Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-09-12
AsrifnltnraL
Cattle.Conforts.

Mn. EptroR 81 hear and read great
deal about having good horses, fat cattle
and the like, slso,a good deal about
feeding them on this or that, but don't
hear much about trying to make our stock
comfortable and positively happy. !
want my cattle and horses not only to
live, but to enjoy life as they 60 along.
just as their master does, A really good.
hearted man will take pains to please and
crafty his domestic animals. he will
strive to attach them to his person, 70
that they will know his voice and step.
and always be glad to see him. Do you
get my idea?
Well, this is the way work It: In
cold weather, see to it that my cattle
have wholesome food, and as much Of 1t
as they will eat up clean. | see to it
that they have variety, also-hay Of va
rious kinds, oat-straw, corn-stalks, roots
and grain, cooked and uncooked. Mich
cows, fatting cattle and working cattle, oil
thrive best and keep happy on variety.
OF course, don't neglect giving them
comfortable quarters, whenever they need
shelter. Come out here, Sir, and see my
stalls and my sheds, and my dry, well-lit.
tered yards, if you doubt. Experiences
shows me=-and | know you teach the
same doctrineA-that stock will eat about
twice as much fodder, if they are kept
out in the wind, and pinched with tho
cold But letting go the dollars and
cents, l want to see my family, rational
and irrational, happy. So l 60 in for
good quartz s. In addition to this, tenn
perance man as l am, / believe in good
drinks for my stock. won't compel
them to wade half mile through mud
and snow to stream Of water, but l
have got up penstock In clean corner
of the yard, which pours into large tub,
and the overflow goes into long trough,
SO that quite a number of cattle can
drink at once. My cattle arc salted once
a week regularly the year round. Some
people keep it before them all the time;
and some cattle never see it.
But this in the general. Besides this,
| go out of my way often to please my
friends at the barns. In the Summer, I
seldom 90 into tho pasture without taking
along an ear or two Of corn, or handful
of oats to give to the first horse or COW l
meet and I'm sure to meet some crea.
ture in double quick. They flock around
me as soon as come irto their domain.
And when 90 out to the barn to harness
a horse or to yoke up the cattle, l take
into the stall sweet apple, or something
else that will please the poor creatures.
speak pleasantly to them, and caress
and fondle them. Be sure | do. In this
way, they become gentle and kind, and
are plainly much attached to me. None
but fool or hardshcarted man will
doubt that they are made happy by such
treatment. Now, when l deal so with
my horses and oxen, they will do for me
whatever service | ask, When they are
at work, l give them to understand that
they must mind and they always do.-
But | never over.work them. l have
lived long enough to know what fair
load is, and nev.r mean to tax them bes
yond their strength, nor work them tor
too long time. In this way they learn
to con6de i'll mel they never revolt, but
work cheerfully.
\ CoMroRr LOVING FARMER.
-Ameritcm Agricultn'ist.