Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-05-02
THE CARE or COWS.

As an adjunct in producing whole
some milk, sound food j. OF prime i'm
portance - COWS, and this must b. APP
portionei so that the requirements Of the
body are supplied. In this connection
the value of something approaching the
succulent quality of green grass cannot
be too highly commended. Those who
have SiloS filled with corn, or clover, are
all right. and the farmers who have =
large crop OF unstable potstoes on hand
cannot market the surplus 10 better adj
vantage than 10 give his stock a moder-
ate ration of potatoes. These viii cor
rect the feveri>n condition COW l. apt
to be in when kept on hay, straw and
corn. Water i such An importln. Gle
ment in the animal economy that It is
more necessary, If possible, than food.
1t is said that horse has lived for eleven
DAYS without food, but that he cannot
exist more than five days unless supplied
with water.
Much has been said and written dur
ing few years past, about giving cattle
warmed water to drink, and there l. no
question but that cattle thrive better for
having water at moderate temperature
instead of drinking ice water. In
cold weather there l. a marked difference
In the general appearance OF two herds
otherwise treated alike. if one lot
drinks ice water and the other has water
in regular quantities at fOrty-five degrees
to fifty degrees; or even somewhat high
err There are many devices on sale for
heating water The small, drum like af-
fair, so often illustrated during the past
two or three years, has most of the good
qualities. with the additional merit of
costing less than any other.
The value of shelter Is so well cstab-
lished that little need be said On this sub
iect, but value Of sunlight and cleanliness
in the stable needs to be urged far more
than it is. The rays of sunlight readily
penetrate through glass and leave their
health giving properties within, so that
no one need hesitate to use glass freely in
the winter quarters of cattle. An aid To
health and thrift in COW stables is the use
of lime as u wash for all woodwork.
Lime is also destructive to insect life that
modest stock. What is known as "barn
itch. " ana also ringwormS are diseases
caused by insects that propagate their
species and exist about the premises while
cattle are in the pastures, but are ready
to attack them when the stables are again
used as winter quarters. AS noted above,
lime washes are partly successful in kill
ING them, but it is we'll to burn a guam
titv of sulphur in the stable. An iron
kettle with IA few live Goals in it, on
which a pound or so of sulphur has been
thrown, placed in the building after the
cattle have been driven out, answers the
purpose. The fumes Will penetrate every
nook and crcvicc, to the destruction Of
any living thing.
The stables should be cleaned at least
once a day; if possible. plenty Of absorb
ents used, and as an additional purifier,
sand plaster may be used by sprinkling
it freely about the stables and pens. If
land plaster, or gypsum, is not at hand,
dry earth. in the form of road dust, may
be used instead with good success. The
use of broom, both in the manger and
where the cattle stand, will do much to-
ward making the stable tidy and fitting
the COW to furnish clean milk.-Daiyy
Column.