St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-10-29
shade AMI water in Pastures.

Many pastures in the West consist OF
q level piece OF prairie land covered
with a few varieties OF grass and sur
rounded by fence OF barbed wire
There is no water except that found IN
natural depressons of the earth after
heavy rain. Mich COWS are allowed
water in the yard twice a day at milk
inc time. Calves, colts and stock cat
tie are driven to pond, creek or wat
erino trough once in every tWentV-tour
hours to quench their thirst. Sheep
often are not treated as we'll as this. 1t
is a fayorite idea of some farmers that
sheep will get along well enough on
dew. They are fond Of reading stories
of sheen that lived for months on ocean
islands that contained no fresh water, or
in acid regions in the far West where
there are no springs or streams.
1t is true that most kinds OF farm
stock will exist for several months on a
scant supply o. food and water, and
with very little to add to their comfort.
The animals will exist, but they will
not be profitable to their owners. Cows
will give little milk, sheep will afford
but a small amount of wool, stock in
tended for the butchers will lay on but
little fat, and young animals will make
a very slow growth. Stock kept dur
ing several generations in this way will
run OUT They will diminish in size
and productiveness. They will be far
less profitable to their owners than an
imals that have had their material
wants well supplied and have had at
tention paid to their comfort. Some
animals, like human beings, will only
do their best when they are well fed
and cared for.
Every pasture should contain per-
petual supply of cool, fresh water, to
which animals can have access at all
times. If the pasture is large, then
there should be several drinking places.
| Animals should not be subjected to the
hardship of walking half a mile to OBJ
tain a drink in hot day in July or
August. If they are compelled to do
this, they will often remain thirsty for
several hours, and will then find their
way to the water, and drink immoder-
ately. Abstinence from water for a
considerable period, or long walk in
the scalding sun in order to obtain it.,
will result in the loss of milk, flesh and
fat. Water, next to air, is the cheapest
article that is consumed by animals,
and they should have it in abundance
and within easy reach at all times.
Many farmers are very negligent in
utilizing natural supplies of water.
They take no pains to keep up the flow
of water in springs, or to conduct the
water they afford through pipes to diff
ferent parts of a large pasture. The
fall necessary TO conduct water is very
small. Pipes of wood. iron or lead are
cheap, and are easily placed below the
frost line. Once in position, they viii
last life time, ard require no repairs
1t is often the case that supply o.
water can be obtained from spring
located on an adjoining farm, or on the
public highway. If there is no spring
stream or lake from which water can be
obtained, resort must be had to well:
and wind-mills. or to artesian wells
One of these wells will often furnish
sufficient water to supply several farms
Every pasture should contain some
means of shelter from the sun. If there
are no trees they should be planted a
soon as circumstances will permit. l
may be advisable to plant quick-grow
ING varieties, as linden and willow, TO
present purposes, but more substantial
kinds should be set out for affordin!
shade in the future. 1t is best to plan
, the trees in the higher portions of tn
pasture, as they are more exposed t.
breezes, and are the most comfortabl
, for animals to lie in. Grasses on lo'
land are likely TO abound with trouble
! some insects. 1t is desirable to plan
, trees in several places. SO that stock c
different kinds and ages may not troubl
, the others. Cattle will often driv
sheep, calves, and colts from their resi-
ing places.
Excellent shade may be secured b
making frames of timber and GOVERN
them with wild vines. The woodbin
! and several varieties of wild grapes ma
!, be obtained without cost in most part
of the West, and transplanted with Ii
tie trouble. They are hardy, and max
rapid growth. The Clinton grape
vine may also be employed for GOVERN
E their arbors. The fruit, though not {
the best quality. is, when well-ripenet
of very fair quality. Since wire may I
used, if desired, for supporting tt
: vines, shelters for immediate use ms
be covered with long straw, PUSHES, {
t meadow grass. Shelters made in tn
+ manner are desirable to protect stoe
d against storms as well as against tt
$ sun.-Chicago Times.
Il Specialties in Farming.
: The tendency in every department
4