Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-10-24

l find in your late issue, a paragraph eX-
traeted from the Detroit Tribune. threads
thus:
A stable is not complete uni ess () the
animals may be safely fastened in way
not uncomfortable to them; (2) unless the
animals can be kept dry and clean; (3)
unless it is light, and (4) unless one can
pass through without coming in contact
with the occupants and without soiling
shoes and clothing four important requi-
sites, not expensive, but within the reach
of every one who builds stable.
Permit me to say few words to Your
readers from the foregoing text. All in
tellgent, humane stock farmers, Or own
ers of even a. single stabbed animal, will
readily concede the correctness of the / >
positions taken in the text. But let us
consider each of the four in their order.
"A stable is not complete unless (lst) the
animals may be safely fastened in way
not to be uncomfortable to Them
claim that no horned animal which is con-
fined by the neck in stanchions is comfort
able, and that they are when thus rigidly
confined very uncomfortable. The swing
ing stanchion is, however, u great i'm
provement on the stationary ones, especial
ly for pregnant COWS; but the best Of them
are torturing stable fixtures, and | am
conf lent that those who live to see ten
years from this date will see such pro-
gress in humanity and in the prevention of
cruelty to animals, that the use of stan
chions in stables will be prohibited by law,
and the owners of horned animals of that
day will express great surprise when they
are told that the bnrbarOus stanchion was
used by Christian people for centuries.
The readers will of course desire to know
what | would substitute for the method of
fastening that | have so strongly de-
nounced. l would answer, use II broad.
strong strap around the neck with Il strong
ring riveted to shape, 10 which to attach II
short chain, said chain to attach to ring in
strap 10y spring hook; the other end oil it
to be firmly attached to II ring which
slides up and down on II round, smoot
handle. The strap to remain on the neck
of the COW; and the chain, when it is un-
hooked is to be hooked upon IL nail con-
venienlly located in the head end Of the
stall, so that it may be reached, and the
animal be tethered without the stable-man
STOPPING, and placing his head in danger
of injury from the horns of the animals.
An animal so telhered, with an opening in
the head of the stall, SIMILAR to that be-
tween stanchions, only larger, through
which it may pass and Withdraw the head
at pleasure, may lie down in u natural
position, and with the back either way,
aud may turn the head to the opposite side
from which the back lies, and thus with
the leverage of the neck counterfeit the
constant strain ON and fatigue Of the mus
Giles in permitting the body from rolling
in the direction to which the bark inCInes
During the eight years that the writer
conducted an experimental farm, and
farm-school stable economy was made Il
specially; and the cows were tethered Us
recommended, and l73 of my 2l7 pupil,
still living, will attest that, out of twenty
10 twenty-five COWS kept, not one of them
would lie with her head between the sta.
tionary stanchions, when they were tied
us | have recommended, but all would
step back, and withdraw the head and lie
in Il natural manner.-J. Wilkinson, IN
Prairie Farmer.