The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-04-13
FARM anO GarDel1.



The subject Of the use of salt for domestic ami
mails has BEEN discussed by many pen. While
there yet those who argue that salt is not
needful for animals, l must dissent and wholly
disapprove of their reasonings; others may rear
their stock without salt and they may do WELL
but from my own experience of over fifty years.
/ shall continue the oft and instead of piec-
ing il out TO my stock | used TO in years gone
BY, will give them all they desire my rule. is
not to how long barrel of salt will last, but
to see how quick my stock will consume it. Here
let me say that salt alone does we'll for all gra-
niverous animals this nature evidently requires;
if not for their good, why is is it that colt, calf,
or lamb, even if but few days old relish it, and
on the first eating like it SO well?
Nature has also furnished another ingredient
besides salt for the health and appetite of ami
mails, in the shape of alkalies ashes supply this
want. Often when boy, have seen cattle and
sheep at places where brush and log heaps were
burned, licking ashes with perfect relish; evil
IDENTIFY they wanted something to regulate their
digestive powers. l have known horses so needy
for something to regulate their stomachs, that
they would eat a handful Of good clean ashes
quickly as handful of oats, or leave the latter
and eat the former first
Some say that dairy eat too much salt,
that it checks the flow of milk for days; true ;
but this no argument against the use Of it: so
WIN DOrses anu silctP Al HuNc uoHc
IL too long, they eat too much, burning fever is
the consequence they want it when they do want
it. no more, no less.
To arrange this for their convenience. nv
practice is TO have box troughs arranged that
all can have free access to salt and ashes-to eat
and be satisfied ashes from green, or at least
sound wood, only should be used. For sheep,
a trough three or four feet long, and eight or ten
inches wide, nailed two feet from the ground,
~ L. -,
of sheep. as but few will eat at time for cattle
a wider one is necessary, for horses, every man
yer should have small box Just large enough
20 admit the horses nose, fastened directly over
the feod-box, in which is d constant supply Of
salt ard ashes In pastures where there Is no
sized or other building under which the trough
or box can be placed to avoid the waste by storms
set two posts Of some six feet long firmly
in the ground two feet apart, at each end
of the trough box at the top of the posts spike
piece Of two-inch plank, after being cut in roof
form upon these spike two wide planks forming
the cover or roof; the trough is fastened 10 the
posts some two feet from the ground the roof
will be 80 low that no animal viii attempt to
Jump the trough under the roof; here we have a
safe place TO keep a supply OF salt and ashes at
al tmes-rain or shine. Or if movable box
is desired, arrange it on something like stone
boat. and move il from field 10 field: il should
alwaws follow the cattle III 'he many htfus Oh
cattle kept On our prairies IL summer were sup
piled in this way, there would be less rambling,
more contentment and more beef. From my own
experience, believe that barrel of good ashes
il equal in value 10 a barrel Of salt, equal parts
being used as food. believe that hogs need a
supply of salt and ashes az EIuch as any other
animals. and if the hog had a constant supply al
ways accessible, the hog cholara would not have
been known.
hays new r known a horse to have the cholic,
bots or worms, nor become a cripple when box
ei salt and ashes was ever in reach in his stall
Pra RE F,frmer