St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-11-26
WINTER

November Win us sounding OlaSts
gives warning Of the advancing march
Of Winter, and the prudent man vii
heed the signal. Every where may b.
noticed the care with which Nature
protects her children. The summe,
glory Of the trees has departed, but the
fallen leaves spread thickly about the
roots, prepare them to Withstand the
benumbing frosts and many a bulb
and tender sprig and waiting seed, lie
snugly nestled within the folds OF the
kindly shelter. No woven blanket
could better protect the pastures and
meadows, than does the downy mat
formed Of the withcred blades of gras j..
Here, too, are safely kept the myriad
seels of flowers that will gladden. the
fields when Spring shall waken them
to life. Nor are the countless Tribes OF
animated creatures forgotten. Warmed
by unerring instinct, the bee has tiled
its cells with abundant stores, and fears
neither cold nor famine; flies and their
congeners have sought shcltcriny crew.
ices; many insects have burrowcd in
the earth, and for others, a special form
Of life has been devised, and their chrys-
Aides hang from fence and bush; the
squirrels are gathering nuts and acorns
with which to regal themselves III the
intervals of their long winter nap in
the wilder regions, the bear is looking
out his hollow tree, and each animal is
rejoicing in the thickencd coat which
shall shield him FROM the comm, storms.
Let the hnsbandman note these kindly
provisions, and be equally providcnt for
the creature s entrusted to his care.
There may be danger that some domcs-
tic animals will be injured by excess OF
kindness. They should be protected,
but not pan pered. a horse confined
in a close shelter, kept warmly blank
cted, fed with unsparing hand, and but
little exercised, will be liable to inflaln-
matory Diseases from every slight ex-
posture. Sheep huddled together in
warm peus, kept inactive and supplied
with abundant food, will but cnteeble
themselves, and in the case OF breeding
ewes, their progeny will also suffer
AS with human beings, the first requis-
ito for withstanding:.severity Of wealth
or is robust health and vigor of consti-
tuition. With these and plenty Of food,
animals entirely unsheltcrcd will sue.
cessfully resist almost any inclcmcncy
of the season. But it is both humane
an9 economical to give tHut amount Of
shelter which will not lntefere with
hardness. A creature exposed to the
full force Of winter Northwestern. will
Shiver of a surprising amount Of fodder,
and usually Of fat also. The import
ance of this leads US to repeat what We
have often sald that a large part Of the
food consumed, is used up in the sys-
tenn, actually burned, to furnish AMI
NAL heat. The need of this repetatiou
is seen in the absence Of shelter for
stock on hundreds Of farms, particularly
at the West. We believe it would not
be saying too much to assert that the
hay and grain annually wasted burned
up for want of protection to animals
would keep twenty-five per cent more
cattle and sheep than are now raised
ia this country. If any whose animals
are unsheltercd, are yet doubtful on
this point, let them commence expert
mcnting. Build stables or rough sheds
for part of the stock, and keep an ex-
act account of food consumed by them,
in comparison with an equal number
allowed to run at large, VIC have no
doubt as to the result. In addition to
considerations Of profit, there is no lit
tie satisfaction in the merciful treatment
Of dependent creatures. The lowing
Of unsheltered COWS and bleatiug Of
neglected sheep are anything but sooth-
ing::music, while the grateful pleasure
which even dumb animals can express
in return for proper care, will add not
u little to the enjoymcnts and the at-
fractions of farm life.