Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-12-08
Nf- From the western Rural
Noies and Suggestions for De-
~ cember.


~ cember.
The field work of the farm is gen.
orally terminated in December by
the setting in of the rigors of Win
ter. Occasionally, fine open wealth
er in this month permits the finish
ing up of Fall plowing before the
soil is bound by frost or covered
with snow. Thrifty farmers gener-
ally fallow their stubble land by
blowing IN the Fall. thus destroying
weeds aud ameliorating the soil by
exposing it 10 frost, etc. Hay,
grain, roots, ETC., should be turned
into beef, mutton, and pork, and
sent to market in a condensed form.
Very few farmers have suitable
sheds, pens, ETC., for stall feeding
cattle or fattening hogs. Hay,
straw. corn-fodder, etc, should be
prepared for stock by chopping and
steaming, and grain by grinding and
cooking. Farmers lose heavily ev-
cry year by ignorance or careless
ness in the management Of proven
1er.
NEAT STOCK.
Neat stock of every description
require great care during the rigors
of Winter, for at this time they are
entirely dependent on man for shell
Ter, food, and water. This is the
case in nearly all the Northwestern
States. In the South neat stock
are nearly Independent of man in
Winter as we'll as Summer. Mich
cows require kind and generous
treatment, clean beds, and great
regularity in feeding and watering.
Warm, comfortable houses or sheds
will be great means of economi-
zing provender. Working oxen
should be kept in good condition in
Winter, by liberal allowance of
grain in addition to hay. They re-
quire moderate exercise daily when
not at work. Steers, heifers, and
calves, require attention, to keep
them constantly improving. When
young animals are stunted by cold
and hunger iu Winter, the bad eff
fects can never be entirely removed
by subsequent good treatment.
Horse stock of every kind require
constant attention in Winter. There
are few stables SO perfect i'm every
particular that some improvement
can not be made in thern. Some
are too cold, and the horses con-
sumo an extra quantity of food 10
keep up the heat of their bodies.
Some have not sufficient ventilation,
and the horses are compelled to
breathe over again the vitiated air
which has been expelled from ther
lungs. Many stables have not sufli-
cient light, and this in itself is Sc
rious defect. as the want of light
gives rise to various diseases accor-
ding TO the statements of expert
eneed veterinarians. The racks,
feeding boxes, stalls, and floors of
stables, are in many cases not prop
ely constructed, and improvements
in these particulars may be neces-
sary. Street-car and omnibus COM
panies find that great economy OF
provender may be affected by chop
ping and steaming hay and straw,
and mixing with bean meal or corn
meal. Farmers should follow their
example. The shoeirg Of horses is
a matter of great Importance, espe-
cially in Winter when accidents fire.
quently occur from horses, slipping
on ice or the smooth frozen surface
of the ground. The repairing, oil
ing and padding of harness should
be attened to, and vertinary medi-
cines and instruments kept ready
for use.
SHEEP IN DECEMBER.
The reckless slaughter of sheer
for the market commences with the
cold weather in December and con
tinues while the supply of hal
starved animals lasts. The over
whelming supply of mutton of infe
rior quality has had the effect o.
lowering the prices of all kinds o
butchers meat, and the producer'
are the losers. If farmers could b,
induced to grow ruta bagas or man
gels extensively and fatten thei
sheep before sending them to mar
ket, they would make much NOR,
money than they do at present
They could then hold over sheel
until a favorable opportunity TO
selling to advantage occurred
Sheep should not he allowed to fal
away at any time, but especially a
the commencement of Winter
They should not be left dependin.
on what they can pick up in tn
bare pastures, but should have com
Portable, capacious, well ventilate'
sheds, supplied with good hay il
racks. They should lie watered an
salted regularly, have dry beds an
the manure should not be allowe
to accumulate under them. Th
sheds should be cleaned out at leas
once a week. Old sheep should b
disposed of before the commence
ment of Winter unless they are in
tended for stall feeding.
ECONOMY OF FOOD FOR STOCK
Farmers lose a good deal c
monsy every year by neglecting t
economize fodder and provender G
every kind. In the first Instance
the houses, sheds, or pens, in whic
animals are fed, are not kept at
suitable temperature; they are ger
orally cold and uncomfortable, an
an extra quantity of food goes t
keep up the heat of their bodies
In this way large quantity of foo
is wasted which would go to il
crease the weight of the animals,
) n e,;toblo tanporatnro had hae