Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-10
Farm AND ORCHARD.
HORSES NEED WATER AS sdUCH as
THE FARMER
Take Care of the Pigs Ar Effective
Electric Fence-Sevie Interesting
Farm Notes.

system of horse is quite as excitable as
that of a man, and the hot sun has very
great effect upon the nervous system
which is conferred in the brain and spine.
The head and neck are the more su1cepti-
BILE parts of the body, and horse should
be protected by something from the ae-
tions of intense heat upon these organs.
This is not all, for the flies are very tor
menting to the horse, wearying him and
exciting his nervous system and often
causing him to become fretful and IN
ruly.
The farmer could, at a very little cost
and trouble, secure a white cloth of some
kind and fasten it to The harness, and let
it hang over the back loosely, with large
tassels at the front corners to dangle about
the legs. This would be 4 most effective
safeguard against these tormenters. All
horses dread the bot-fy, but some are
worse than others. 1t is very bad to have
to work hard and at the same time be in a
continual dread of these flies. They are
easily kept in check, and may be extermi-
mated if every farmer or owner of horses
would, when the horses come in, wipe off
the eggs with a sponge moistened with
kerosene OIL In fact, the legs and
shoulders should be wiped with such a
sponge before taking the horses out to
work.
Thomas w. Baird, writing to the Prairie
Farmer, says that another thing too much
neglected by farmers is watering their
horses. II know farmers who do not think
a horse needs water before going to work
in the morning, or at noon. Ii is very
hard for a horse to work without water,
and especially so these hot days. How
would the farmer think he could stand to
have two drinks these long, hot days? 1t
is Just as bad for the horse. If the farmer
would provide water in the field for the
horses, and give the poor, tired beast few
minutes rest and a drink every time he
drank water himself, it would be far better
for the horse than the trouble would cost
Not only would such treatment be hu-
name, but it is the duty We owe our beasts,
and it will also pay well in the saving
of horse-hesh and also the better work
done.
"The farmer should, as far as possible,
feed cooling food in the hot season. Bran
and oats ground are not so heating as corn.
Green fodder carried to the barn is better
than compelling tired horses to work for
their support half the night. ! see farm
ers turn their work-horses out at night to
Craze, and have done so myself, but do not
like the plan, for the horses are more
stupid and lifeless than when kept in the
stable. But when the horses are kept in
the stable and fed good cooling food, the
stables should be kept clean and nice, for
the strong odor of the stable encourages
the pernicious stable-fies, which keep the
horses kicking all night. How much rest
is it to the horse, if he has to fight flies all
the time? Have the doors and windows
of the stable protected with wire-gauze or
mosquito-net frames, to keep out flies.
"Where the farmer has to work mares
with colts, they should be more careful
not to overhead or oyerwork them the
colts will suffer the most from it through
the milk.
"Bran-mashes, not too wet, are very
nutrititions, laxative, healthful and cheap
food for all horses. Don't forget a daily
allowance of salt, given in the feed, or on
the green fodder it is a sure preventive
of collie and bloating. | have fed my
horses on green fodder this summer, and
they have done we'll"
TAKE CARE OF THE PIGS.
1t is wisdom on the part of a nation if
1t observes the maxim, Sin time of peace
prepare for war" Applying this maxim
TO the farmer, regarding his pigs, it will be
wise if he look to it that his swine have
shelter during the summer. And espeei-
ally is this important when fall weather
sets in. Hogs are seriously damaged by
spending their nights in a wet nest, even
though this be in summer, for the nights
get cool, and more or less of chill sets
in. Even in summer, swine rise from a
wet nest coughing. 1t will be observed
that pigs are never seen carving wet
straw to their nests They know better
than to do this. Yet they will sleep in
the wet If you deprive them of the op-
portunity to do better; not otherwise.
The hog, dull as he is supposed TO be. is
considerate of his own health and comfort.
more 50 by far than many swine-owners
show themselves to be. The hogs's
stomach is small, and it is not wise
to contine him TO grass alone, if We desire
that good gain be made; and without
such gain, it is far better that no hogs be
allowed upon the premises and no sort of
farm stock will pay for rearing and fatten-
ing if kept otherwise than in market
able or very near q marketable condition
from the start. IF hogs are kept at grass,
and this is the proper place for them, clfeap
shelter should be provided, not in one place
alone, for but few, not TO exceed half a
dozen, should nest together. All that is
required of a summer shelter for swine is
that it turn water, and that so completely
that the nest is kept dry This division
of the herd insures that the droppings be
not all deposited in one place. 1t also
enables those that are inclined to ego TO-
gether," to have this privilege, unmolested
by the fractions members, and there are
such in all herds.
AN ELECTRIC FENCE.
They are building wire fences on some
of their extensive ranches on the plains
and charging it with electricity by sta
tionary engine. The North,oest gives an
account of a trial of such fence in Car
son county, Kansas: "On Saturday party
had demonstration of its effectiveness
On one side of the fence stood some dozen
or fifteen steers, on the other stood one
alone. He undertook 10 break tbroueb
and go over to the majority. He had no
idea he was tackling a buzz saw when he
struck that smooth wire fence. Well. sir.
he jumped like he was hit at once by forty
million hornets, and with his tail coiled
over his back he wheeled and only strucL
the ground in high places. Then the tif.
teen made a dash TO join and follow him.
One by one they rubbed that electricfence.
and as fast as they did they jumped
bawled, kicked, wheeled and sailed off as
though they had urgent business at the
north pole and only had a few hours in
which to make it. That electric fence is
stunner-it is the eighth and greatest
wonder of the world. Not one of these
cattle was hurt, but not one of them will
go near that fence again"
FARM NOTES.
A dust bath for the fowls is one of the
essentials Of success with poultry. Ordi
no rood lt,rs 49,, II