The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-10-16
Keeping Farm Teams.


The expense of keeping the neces-
sary teams to accomplish farm work
is a serious one, though many farm
ers hardly seem to realize 1t. But
let a iarmey estimate the number OF
acres required to furnish summer
and winter food for bis horses, and
add TO the use of the land the cost OF
labor required to grow the hay and
grain, and he will be astohished by
The amount. But teams are indis
pensable, and the best We csn do is
to adopt q system of keeping them
which will reduce tbs expense TO q
minimum.
The introduction of machinery
which requires horse labor, and tie
greater variety of farm crops, as
compared with those of earlier times,
which farmers now cultivate, afford
constant employment for the teams
throughout the year, with the excep-
ton OF few winter months. When
engaged in steady labor, horses re-
quire uniform treatment in regard to
food and hours of rest, anC this can
be given to the best advantage if the
animals are fed and rested in prop
erly CONSTRUCTED stables. There are
few weeks in the early part of sum-
mer-after the spring crops are sown.
and when grass is fresh and juicy,
and before flies become a serious an
noyanee-when it is advisable to let
the teams run to pasture. This out
door range and the fresh grass invig-
orate the system and promote health.
But at all other times the best place
for q steadily worked farm horse, to
eat and rest, in view Of health, fit
ness for performing labor and ex,
pense Of keeping, is in the stable.
OF course the stable should be neith-
er dark, close den, nor an open
shed, but such one as humane per-
son of good judgment and kind heart
would build for the most honest, pa
tient and intelligent animal domesti-
Gated by man. In such the horse is
safe against accidents which are liza
BILE to happen in the pasture he is
projected from the effect. Of storms
and sudden changes of temperature /;
bis food. if of the proper kind, is
consumed in less time. consequent
ly he has more time in which to re-
cuperate he may be at any moment
under his masters eye; he is ready,
on call, to put forth his best efforts
in labor, and the cost of his keeping
in the stable may be made less than
in the pasture.
The truth of the latter assertion
some farmers will question, but it is
simply test of soiling, whether it is
cheaper than pasturing. Stabling
horses does not imply feeding them
exclusively with hay and grain.
Their diet may be varied, and fresh
grass, green oats, and rye and sowed
corn may form a considerable part
Undoubtedly such food would be
both cheaper and healthier than q di-
ct of hay and grain exclusively.
Some roots for winter would like
wise be advisable. Grain should be
ground or bruised, and dry fodder
cut fine. During the summer, bran
or "middlings'' fed with sufficient
fine cut hay or bright straw, to make
proper bulk, the whole being wet,
could be given in conjunction with
green oats, rye or grass. Corn and
oatmeal ought to be given when the
labor and weather should demand
stimulating and nutritious food.
Some horsemen are prejudiced
against any material but wood for
horse stables-but such judgment is
founded in ignorance. A stable OF
brick or stone unskillfully built or
badly located, is, perhaps more dill
eteriOus to the horses welfare than
one of wood in similar circumstances.
stable should be roomy, equable
IN temperature, well lighted, dry and
well ventilated. These conditions
C an lie secured as readily with brick,
stone or concrete, as with rood
some of them more reaGily-and, in
addition, there is greater durability
A complete horse barn will have s
carriage room attached. 4 well Of wa
ter inside, a roomy loft for storage
or fodder, hay cutter driven by
horse power, grain bins and har-
ness and robe room. The harness and
robes should be protected trOm the
influence of the stable. / stationary
one or two horse power for driving
the hay cutter would be both conven
lent and profitable -RtTdi New
InsTe-