Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-12-28

The whistling winds Of winter a1monish
the frugal farmer that the care Of his stock
is now a matter Of the first Importance. lie
is pecuniarily interested in its being well DONE
The whole secret Of success in the manage.
ment Of a stock Of cattle in winter rests with
the farmer. If he uses judgment and care in
feeding, his stock will come out in the spring
looking well, and on much less fodder than if
no consideration had been used in putting out
the fodder Farmers often complain that
their cattle waste their hay--dont eat it up
The cattle come up to the yards in such con.
ditlon as they may happen to be from the full
ness Of the summer aud fall pastures, young
aud old, good, bad and Indifferent. mixed .
gether. The fodder is pitched from the stack.,
and strewn over the yards and felds-or,
what is worse, the stacks themselves left to bc
ioraged upon by the cattle running loose
around them.
The fact is it is the farmers themselves
that waste it, The cattle are not to blame,
when twice the quantity Of hay is put before
them that they need il they DO pick out the
best; but it is unjust to charge to dumb ami
mails the faults the farmer himself is guilty
Of BE- saving of the fiddler Do not stint
the stock, give them all they will eat, but no
more.
No farmer was ever made poor hy proyid.
ing comfortable quarters for his stock, even
though be ran in debt to do it, but thousands
have become poor by not attending to this i'm
portant matter An animal well housed in
winter wiz thrive on much less food than one
exposed to ,torms aid driving winds Indeed,
no nmmal can thrive that is not well housed
IN cold northern climate, 4 well con.
irucicd shed, facing the south, with proice-
ton from wind, On the west, los huildmg or
otherwise sill Boz sufficient shelter for young
stock
While we strongly nsi,tou the stock being
warmly housed aud protected from cold
draughts, both for comfort and ccoromy 81
must be distinctly understood that AN our ar.
nngcmcuts for the accomplishment Of these
objects should be perfectly compatible with a
constant admission throughout the building
Of pure atmospheric air. without which the
healthy functions Of The animal body cannot
ho performed.
Another Important auxiliary u wm,eriug
stock Is well stored root cellar aud fee
use Of its contents Roots chopped fine are
the butter aud the sauce they relish with dry
hay as You relish those articles upon the
bread with your daily meal, and the provileut
farmer will not omit summer labor and cul-
ture to ensure good supply for his herds
y very large part Of the mutton OF the
British Islands are made of roots With
these the flock can be passed over from the
short pasture Of autumn to the dry hay of
winter without loss Of appetite, and be Kept
constantly gaining They give the farmer
the means of changing food at pleasure aud
furnish full supply Of succulent fodder when
IL is most needed With suitable shelter aud
food at this period, the aocks will enter upon
the winter in thriving condition. and wilI
show the advantage Of the care bestowed upon
them 10 heavier hecca- and carca--c.. IT, they
are fed for market aud in larger and healthier
lambs, If they are kept for breeding.
Ii Is false notion that no growth can be
made during the winter, that stock can De
expected to only hold their own from pass
ture TO pasture. The farmer will do well Do
bear in mind that just so soon as he allows
his horses or cattle to become poor. Doe Is ccr-
tain TO incur, at least, double expense go re-
storing them to good condition. This is cs-
pacialiy noticeable in the case Of mich COWS
When they become So poor that their ribs
stick out almost through their skin, some folks
seem 10 think it is time to look after the short,
aud feed. They should have done it before.
When cattle are first brought to the barn
they should be lcl the best fodder that can
bee got at not the poorest, aud when they
have become completely weanci from the
grass, then gradually introduce the coarse
kind. OF feed, but 40 no time ohlire them DO