Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-12-21

L. d. H. COLLINS, Editor.
Winter MANAGEMENT of Farm Stock.

Winter Management of Farm Stock.
Every farmer in this climate clearly un-
derstands that food for farm stock, during
the six or seven months that the ground is
covered with snow, must be provided, or
the stock inevitably perishes. They are
equally we'll aware that water is as neces-
sary as food, and consequently there are
none who do not provide to a certain ex-
tent, at least-some more literally and 9TH
ers more sparingly-for these two essen
tials of animal support. There is one
thing more which in our judgment is only
and that is warm shelter. On this point
however, there is q greater diversity of
opinion than on the Others-some claiming
that cattle will do as well in open sheds,
protected simply by roof, as though more
warmly housed, while others claim that
the warme- the stable the better, provided
no artificial heat is employed. We believe
that the opinions of our most intelligent
and progressive farmers have been tending
towards The latter conclusion for the last
few years, and that experience proves it to
be correct and there will be found to-day.
ten ocarm tables TO every one that could
have been found twenty years ago. We
well recOlkct, when we were boy, that
an Ak was nearly as essential in cleaning
out the stables during the winter as a SHOW
ell, as the manure would be frozen so hard
as to require chopping to get it from the
floor. farmers in those days never went
to the expense of double boarding stables,
much less whole barns. Many a stable
have we seen, where cattle were confined
all winter, through which the wind whist
led and SNOW sifted almost as freely as in
the open air. The consequence was, the
cattle ate mvenously to keep up the ami
NAL heat, and came out poor and weak in
the spring. 1t is coming to be understood
! however that warmth is to a certain extent
a substitute for food In summer, stock.
owing to the mild temperature, and the
supply Of herbacious food from the bOunti-
full hand of nature, will become thrifty and
fat, whilst winter, with its chilling blast,
and severe cold, is almost certain to reduce
the amount of flesh acquired in summer
unless the animals are warmly housed anC
carefully fed But while we are making
our stables as warm as possible, We SHOULD
avoid msking them dark Light Is almOs
as essential to healthy animal or vegetable
growth Il warmth. This may have beer
seen by the individual who is confined t
a dark room becoming pale and sickly, al
so by plints kent in dark cellar durin,
winter, which, though they may grow, be
come pale and tender. Good ventilation
should also be provided, that the air ma
not become initiated by the carbonc aci
gass which is continually thrown from tn
lungs in breathing, and the gases arisin
from the droppings of the animals. Thes
things being carefully provided, for we be
lieve there is very little danger of gettin
stables too warm, and we are confder
that an animal thus sheltered and proper
ly cared for in other respects, will exhib
more thriftiness, and come out in the sprin
in better condition on twO-thirds the foo
that Is required to produce anything AZ
preaching a similar result upon one til,
. Is kept in 4 cold, cherries apartment
Boards and nails are cheaper in this cour
4 try than hay and grain, and as they vii
D to a certain extent, take the place of Il
e latter, we believe it is for the interest
; farmers to use them for this purpose as #
(! as it is profitable to do so, which would b
r. we think, much more extensively than
:. at present generally practiced How maj
l. farmers are there in Orleans County who
r stables are entirely open TO the barn foe
S and consequently to the whole barn?
= few hundred feet of boards and a few Il
: of nails might be made to raise the ter
o perature in the stables ten to twenty d
1t grees and reduce the amount Of food ne
IT essary for the stock ten to twenty per cer