicles and implements in WHOM not in use.
Sheds stables. feeding racks, and feeding
lroughs often Save in a single winter their en-
tire cost by avoiding the needless consump.
Ton oi food to mpart warmth, and by Pre-.
venting waste Of fodder nudrr foot.
Much of the profits Of rearing cattle depend
upon the manner of keeping them through
The winter. II they arc suffered to lose neSl,
during the cold season and arc turned cut t,.
pasture spring poor, it takes long time
for them to regain what they lave lost The
practice of feeding and leaving stock in the
open fields without shelter or any protection
from the winds and storms of winter is =
cruel one. And that animals should Nv such
neglect become poor or even discarded and
die is not surprising. Though provided with
sufficient food, stock cannot th!Yc under such
treatment. 1t is true, strong animals NAV
endure it, but what bccouts Of the Young
and the weak ? 1t is ncctilcssto say that
good animals cannot he reared under such
treatment. 1t is the trucst economy which,
looks closest to the comfort and thrift of the
stock kept upon the farm.
Our horses. cattle, and sheep we're orfei-
nally constituted SO as to suLsist the year
| round on green and succulcnt food Bv do
mestication they have been gradually transfer
rcd from warm to the cold climate of the
North. where, as with us, they generally have
10 oc led on dry fodder for SIX months or
more every year. This in some degree is
placing them in an unnatural condition, and
1t seems to us it is strong argument in favor,
not only of warm and convenient barns and
stables, but of more extensive root culture
for 'e2ding purposes.
In an experiment with two lots orshcon. ono
was placed under shelter in u yard, the ether
folded in the field. They all received the
same food weighed ont to ihcm alike. Those
under cover we're found TO consume nearly,
one fifth less food, lille they made above
one'thFd moie progress.
In another experiment orc lot was entirely
covered i'll. and lnohcr cntlvly exposed, nj,
OF thtm having pint Of oats Per day apiece.
The first consumed on an artrume. between
| November 18th Of one year aud March 9Th of
the following, G. sh' pounds ofcut turn; gs aII
Other roots per day, and increased in live
weight twenty four pounds per head the
other consumed seventeen ponnds of trrnips
| per day each, and increased twe?ty-two
pounds live weight in that time. These ex-
| perlments would tend TO the belief that twice
| as many sheep can be kept upon the Same
food under perfect shelter as when entirely
| exposed.
But suppose comfo,tab shelter saved but
one quarter of the food which would be other
wise consumed. Farmers who keep onv
moderate stock would from this saving soon
re able to build all the stables and SHEDS re-
qnrcd. They could then without an increase
of expense for feed, greatly increase the stoct,
on their farms. And, besides the croft from
increased and improved stock, there is cain
in the greater value OF the manure, when
sheltered from the rains. Many - r,rncr
suffers heavy loss by the exposure of his
manures to the weather. The chief value Of
a fertilizer lies in the part Of it which water
will dissolve. Let il lie and leach through
the spring or winter and good share of its
worth is gone. BY Shcltcring it in sheds or
cellars saving will soon be made of nor,
than their cost and this will Prove The trucst
economy where manurc is valued and good
crops desired. FarmcIs all provide good com.
Portable quarters for youl Stock instead of tn.
cold ground or snow, or straw. tits not
only human, but much more profitable.
Rural american.