The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-06-14
Handling and Docfity Of Farm Stock.

From the American Stoc Journal
Several classes of ANIMALS are natural
and necessary servants of man in his
efforts to cultivate and fertilize the |
earth and it is desirable that they |
should be rendered as valuable as pos
sible. Constant and kindly handling of
horses and cattle familiarizes them to
the keeper, whereby they become far
more gentle and tractable, and the keep
ers come to understand their wants,
diseases and peculiarities, and learn
how successfully to treat and provide
for them all thus reducing the man.
agement of stock to pleasant science,
largely increasing the Intellectual pleas
ure of the operator, and rendering the
whole business far more profitable and
pleasant by making the manager better
acquainted with all the resources at his
command, and his animals better dis
ciplined for the various services re-
quired of them.
From numerous European authorities
and experiments of intelligent American
farmers, with my own experience and
observations, am fully assured that
systematic handling and feeding all the
stock on farm, with regular rotation
and cropping, in the manner known as
greensoiling, is largely more profitable
and delightful than any other mode pur-
sued by farmers, besides being far more
humanizing- inspiring moro real digni-
ty of character and sentiment; and
whatever developes the intellectual &C
tivities, elevates the tone and temper OF
all or any of the industrial classes and
promotes their higher happiness, is de-
irable and should be encouraged.
Thus knowing his animals more fully,
the keeper will appreciate and treat
them more nationally and kindly, which
will result in higher humanizing effects
rendering the animals better servants
and the keepers better men. But to Sc
cure this desirable result, all stock must
be often and Familiarity handled, and
led with balters while young-colts and
calves-and If all be done kindly and
without anger, they will be as docile
and as readily approached at all times
as cats and dogs at the house. But far
mers will not be likely to take the pains
to do this without they adopt a steady
and regular system which will lead to it
as an essential part of their operations
on the farm.
70 render this system as pleasant and
profitable as possible, rotation of crops
and raising of roots will be required,
which will result in excepting up" the
land to the highest pointand prevent ex-
haustion, in securing much greater bulk
and value of product and sustaining a
larger number of animals on q given
quantity of land.
Only for fear of extending this article
to an undue length, concise and de-
tailed statement of facts and figures
might be here given of the order of ro-
tation and the manner of root-raising,
which have been successfully practiced
in many places. Hints at the leading
features of the system-its noble, har-
monizing effects-with some statements
of facts to arrest the thoughtful atten-
ton of those interested, was all that
was aimed at by the writer in this
paper.
In this, as in every other proper pur-
suit of man, every advanced step in the
right direction leads to another; every
improvement in any part of the business
opens the way for additional improve
ment. In fact, all improvements in any
portion of business or profession, re-
quire improvement in all other parts in
order that the fullest benefits may be
realized. True progress and reform
begets, necessarily, other progress and
reform, and here is seen the great i'm
portance and value of first steps in the
right direction; they not only incite but
demand further right movements, in
order that the highest blessings may
result from them. For instance, the
introduction of the seed drills requires
that the soil be put in better condition
than for the old harrow, in order to
| work to best advantage. The use of
reapers and mowers requires the surface
Of land to be put in the best condition
to derive the greatest benefit from them.
The introduction of improved species of
seeds and plants needs improved prepar-
alton of soils to secure the greatest
| yield from them; and improved care
and feed are required in order to realize
the largest profit and pleasure from the
introduction of improved breeds of
stock, and so on to the end of the chap
| ter of all agricultural operations. The
very march of the times demands of all
improved intelligence and skill. The
progress of these material improve
ments stimulates to higher moral and
mental attainments, by melting broad
er and deeper exercise of the mind to
devise and carry out elevated improve
ments of every kind. So, in the plan
and efforts to secure greater docility
| and tractability among his animals, the
| operator elevates his own character and
improves his habits. The very practice
| of improving their condition necessarily
leads to the improvement of his own
profits and pleasures. He is, under
this general system of progress and i'm
| provement, led to exercise more discrim-
nation and reason in adapting crops to
soils and seasons, and in selecting the
most appropriate classes and breeds of
stock for his particular locality and
market. Thus, in becoming complete
and rational master of himself and "the
situation" he is better qualified, with
improved facilities, for controlling and
handling, at all times, for all desirable
purposes, all his animals for either sale
or service-better prepared to gain in
all his efforts.
While it is not expected that every
farmer can arrive at and enjoy this
pleasant and profitable state of things
in day, it is certain that he can, at
once, take the first step, and then he
may rapidly approach its consumma-
ton; and what is encouraging, each
step will show the practicability and
desirableness of another, and so ON end
lessly.
Why Some Are Poor.