The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-20
FARM GhO GARDEN.


Already we begin 20 receive numerous in
quircs in regard to various diseases peculiar
10 farm stock The winter is scarcely half
over, but diseases Of cows, horses and other
animals appear to be prevalent in many To-
calitics, which prompts the somewhat peril
nent question, Why is this so? Cannot
farm ANIMALS be kept In as good health dur
ing winter rs summer Or must we con-
Cludc that winter is naturally an unhealthy
season for the brute creation, and at the same
time healthy one for man? In summer,
hOrn-ail, mango, worms, indigestion and sim
liar diseases are seldom heard Of; bu: when
cold weather comes, and animals are depend
ent upon man for shelter, food and water, dls-
orders of various kinds appear to spring mo
existence as if by magic.
We do not wish to accuse anyone OF Delng
disposed to shirk their duty in their care OF
farm stock, but there must be some radically
wrong management, or else disease and losses
would be less common. 1t must be auml'leu,
however, that we have among our farmers1a
too many apolegists for cruelty to AMI
| mails, who are ever ready to declare that
young colts must be toughened by exposure to
the cold of winter with food of the coarsest
kind If their hair, before spring, points the
| wrong wav, it makes no matter, as this is only
one of the unmistakable signs that the touga-
| eninp process Is fairly under way. Young
ner, their owners Offering no better reasons
for this cruelty than those given for tough
ening colts.
We have been gravely told for years that
farm stock do not require any shelter or food
beyond whatthey can obtain for themselves in
the prairie regions of the Western States and
Territories. Some persons even claim that
sheep are injured by protection from the cold
rams and sleet which are quite common dur
tI,r all r,.Ny,G nt
the far West, claimed to be mild But losses
from diseases do frequently occur even I'M
the most favorable climates, and the greater
portion may be directly traced to want OF
proper care during Indictment weather.
Losses through neglect of supplying animals
with the means of warding off and resisting
diseases are not confined to the newer States i
but in the older settled ones the COW and
horse doctors are frequently in great demand
during the latter part of winter and the early
spring.
Far too many of our farmers are content
with no better accommodations for their COWS,
sheep and hogs than an open yard surround
ed by beard fence. A straw stack, few
musty corn-stalks, with perhaps an occasion
al forkful ofhay, are deemed sufficient for oxen
COWS and sheep, and, 1t is very likely, if they
were warmly housed these might answer;
but when animals are exposed to the cold of
our northern winters such coarse food is not
sufficient to preserve good health much less
prevent the loss of flesh. Comfortable quar-
ters, in the form of stables or close sheds
should be the first things provided, but they
are tar too frequently the very last Farm
stock of all kinds will thrive on less food If
provided with shelter than without, conse.
quenily the cost cannot be urged as an ohJec'
ton or excuse tor not providing them. Now,
we will remind those farmers who may say
that this is all nonsense, or attempt to dodge
the question IN some other way that all breed
ers of choice stock, as well as the most sue
cessfu dairymen, who are supposed to un-I
derstand their business thoroughly, almost
without exception, keep their animals in
warm stables during the winter months In
addition, we find that they raise more or less
roots for their stock to feed along with dry
fodder, knowing from experience as well as
theory that these are beneficial in preserving
the animals health, even if for nothing else.
If the supply Of roots does not hold out, or
is deemed insufficient to keep the animals in
good flesh and health, then grain, either
whole or ground, raw and cooked, is added;
in fact the farmer who expects to derive a
profit from his business will seek every
means to promote the health and comfort OF
ms animals,
The supplying of water to farm stock dur
ing winter Isl very important matter, although
more generally neglected than even the pro,
vding of shelter. Many a herd is obliged
to wade half mile or go without water,
which they usually do until compelled to-
seek it in order to quench IA raging thirst.
No man can expect his stock to remain heal
thy or thrive under such circumstance S, and
even when the water is near by in well or
cistern it will not always answer TO depend
upon hired help to give it to the animals. In
many years experience with animals we
have always been very particular i'll regard to
giving them full and regular supply DIVA
ter both summer and winter.
A dozen horses or COWS may feed at the
same stack and yet not all be thirsty at one
time; still many farmer adopts an arbitrary
system of watering his stock, which compels
each individuals animal to take water at a.
certain hour or not at all. The wants OF each
individual should be regarded in this matter,
as well as in that of food or anything else.
But when animals are driven to water, or have
it offered to them at certain hours IN the
day, natural desires are not always promptly
met or satisfied. In summer animals
should have water within reach at
all times, except in the case of horses at work,
and in winter il il cannot be conveniently
supplied in this manner it should be offered
them not less than three times, and four Is
our rule with horses. One DAY an animal
may not drink but once, while on the next IL
will drink water several times in response TO
the demands of nature. If every stock-ow
ner would study the natural wants of his an
imaIs and endeavOr To supply them to the
Lest of his abilities we would hear less OF
diseases and more of success and profit in
iarming.-N \. Sun.