The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-08-25
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As the fall months approach W.T.,
their cold rains, to be folIowodT WIN
the still severer weather Of oy
the farmer should see that co naiter
able shelteris provided forbis ho"'rt'
cattle, sheep and hogs. This Scs,
been entirely too much neoIoo4 mas
in North Carolina, and our t3rmc'Nea
have paid dearly for it. RenoaLs
carefully gathered from the con rtiss
of this State show that in soms
counties there is absolutely n
shelter of any kind provided th no
cattle being permitted to roam u" ~
large and feed on the reed and otb"'.
ranges, whilst in other counties barr
and there rude shelters are found ~
protect from falling rain but not frou'
the driving storms that are sevorn.
than the rains. Here and tbaua
comfortable stables are found bnt so
rare as to attract attention on acconnt
Of their rarity. The reports 90 to
show that not more than one-f2urtb
of the stock in North Carolina av
cepting work horses and muIns
have shelter of any kind in tho
winter season. Aside from tho
cruelty of this lack of care it is
a bad policy from a business
standpoint. 1t does not take near
as much feed to keep in a healthy
thriving condition stock which are
comfortably housed in bad weather
as it does stock left to run at LARGE
and shift for themselves as best thev
can. The food they eat is required
to keep heat in their bodies and
none is left to put meat on their
bones. Such stock although reason
ably we'll fed barely hold their own
but gain nothing in the winter
months, and enter the spring in no
better, if not in a worse condition
than they entered the winter, when
they should, if we'll cared for, be
gaining all the time. We remember
hearing some time ago a traveller
through a portion Of Pennsylvania
relate how surprised he was at see
ing 50 many large and well appointed
barns which contrasted strikingIy
with the rude and uncomfortable
habitations of their owners. He
thought it very strange that people
should build such fine barns and
be content to live in such shabby
houses. Passing a farm house he
said to the woman who lived there:
MADAM, how is it that you have
such splendid barns in this country
and SUCH poor houses" Her reply
was Charms build houses, but houses
do not build barns" Then he
began to see through itand to under
stand that by and by the thrifty
men who put their first earnings
intobarns, would, from the profits
of these barns be able to build good
h2dses. Good barns are a grand
in economical farming. They
need not be colossal nor expensive.
The more commodius and convenient,
of course, the better, but every one
should build according to his ability
without undertaking too much.
They are a good investment not
only because they make it al easier
matter to take good are OF stock
and save a great deal of feed that Is
wasted and keep stock in better
condition on less feed, and prevent
diseases to which they are liable
when exposed to severe and sudden
changes in the weather, but because
when housed stock become the farm
er's assistants in providing an abun-
dance of manure to enrich his fields
and keep them SO. The grain, hay,
straw and fodder they eat is con,
verified into a good fertilizer and
left where the thrifty farmer can
reach it and readily utilize 1t;
whereas when stock roam at large
and seek shelter in forests or clumps
of woods or in fence corners they
scatter what they eat in all dlrec-
lions, where it is not available for
any service. This one reason alone,
if no other, should be enough to per-
suade every farmer who thinks 1or
a moment, to have good shelter 1Gr
his stock, be they few or many. ne
would soon find that it paid well 10
do it, and for the labor Of caring for
his stock as they should be cared
for.