The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-12-12
Protection rs Well as Food.

there is so small margin for profit that
it becomes necessary to practice the
strictest economy in their production.
But there is a wide difference among
farmers as to what may be considered
economical measures, and especially in
regard to the feeding and care of stock.
Some appear to think if they provide
plenty of food it is all that is required
of them, and that the building Of warm
sheds and stables would be an extrava-
gance rather than economy; and we have
frequently heard farmers excuse them
selves for not providing shelter for their
animals in Winter, by asserting that it
made them tough and hardy to compel
them to trough it during the severest
weather In fact, it is a common saying
among class of farmers, that young
colts and calves are benefited by expo
sure, as it is necessary toughening pro-
cess. But there was never greater
fallacy; for anything which brings dis
comfort to an animal renders it just SO
much more susceptible to disease and
premature decline.
Young animals to be kept healthy and
in condition to grow, must not be sub
jected to any physical discomfort,
whether it be innutritious food, or in
the extremes of heat or cold, as these
are more Or less enervating, in proper
ton to severity. 1t is not enough that
animals have plenty of food; they re-
quire shelter in addition. At the South,
or in what is usually termed mild eli
.mate, cold rains affect them almost as
much as severe snow storms do in the
North; consequently shelter of some
kind is needed almost as much in one
case as in the other. A large proper
ton of the diseases of live stock are due
to exposure, with, insufficient or poor
food, constitute the principal cause of
the diseases of domestic animals.
First of all, the farmer should see
that his stock are in good condition at
the commencement of Winter; for if
animals are then thin and poor, the
struggle is far greater than if they were
fat. The system not being in condi-
ton to resist the cold and ordinary
changes of temperature, it is better to give
extra feed before cold weather sets in
than to be obliged to do it after stock
has run down in flesh. Every farmer
has probably observed how Indifferent
fat animals were to cold, and how
quickly the thin were shivering and the
very picture of discomfort. 1t is econ
omy to keep the animals in good con-
dition, for it cost less than to bring
them up after they have once run down
in flesh. Mr. Flint, author of "Milch
Cows and Dairy Farming" says: "'Keep
the cows constantly in good condition,
ought to be the constant motto of every
dairy farmer, posted up over the stalls
and in the milk room, and repeated to
the boys whenever there is danger of
forgetting it." 1t is the great secret of
success, and the difference between sue
cess and failure turns upon it. Food
will do much toward brir ging about the
favorable conditions so much desired in
the stock yard, but it requires a much
larger amount when the animals are ex-
posed to cold than when they are prop
erly housed in warm sheds or stalls.
The testimony of all breeders of all
choice stock favors warm Winter quar-
tiers, and it has also been shown that an
imals will thrive on far less food when
protected than when exposed to cold
winds and rains; therefore it is economy
to furnish SHELTER even if the comfort is
not taken into account.
In regions where there are no heavy
SHOWS in Winter, cheap sheds and wind
breaks will answer If nothing better
can be afforded throw up bank Of sod
on the side from which the REVEALING
winds come in Winter, and then set up
stakes, put on poles and cover with
brush. Good permanent sheds, or,
what is better barns, are best; but there
are many places, especially on the prai-
ries and plains, where such buildings,
owing to the scarcity of timber, would
be far too expensive for the new settler,
and some cheaper structures must an
swcr; but in no case can the owners of
stock afford to leave them wholly ex-
posed during the Winter months. All
talk of the climate of our Western States
and Territories being SO mild that stock
do not need shelter is sheer folly, and
only an excuse for neglect to provide it;
and although there may be an occasional
Winter so mild that stock will pass