Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-05-20
2fericutfurol department
I. D. R. COLLINS, Editor.
MODES OF TYING UP CATTLE.

tenths of the barns in New England, at
least in the southern portion of it, for
fastening the cattle, mich cows and
working oxen, in their stables. Several
other modes have been devised, such as
the old fashioned bow, and the chain or
strap that were put around the neck of
the animal, attached to a ring which
slid up and down perpendicular stake.
Either of the arrangements Of bow,
chain or strap, afforded considerable lib
erty to the animal. 1t could move for
ward or back a short distance, could
turn its head so as to lick some portions
of the body, and what was of more con-
sequence, could bring the head around
upon the side when lying down to sleep.
This is the natural position of the crea-
ture during that important portion of
its time, and to be deprived of enjoying
it, would be much like compelling US to
stand up When we sleep.
In visiting several barns recently.
our attention was strongly attracted to
the painful position in which we found
many of the cattle. Some fine cows
were lying down, with the head stretched
out straight before them, and the under
jaw resting upon the barn floor. Others,
apparently in sleepy condition were
holding their heads up as high as they
could get them, while others had twisted
their heads so as to get one horn inside
the stanchion, next to their bodies, while
the other was on the outside, next to
the barn floor. In this position, the
weight of the head seemed to afford suf-
fcient pressure to keep the head in
place, while the animal was sleeping.
Again, some of the COWS had stretched
themselves out at full length. with the
head resting upon enc horn, in much
the same position which horse some
times assumes in his pasture when lying
down.
In most of the barns lately visited we
found them sufficient y warm, commodi-
Gus and clean, but in every instance US
ing the stanchion for tying up. Below
are remarks by two of our valued ex-
changes,-the Prairie Farmer and the
Rural Carolinian, as follows -
THE CRUELTY OF SANCTIONS FOR CATTLE.
A correspondent of the Prairie Farm
er pronounces stanchions a mild form of
cruelty to cattle, and we fully agree
with him. He adds: when cows are
sleeping, they invariably bend their
necks and rest their heads at their sides.
This must be their most comfortable
sleeping position, of which they are de-
prived by stanchions 1t cannot, or
ought not to be desirable object to gain
more space by stanchions. A COW ought
never to have less than three feet by five
and one-half feet space to stand and lie
down in, and the fastening by rope,
chain or bow gives it, provided the short
chains are regulated accordingly"
But it is urged that stanchions en-
sure increased cleanliness. In a proper
ly built COW stable, cleanliness is ensur-
ed by other means There should be a
trench behind the stand from six to
eight inches deep. This prevents the
COWS from stepping back to lie down be-
yond the intended space. The stands
being just the required length, the drop
pings will fall into the trench, and only
in cases where the cows are eating and
have stepped forward, their droppings
will fall on the stand. But there i:
even provision against this, by making
the COWS get up a few minutes before
feeding. In most cases they will DROP
their manure as soon as they get up
When done with the feeding, hand
may 90 behind the cows with hoe, ant
rake down in the trench such manure as
may have been dropped on the stand
he also pulls back under the hind par
Of the COW any straw or refuse feee
lodged under the forefeet, so she ma.
find pleasant bed when she has don,
feeding and wants to lie down.
Having carefully tested all the usua
modes of tying up cattle, we comics
that the use of stanchions is the quick
est and easiest means of combining them
1t is also the manner in which they Cal
be most readily kept clean,-but it is
mode which is not only the most uncom
Portable, but frequently a painful one.
We recently saw cow just importe
, at large cost, knocked down twice b
striking her FORE shoulders against tn
stanchion in attempting to get up. Thi
? evil may be remedied in some measur
by slanting the upper part of the star
chions towards the barn-foor Thi
will give more room for the COW to pus
forward, as she must do, in rising. Al
other means of affording comfort is,
n set the stanchlons farther apart at tn
bottom than they are at the top, so thu
when lying down the animal can tur
! his head in some measure towards il
f body. In that position the head cannt
g well be got out of the stanchion, even
o the space were large enough to admit
! it.-N b. Farmer
= COMMERCIAL FERTILIzERs-A We:
IS ago noticed an item in newspap.
q stating that ground bone and good III
II leached wood ashes mixed, in equ
e parts, and barrel full of the mixtu
/ wet with three parts of water, to stand f
q ten days, made fertilizer equal to tt
l IL