Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-11-26
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.
AROUND THE BARN.

/ rope fUOuBu Ollll w dllO" t"O ""'
NAL TO get his nose down to the
/ floor, or very near there. Better
still-a plan adopted by many
attach weight TO the inner end
of the hitching strap, giving the
latter free and easy play over a
roller or smooth substance. The
weight should be sufficient heavy
to insure that no slack occur in the
hitching strap, which should have
no more weight than needed. Colts
or horses that have been entangled
i'm the stall IN the manner referred
to are very likely, later on, to
struggle iiercely, if, through any
mishap, they have trouble while IN
harness. Hired men and boys very
seldom have any system in hitch
ing, but the sliding strap is re-
liable system within itself, and,
like rubber band, never slips.
Leather of all kinds is best pre-
served by filling its pores with oil
of some kind. NeatsfOOt oil, oh
tanned from the feet of cattle, is re-
garded as best for the purpose !;
but castor oil, the same as that en-
ployed incidentally, has been found
of great value in softening leather.
The usual method is to take tue
harness apart, wash it with soap
and water, allow it to partly dry,
and then oil and put the parts to-
gether. 1t is regarded as a better
way to first oil the harness through
out with castor oil and lamp.black
warmed, so that it will penetrate
the leather readily. Then go over
the parts of the harness with a
sponge dipped in warm soap-suds,
which will remove all the dirt
When dry, 90 over the whole with
a mixture of equal parts OF meats
foot oil and tallow, melted together,
with enough lamp.black or powder
ed Prussian blue to give sufficient
color. Apply this in small guam
titles, we'll rubbed in, to leave a
smooth, clean surface.
Horses get some rest standing,
provided the position he reason
ably easy, but no full rest except
recumbent. 1t is known of some
horses that they never lie down in
a stall, though if kept in pasture
they take their rest habitnally in a
recumbent position. 1t is we'll to
consider whether this habit has
not been forced upon the horse by
some circumstance connected with
the stall he was made to occupy, IN
that it had a muddy dirt floor, OF
one made Of dilapidated plank, un'
comfortable and offensive to the
horse that has been accustomed to
select his own bed in the pasture
lot. If the horse eau have the
privilege of selecting his own po
sition, he can sleep standingj but
while his muscles may be, to a
degree, relaxed, and get rest IN
this position, what can we say OF
the bearings at the joints! With
out relief through the recumben'
position, the joint-surfaces are
forced to bear a weight, varying
from |. 900 to 1880 pounds, con
tinuously. This must act unfavor
ably, especially upon the compll
Gated structures within the hoofs
which nature intended should have
periods of rest each day. 1t vii
be well, before the horses and
cattle are put up for the coming
winter, to settle the question o.
comfort by repairing the floors an(
providing abundant bedding.
When, at the end Of their season
of work, farm machines are stored
away until again required for use
their driving bands and belt
should be thoroughly impregnate(
with castor oil. This will keep thu
leather soft and flexible and ready
for use. The bands and belt
should be removed from the ma
chimes and stored in a tight box
which will keep it from the dust
and also protect it from rats which
are often very destructive to leath
er, especially if it has been vel
oiled.