Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-08-14
Summer Grazing in a Dry Season.

THERE is no part of Il farmers business
that requires SO much attention and ma
tured Judgment as the management of his
stock; aud to lilt them prospcrously |
through any trying period he is full OF
anNieties, and it is worthy his best efforts.
The present season is peculiar. II was one
of the earliest ever known, and the fields
obtained good pasturage, and, therefore,
were stocked fully at a very carly period,
This would appear to have been an unior-
tunate case, us the season has turned out.
The fields are full stocked, and the pas
lures are "gone of" What, then, Is to be
doneY On no account must the htting
stock suiler-that is absolute loss for the
grazing department of the farm. / was u
grazier in 1S28-the driest summer i have
known. We had to resort to every expe-
dent to keep our fatting stock progressing,
and II was with the greatest difficulty eve
could keep our store stock alive, Artiii-
cial aids were not SD much in use then as
now; but much was brought into con.
sumption. Our hay stacks, straw stacks,
and meadow lands and clovers were all
brought into requisition and at last the
man was deemed fortunate who could re-
tain any large portion of his straw to say
nothing of his reserved old hay. II was
remarkable with what zest and relish the
stock eat the old straw, and with what ad
vantage too. Every kind of herbage and
foliage, {, G., leaves, rusheS, reeds, readings,
etc, We're gathered and given to the cattle.
The heat was also intense, and water eX-
ceedingly scarce in many districts. The
cattle were brought home to the fold yards /;
there was not blade of grass in the fields
The store cattle lived upon straw, with II
little meal or cake, or bran, If it could he
obtained. The fatting cattle were provid-
ed with such pasturage as could best be
found, and clover, tarcs etc, mown for
them, and corn and cake in addition. Not
withstmding, but few progressed favor
ably, and numbers of halfmeated animals
were slaughtered. Sheepd did much better /;
the little, dry grassy herbage they could
find was truly roast meat, and abided in
their stomachs. This, together with ra
tions of hay, straw, corn, and bran, kept
them in tolerable condition; progression,
however, being quite out of the question,
This season was quite boon 10 numbers
Of residents in the tens, it being their prac.
tlce to keep over much straw yearly.
They took in large numbers of cattle at
from 2s, Cd TO 3s, Od. per head per week,
to feed upon old straw only. The losses
in grazing, however, taking in the whole
summer, We're very seyere-iar exceeding
that from the cattle plague in 1866
Thousands OF cattle and sheep were no,
worth their spring price ut the close OF
the summer, and many were actually pinod
TO death. Now, trust we are not going
to experience a like summer; but M
present, the drouth is, TO say the
least, becoming very inconvenient - the
grass very scarce, mangles done, very little
old hay left, and not much straw. My OBJ
ject in writing This paper now is to caution
my brother farmers, TO suggest economy
in every respect, and TO beg them to max,
provision for such emergencies as may
arise. will endeayor TO name some use
ful suggestions in accordance with tn,
season. 1t is desirable that little fresl
and sweet straw should be supplied daily
to the stock in every field, in such way as
may seem most economical and convenient
for foddering without waste. This should
be done, even If the pasture is not gone
off" TO any great extent All kinds
Of stock will readily partake of q
portion, and II viii actually bene
fit them although the pastur,
may (Which is very unlikely be growing
and fruitful This course is not 10 be des
pissed even by our best graziers in the bes
OF seasons. Itacts as corrective 90 every
animal grazing upon luxuriant pasturagt
az All times, and TO some of tender consti
luVons and laXity ofbOdy IL is decidedly OF
great advantage. / am not sure that Il
would not prove fair substitute for cot
ION ton cake N this age Of progress. But no
one ever thinks OF iaking wheat or any
otnei straw into bullock pasture; such a
~ siesssopn would incur and subject him
" mueh fidicule- Wen, be that as II may,
a eenlune 70 recommend that il should be
!. uH n,;ll nom nro n lhe way have pointed out
hMaii prove great aid tothe pasture and
probably cause its preservation tilia Rind'
~ Lslh se's II all right again. OF oourse.
If the grazler can Afford a little bav % an ~
better @ - ,Sl pa1 90 not consider the difIer.
ence ~ ~ she 1he sgo very material II is the
a shortpasiur' that loot NJ ''sTl.u'e rha @ 10,
suggestion Aeuld name Is no. 10 mal "s rss asA,
the various artii,ial fo "A, sneS USE =
nnseed.cakei "a, eoiton.saks, IA 10 ~
cakei AN, BRAN 5Ih, meal or mIxt,re I'D asP' y
them otb, corn oall, barley or psas' I