Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-01-14
New Series-Vol. 26. No. 2

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their confidence and sslf-dependence.
In fact, all stock should be treated with
special kindness, their tastes and natural
habits should always be respected, and
as far as possible gratifsd. They should
be allowed such familiarity as to give
them confidence in your interest and re-
gard for them. 1t is remarkable how
intelligently some animals respond to
kind treatment, and all are less or more
affected by it. 1t begets a kindly, con-.
tented spirit. and prevents the wear and
tear Of fear asd restlessness, that is
great drain Oh the animal forces.
The wild animal OF the flock or herd,
is always the long one. So it is prefta-
BILE to be kind as we'll as humane. Young
animals, especially, are very sensitive to
the the kind of treatment they receive;
and flock of lambs OF calves may be
made wild and troublesome for life, by
very few cases Of bad treatment.
Again, lock well to the sanitary eondi-
ton of the stock. Instinct has provided
the animal with a kind of medicinal
knowledge they will search for and
eat certain things to correct cases OF inr
disposition. The dog will eat green
grass, and it serves as an emet1c. The
hog will eat soft sand stones, coal stones,
ashes, &c. The horse will eat rotten
wood, yellow clay. The cow will eat old
leather, bone. &c.
In Summer, they have access to these
things, but in winter. stock if kept hous-
ed, should be turned out when they can
get them, or they should be supplied
them, or lime, yellow clay. sulphur and
charcoal instead, all of which will be
licked up at times, to their good. Also.
all animals should have free access to
salt; they will then use just what their
natures require. When it is given at iR-
tervals, they are likely to eat too much
and be injured, sometimes very serious
ly, from being too hungry, or having too
great craving for it. Daily exercise
should be given in the open air to all
stock, except when it is very cold and
wet or stormy; then we weuld say, bet
ter leave them in the warm stables; ear
ry them their water, and prevent the
chilling they would get, as on such days
they would not be disposed to take the
exercise, but would simply hide behind
some imagiBary shelter, and stand shiV-
ering and benumbed.
Again, all stock should have free and
easy access to good clean water, aad of
a high temperature. If it were possible,
it would be better given warmed, as the
first thing the system has to do after the
water is taken, is to warm it up, which
is drain and often severe one on the
animal forces. 1t would pay to warm
water for milk COWS. 1t will always pay
to water all kinds of stock at the head
of the spring, where the water is Of the
highest temperature. And in this coun-
try. where springs are so abundant, sta
bIes shsuld be located to secure the ben
eft. When snow is deep, and the water
at distance from the stable, sheep will
content themselves eating snow, AID will
not go for their daily drink, and never
thrive so well without it-and all kinds
of stock will indulge this habit less or
more. In very cold weather, the ice will
shut off the water supply, or cover it be-
yond their reach; it should be cut eh
promptly, and not left until they have
made a fruitless attempt to get their
morning drink and gone away disaP-
pointed, as they may suffer the rest OF
the day before making another effort.
It is cruel to have no better water than
this for stock, but it is better than none.
We have now gone over briefly, and
referred to those things in the matter
of our winter care of stock, that we be-
lieve applicable in all cases, and left
many points, such as cooking, cutting,
and mixing of feed, silo, root supply, and
other open questions of like nature. We
do not claim TO have said anything that
is new or unknown to any practical far
mer in this hall. Our faults are not In
not knowing but not doing. We need
line upon line on these common. matter
of fact practices, that we are all ready to
admit are proper and right, and yee
which we so often and thOughtlsssly neg
lect. If there was a time when land was
cheaper, our modes of life palmer and
less exacting, competition not so sharp
and our markets net so discriminating,
when man could afford to handls stock
carelessly, it Is not so now. 1t Is only
the thoughtful, provident, thorough go
ing stockman of this day that ean make
money keeping stock. To our natural
we must ever supplement-
all the artificial appliances at our com p
mand, if we are to make stock raising a
success. In all farm products, ge6d and
bad means profit and loss. The good
bushel of grain, the good barrel OF APP
plies, the good pound of butter. the good
fat steer, the good anything you raise, IS
no UdllcI Wuab buC NCpANSSNN
condition of the market, is always gong
to sell, and to sell at, at least little
profit. The bad is always hard TO sell,
and in dull times always at loss. Strive
for the best; it is your only hope OF sue
cess. The best breed. the best OF the
breed, the best type. the best constitu.
ton, the best fed. the best OF ALL And
no man can ever succeed in having these
unless he gives them the best Of winter
care.
The Merits of the Breeds, from the
Farmers Standpoint.
By J. w. AxTELL, OF THE NATIONAL
STockSIAN.
The farmer is the most practical Of all
practical men. Ne other is more apt,
,0d ,,arhaos mona is az ant Tn rata aver