The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-01-07
GONE, farm and garden
WATERING STOCK IN WINTER.

lc O3C N7~A
tiasI to the health and comfort of farm
stock which is so generally neglected as
that of furnishing full supply OF water.
Many a farmer depends entirely upon
scme stream or pond quarter or ham
mile distant. to which the animals are
driven once a day over frozen slippery
path, or through snow-drifts, in order to
slack their thirst with a liquid slightly
warmer than ice itself If herd of cat
at the hour most convenient for the
farmer to drive them to the pond, this
system of watering might answer toler-
able well, but, unfortunately, animals
have their individual peculiaEities in such
matters as well as human beings. No
animal can thrive or gain flesh when suf-
fering from thirst, no matter how much
or how rich food is given, and when kept
npon dry fodder in winter they are as
likely to require water as frequently as
in summer.
Drinking places should be made easily
accessible, 80 that the animals shall not
be obliged to wade through mud and ice
in order to reach them. thereby getting
their feet and legs wet and covered with
filth, to be carried back into the yards
or stables. Animals will frequently suf-
fer thirst rather than wade through a
mud-hole to get to water. Then, again,
the water should be pure and sweet or it
will be rejected until the animal is fore
ed, by thirst. TO drink it. Cows in par
ticular sometimes have strange fancies
in regard to water, often preferring that
from a staguant pool to the purest and
sweetest spring. But as a rule water
from a well, spring, or cistern is better
for stock in winter than that from an
open pond or running stream which is
frozen over during frosty weather. The
water in the latter is usually too cold
either to suit their taste or to be health
full. No rule can be laid down to meet
all circumstances in regard to the
amount to be given or the number of
times animals should be watered per day
or week in winter, but we can safely say
that each animal will, if permitted settle
this question for itself.
The only true way is to place water
where each animal can help itself when
thirsty. OF course horses that are work
ed must be excepted. for when brought
into the stables cverheated by exercise
it will not be safe to allow them access
to cold water, but cows, oxen and young
stock generally should never be stinted
in their supplies of water, although we
fear that this class of animals suffer
more from want of it than any other.
There is far too great an inclination
among farmers to lay down certain rules
for watering their stock at all seasons,
they are likely to become less strict in
their applications.
In regard to watering horses, a cele-
brated author sums up the question in
the following words: sit rests only to
say that water, although it should never
be given to a horse in large quantities
shortly before being put to work, or at
all on his coming off work while hot /;
still less while iaded or exhausted
should ordinarily be furnished him often
and in aboudance. Not SO much in large
draughts at a time, which improperly
distends the stomach, as in small guam
titles at frequent.y-recurring intervals. ,
If farmer depends upon hired labor to
care for his stock he must be ever on the
alert to prevent neglect, unless the la
borers are of more faithful kind than
is usually obtained in this country. OF
course we do not suppose that the own
ers of ANIMALS are always to be trusted
in this matter, for we have known many
who were fully as anxious to do up the
chores at night and get in by the side of
a good fire a. any hi, ed man.
The horses may have been hard at
work during the day, and when brought
in at night they would be hastily un-
harnessed, and left with snow and mud
hanging to their legs and feet; no blan-
kets being put on in the coolest weather,
although the stables are little better
than open sheds. To complete the neg
iect, nay would be tossed into the rack
and oats into the trough before them,
and then the farmer goes to the house
and forgets that the horses have had no
water since morning. Perhaps this lat
ter requisite to health and comfort is
offered before the animal is half through
with his meal, and if he refuses to drink
under such circumstances it is taken as
a proof that he is not thirsty; hence no
more is offered him until the next day.
Now, this haste in the care of animals is
the cause of many diseases, as well as
general unhealthIness, shown in star
ing coat, loss of spirits and health. AN
animal may De given plenty of rich food,
and still remain poor, all the result of
bad management in other matters which
are quite as important. Y. Sun
WINTER WoRK-One of the oldest
and most extensive farmers in Verinilion
county, Indiania, has experimental
largely On destroying brush and briars,
and on the methods of preventing
sprouting from being cut. After extern
siveexperiments he finds that by cutting
under-brush and briars in the winter,
when the ground is frozen hard, say in
January or February that they are most
easily killed. They sprout some in the
spring, but little care in cutting them
back for year effectually destroys them,
then the roots rot and they disappear.
The ground should be frozen hard when
the first cutting is done Cutting at such
time breaks and shivers the stem to the
ground, although he has no lengthy the
ory on the subject; thorough and prae-
teal test of the method proves it good
one. 1t has been tried on extensive
areas of land. We also-hear that in the
southern part of this State this method
has been tried will success, and those
having tracts of land encountered with
iIrambles and briers whichfh wish to
make available, should try this method
during the cold weather. We need hard