Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-04
House, Farm and Garden.
/. ID. r. COLLINS, Editor.
Cardino Stock in Winter.

Benjamin Franklin said, "Saye the pen
MES and the pounds will take care of them
selves" and it is a fact well known to eve
ry observing person that this principle
must be applied to the management, of
business, or success will not be secured !;
and in many cases it is the care for little
things that makes al, the difference be-
tween success and failure in business. The
practice of carding stock in winter is one
of those little things which we think is too
much neglected by a majority of our farm
ers. We have always been an advocate of
this practice, and have always practiced it
ourself, and although we have frequently
met with the objection from farmers, that
they could not spend the time to do it; we
never heard it claimed that it was injuri-
Gus to cattle. We presume that most farm
ers who do not practice it believe that it is
simply useless-time thrown away For
the benefit ofsuch we copy the following
editorial from the New England Farmer
which is so much to the point, and gives
some of the reasons for this practice in so
clear a manner that we can but comm end
it to the careful consideration of our read
ers:
Every person who has long been confn-
ed by sickness, or by broken limb, can
well appreciate how grateful any gentle
motion is, the blood dancing through the
veins. They feel younger at once; a new
elasticity of muscle AMI limb is impaired
to them, and with thai buOyaucy of mind
which brings body and soul into pleasant
harmony.
John Hunter, the most celebrated ply
stefan, probably, for many ages, when he
told mothers of The three cardinal things
to be done for irfants, viz: 'plenty of milk,
plenty of sleep, and plenty of flannel" did
not fail to add also, plenty of gentle fric-
ton. When his three things have been
supplied, nothing is obviously more CRATE
full to the childthan to have the body gent
~ exercised by friction.
Our neat stock, in their winter quarters,
are helpless in this respect. They are tied
by the neck to a spot three by four feet,
where they are doomed to remain most Of
the time for months in succession. They
are provided with a rasp on the tongue
which is intended to subserve two or three
purposes, one Of whish is scratching them
selves, when inclined to do so. But in
their confined position, they are deprived
of this luxury, during a large portion 0.
the time. How grateful the privilege 0.
licking is, is evident from the constant ap
plication of this rasp to their sides anC
limbs, during the time they are at liberty
daily, in the yard.
Use the card, then, at least once eacl
day, on every animal in your care, Will,
confined in its winter quarters. Use i
gently, because a rough usage excoriate
the skin and fortunes the beast. Use i
generously, not in hasty and grudginl
manner, because it not only affords comfor
to the cattle, but tends to fill your owl
purse.
Carding tends to make beef, because
keeps the skin soft, loose and lively, an,
no animal can fatten readily unless thes
conditions exist.
Carding increases the flow Of milk, be
cause when the skin IS healthy and active
the processes of digestion are quicker an
more perfect.
Carding saves feed, because the bette
the digestion is, the more nutrition is e1
tracted from the food eaten, 50 that tn
time spentin carding is spent economically
Carding improves the appearance Of al
imals, so that in buying, good Judge Wi
pay from five to ten per cent. more for al
finals whose skin is soft and loose. tha
gives more milk, and that look as thong
they got all the goodness out of the foo
they eat, than for those not possessing thes
qualities.
Carding, then, makes cattle fatten fas
er, increases the flow of milk, saves fodde
makes them handsome, and thus puts MOI
ey into the pocket of the owner.