Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-12-01
Ten lines Of .bi, sized tyne (minion) ma
AGRICULTURAL, &C
winterinc Farm yvor,c... !.

Some farmers treat their horses in wintt
much as they do their fatteping cattle an
sheep; they give them abundant food, an
but little exercise, keep them in n war;
! and dimly lighted stable. and if they do blu
grow fat, with their cattle and sheep. the
deem it convincing proof that the prope
course has been pursued. Now horses il
! good working condition, at least, shoult
always be seen on the premises of a goot
farmer, but his gratitude towards thes
faithful servants should not induce him, a
! any time of the year. to stall feed them
The butcher wants thick meat and PLENTY
OF talow in the cattle and sheep, but tht
| piowman looks for strong muscle, spirit and
endurance in his team. The food and cart
OF the different animals should be consis.
tent with the ultimate purpose they are to
serve. Fat horses that have been wintered
mostly in the stable, without much exercise,
are not fit for hard service at the opening
of the working season in the spring, and
prolific source of disease is the hard work
they are frequently compelled to do when
they are not in proper condition.
| The ordinary winter business of the farm
er does not call for much exercise of his
team, and if he have several, most of them
may be entirely idle. In such cases it is an
excellent PLAZA to have yard for their es-
pecial benefit, we'll Uttered and safe, and
let them have access to it several hours each
day. The horses should be unshod, and, Il
they are vicious they may be turned loose
at different hours from the others. The
horses will show by their playful actions
how much they enjoy this temporary relief
from the stall. Another very important
thing, often neglected by farmers, is the
grooming of their teams. In the summer
time the horse, by rolling in the pasture, to
certain extent cleans himself; besides the
rains have some effect. But in the stable hs
relies on the care of his master, and the
, keen enjoyment the curry.comb and brush
evidently give him, should be ample reward
for the labor. A well lighted stable, tho.
roughly ventilated, yet free from currents Of
air, should also be provided. 90.
In regard to the feed of horses, most
farmers, we think, will agree to the prcpo-
si.ion that 1t Is always good economy to
grind or mash all kinds of grain before
| feeding. 1t is well established that cut
! straw. cornstaks or other coarse fodder,
fed with some grain, is cheaper than to
winter horses wholly on hay. Without
stopping to assign reasons we think they
also come out in spring in better condition
than when fed on hay alone. Good wheat
or oat straw, fed with bran strengthened
with corn meal, has been found excellent.
When the weather is not too cold it is pre-
ferable to dampen the cut hay or straw and
sprinkle the meal on it. ... ....aI
The winteriDg of horses should begin
with the first approach of cold autumn
nights. No work horse should now be left
in the pasture except in the day time
Exposure to q single autumn stormy night
cause damage enough to the farmers teams
to have paid for years of timely care
Rural Ae,o Yorker. ..