Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-16
4arn' ann honstboIO
Winter Feeding.

In our climate. with longer period
during which domestic animals need TO
be confined TO the barns than in almost
any other State-usually averaging from
six to seven months-tLe matter OF feed
ing becomes one of the greatest import
ance and it is TO be regretted thai il does
not also become more of study. Win
ter feeding is at best, artifieial-the ami
mas OF the farm Craze naturally; and II
June pastures were perpetual they
would have Just the pest conditions pos
sible for their greatest comfort, and The
farmer would secure from them the larry
esl profit at the least expense. Bat hall
our year is rigid, she pastures tail. ans
the animals of the farm seek the warm
winter quarters furnished bS the provi
dent farmer, and subsist upon tbe forage
his diligence aud iorethougat haVe
stored up for them. - that ia reality a
great part OF half the year i, spent in
labor to bring TIE animals through The
other half-tbe animals in fact consti
tute the farmers wealth, in large part.
Now, winter feeding being artificial,
there is much reason for the belief OF
many farmers that IL is only during the
grazing months that eaille make IA gain
and yields profit by their increase and
often the remark is made by shTewd
men tbst cattle gain when at pasture
only TO loee 1t sll when confined 10 The
barns in winter. Though this may not
be actually correct. vel ii conforms with
the eXpei fence of most farmers we pre-
sumo, to say thst cattle are thought 10
be doing well when they "hold their
own" through the period Of winter iced
ing-indeed "spriug poor" is term .
great MANY farmers know the meaning
of. Now winter feeding Of oil the do
provide so tar as 'possinfe. 're'nssn.sr
approach TO the good psslurc OF early
summer which it i possible to do; or
In other words, u forage OF the best i,
early cut, well cured hay, with roots to
supply moisture aud TO keep The y stem
in good condition, and proycndcr as an
extra force TO sustain the strain upon the
system consequent upon milk produc-
ton, hard work, or the processes of
reproduction. But instead VI u great
effort being made on the part of the far
mer 10 secure these conditions for win.
ter feeding, what are, too often, the cal
means al hand Tor getting the domestic
animals through the long winters:
DRY, late cut hay, damaged By rain, or
10y being all burnt up with tie sun. very
likely put into the NOW wet. aud in con-
sequence musty. and plenty Of cold wa
ter-this is about all. Cattle, and sheep
and colts will not starye on such food to
b. cure. but they viii not thrive. Il j..
al inter impO,sibiliiy for such feed to
leld the nourishment necessary 10 give
increase of fiesh, vr production Of milk,
or growth Of wool. If it furnishes bare
subsistence il j. all that can be expected
We are not OF those who believe that
our winters are too long and TOO severe
lor feeding To be carried on probably,
because we have seen too many instan-
ces 10 the contrary 10 disprove it. Ia
our visits among farmers we have seen
numerous cases where, with suitable
conditions, the farm animals have not
only been kept growing, but yielded a
constant profit this has been true Of
mich cows, young cattle, colts and
sheep. These conditions are warm
quarters, good feed in sufficient gGanii-
ty not only for support, bui fol produc-
ton, care and attention. The last ill.,
Guide bedding, ventilation and cleanli.
ness, carding. and a particular oversight
of all the animals 80 far as individual
characteristics are concerned. to see that
none falter, and that all thrive and gain.
But winter feeding is a matter that can
hardly be improved upon at this season
with the means ordinarily at the COM
mand of the farmer, unless provision
has been made for il earlier in the seas
on. Ii is in summer that the farmer
mast be making efforts Tor carrying his
stcck through the coming winter at Il
profit. la spring the root crop must
have aIteatiop. or there will lie no root.
To give variety TO the winter feed; the
earl, Cutting aud careful curing OF The
grass, thai il may not be burnt up ami
worthless, but come near dried grass
a. possible, must also be looked aiier
thai the winter feeding Of The animals
may be such as will keep them gaining
rather than losi.g.
These bIief hiuIs will show how i'm.
portaDt u matter the artificial feeding Of
domestic animals IL. as a part oi the farm
economy and how provisions tor il
reach backward and forward through
ali the operations cf the ,esr. ard eol,r
10 Z, al Ste plan. act. lsi.os- 81 'he far
mrr- O. be C@l!nlz aiiensi-4 ~ this
matter now, serves 10 impress upon the
mind the deficiencies in the present win
ter i.ed in any particular. and siimu-
late. 10 plans for lie Improvement spo,L-
err winter, which may lie carried on
during the intervening season, the OBJ
iect in giving them will have been .e-
cured.-lNafse Farmer.