Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-06
Agricultural.
The Comoanionship of Cattle.

There are few sights at this season of
the year. more pleasant to the farmer or
to the loy er of farm life. than a barn well
filled with plenty Of hay and straw. and
with contented and well fed cattle in
warm tie-up. Next to a care for the mem
bers of his family. and for the enj0yments
and pleasures of home lite, the farmer will
see that his horses and oxen. his cows and
sheep, upon whom so much Of his success
and his comfort depends. are well taken
care of. Why does he toll so hard through
the burden and heat OF the hay harvest
but that in winter, when they cannot
themselves obtain subsistence. his cattle
may be fed and kept thriving: Aud while
they are consuming the food his prov
idence has secured for them. they are
not only giving him day by day, ample
dividends in the form of milk, and extra
growth in flesh and wool; but they are al
so converting the feed and litter into that
which will enable him to grow good crops
in the future-crops that not only furnish
direct subsistence to him and his family.
but crops upon which his cattle must sub
sist during the next winter. And so dur
ing the period that they are confined in the
barns aud yards, the farmer learns how
close is his dependence upon his stock and
lac realizes it in a much stronger manner
than in summer when they Craze upon the
fresh grass God gives them. and ask no
favors from man. And the comprehensive
of cattle during the winter is something
pleasant and satisfactory and ennobling.
The farmer turns ont his young stock to a
mountain pasture in spring time. and hard
ly sees them until snow flies. They come
TO the barn wild and furious Gradually
they become acquainted with the presence
OF the farmer, they learn that from him
they receive their daily subsistence. and
in little time feel that he is their friend.
They recognize his footstep upon the barn
floor, and will reach out their tongues TO
receive from his hand the nubbin of corn
or the handful of oats. The favorite COW
expects her mess of proyender. and feels
sighted if in passing the farmer does not
bestow upon her those pats and strokes
with the hand that are tokens of his affec-
ton.
How the bleating sheep crowd about
their master as he carries to the yard the
forkfuls OF sweet hay, or throws into their
racks the oats or potatoes. The colt, TO
which all are looking forward as the faith
full horse of the future. must receive extra
attention. that he may grow and develop
and become fit for useful service. And in
the care Of these animals the farmer feels
that he Is comforting a blessing upon those
who cannot express their thanks but in
eating with satisfaction the food placed be-
fore them. And if he be a good man. he
will, as he gives his cattle their daily al
lowance, feel thankful himself for the
blessings that the great All-father gives 10
him; and as he realizes that his cattle de-
pend upon his labors for their subsistence.
so will he endeavor by wise providence
to obtain in summer the wherewith to
keep them through our long, cold winters.
And as his flock and herds increase, as the
young demand the farmers constant
watchfulness, and as he sees in them the
animals that are to form his future wealth
in this particular, he recognizes how much
he needs to know of the animal economy
of their care in sickness and health. of the
principles of breeding and of that intelli.
gent management which und erles success
His study should be to keep the animals
constantly gaining; to so feed them as to
receive the greatest profits in whatever
form the returns are made, and to receive
the largest possible returns from given
amount of food. A farmers duties to his
cattle do not end with giving them food
three times day. they demand this. but
they alsodemand more than this kind treat
ment and gratitude for the good gifts they
.bestow, for the latter are indispensable to
the life and comfort Of the farmer and his
family, and yet are seldom thought Of So
n other things. the simple blessings of life
are too often accepted as . matter ofcourse
md made use Of without due thankful
ness.-r NdiNe FdFMer.