Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-18
Warm sheds and stables.

from the Western Stockman and Cultivator.l
The greatest lack of economy in the win
tering of stock in the west is observed in
the careless construction of sheds and sta
bles. This has been encouraged by the
former belief that stock did not require
any protection from the storm, not even
feed; that they would safely pass the en-
tire winter on the open range without feed
or shelter. This kind of history coming
down to our western farmers has, without
doubt, had much influence in encouraging
neglect in winter stock protection Each
winter, however, demonstrates more clear
ly the fallacy of trying to winter stock
without shelter, or with poor shelter. We
have frequently seen cattle and horses
wintered in Nebrarka without any protec-
ton, except such as they could get from
little strip of cultivated timber, or by hov-
ering around some hog-shed or horse
stable. The western-raised cow, if heal
thy and in good flesh in the autumn sea-
son, with a liberal supply of hay, will usu-
ally worry through pretty hard winter
with these accommodations. She is not
much OF a COW, though, when spring
opens up, and it takes long time for her
to recover and get in thriving condition.
The best investment that the farmer can
make is in providing close, tight sheds or
stables for the stock. We very often see
large, well-built barns and stables that are
not sided up with tight siding Common
barn boards, with the cracks not stripped,
make very poor stable for stock. All
sheds or stables, sided with this kind of
material, may be remedied very cheaply by
using plaster lath, mailing them on the
| cracks from the inside of the building. 1t
is very essential that all these crevices,
cracks and openings be closed up and shut
out all currents and air draughts, as these
are what cause the stock to suffer. Make
all stock buildings tight and warrk, and
keep no more stock than you can accom-
modate in such quarters, and you will save
more profit at the end of the year than il
more stock were kept and less care given
BianketIng Horses.
From the Western Stoclman and Cultiyator.
1t is not necessary to have blankets 70
every horse or mule on the farm, but it /
necessary and will pay to have goo,
blanket for every horse that is to be KEEP
in use. On most farms one team is e1
, pected to do the winter work and is keI
shod and fed up for that purpose. Eve
, where one team is given all the work to d
it will still be idle good share of Ii
I time. during which the system will rela
, so that on being put to any eOnsiderab
! amonnt of exertion the horses sweat FIRE
", and are subject to a chill as soon s
they come to a stop. In all such cases
is positive piece of cruelty not to have
blanket at hand to protect the horses
q 1t is not necessary to keep the hors
blanketed all the time if the stable is pro
erly built, and it may even be an injury
+, do so, under some circumstances. But
most of our above-ground stables bla
u ket should be used in severe weather. al
l. in all cases where the horses are beil
" shaped up for market, free use of go'
/. blanket is of great value. 1t saves fee
makes the coat soft and hastens the II
% making process. This is hard coin in {
d horseman's pocket, for fat and hair have
" good deal to do with selling even 60
a, horse.
. In buying blanket it pays to get a go
! one, at least a strong one. The expense
" all-wool blankets are not the best for
At uses. But the cheap shoddy blankets ha
"a practically no value, as they will not sta
NJ the rough usage a blanket viii often ha
to meet, even with the best care. A pl
L. of good blankets properly taken care
m will last long enough so that their use "
of not cost one dollar Per year, an item
.y small that no horse-owner can afford
l. let his team go without q liberal and reg
A. lar use of the blanket whenever its I
10 would add to the comfort of the amin