St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-08-21
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE MODERN STOCK FARM.
Conditions OF Prime Importance to Insure
Successful Stacking Raisina


The stock farm should be founded
with reference to its surroundings. In
addition to this, climate should be con-
sidered of great Importance There is
loss in the production of meats, wool,
dairy and poultry products if one must
contend with severe cold weather DUR
ing. many weeks of the year. As dull
as are the times in late years the live
stock growers in the rnilderclimates
of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Texas
and other places of similar latitude
have found profit because of favorable
winters. In more northern latitutles
it has been as often the rule that loss
would occur throughout a season as
gain, because of the severity of winter,
Next to the Importance of climate is
to be considered the value of grazing
lands In what we may term the older
states, rough hills and timber lands
are often considered as good only for
pasturage. When such lands can be
bought at nominal rates and cleared so
chat the sunshine will bring forth
5he best quality of grass, when the
soil is right, the owner of such
land, in the right management of live
stock, should find good returns for his
pains. Many stoekmen, however, have
been slow to realize that they must
look for profit mainly in the cheaper
grades of food, such as grazing, hay
straw and corn fodder Along with
this. the labor required must be the
smallest amount possible. If help is
hired, one strong man should usually
take care of from so to 100 cattle in
winter. Along with the cattle should
be a>good number of hogs and in some
instances q moderate flock of sheep
may be carried to advantage, making q
triple combination.
Where the cattle are being fattened
to a finish and have delicate taste for
the provender and will select only a
small amount of ronghness offered
them, sheep may be allowed to CLEAN
after them, provided there is care to
prevent the odor of the wool from af-
fecting the feeding grounds of the cat
tie. 70 guard against this trouble,
the fodder may be either handled a
second time and thrown into the sheep
yards, or in the case of long-wooled
sheep, they may be permitted to CLEAN
in the cattle yards for but an hour
when they should be turned out before
they are inclined to lie down, and by a
prolonged stay affect the grounds and
refuse of the fodder.
The greatest fault on the average is
too limited area for pasturage
Many proprietors expect definite
number Of acres to support a certain
number of animals, regardless of
the grass which may grow upon
the land. In some seasons there is an
abundance, and in other seasons scarce
ly half as much. Many farmers are
not observant of the fact that when
there is scant grass their animals
scarcely gain pound in weight dur
ing a season. They also fail to realize
that by a halting condition of growth
through both winter and summer
their animals come to be only of the
commonest variety and command only
ordinary prices. The stunting OF the
growth for a year makes it impossible
for new system of bounteous feeding
to make the growth and gain in flesh
which is desirable. Where one has
very cheap grazing and hay lands, it is
at times advisable to depend entirely
on such provender for the growth and
finish of cattle, horses and sheep for
the last two-thirds of the life of the
various animals. Where the climate is
mild, permitting grazing almost entire
ly throughout the winter, hay and
other provendeas should be furnished
TO the older animals only in such an
as deep snow or some
other insurmounta table difficulty
One who is inexperienced in winter
grazing, will be surprised after care
full observation of such practice, to
note how we'll the animals will sur
vive where there has been good rains
during the summer and autumn sea-
sons to cause a rank growth for win
ter's supply. 1t is of course not rea-
expect live stock upon the
same limited grounds in winter as they
were. confined to during the summer
and autumn. The successful stockman
VIII pIOf1tlGs do sb L uIS, 1Ol DlL1 &C lllILGI-
mt grazing fields for his herd through
out the year. Timothy, clover and al
falfa, according to the soil, or other
So bstitutes, will be provided for the
summer ration. Blue grass,
,ye, oats, mi1let, etc, will be depended
lpon for late autumn and early spring
feeding. If possible, the best blue
grass will be reserved for the win
,er J months. If it is permitted to
grow up rank, during the. pre-
nous autumn months SO that it falls |
lown in its profusion, this. will largely |
protect the latest growth of the blades
md furnish an attractive diet IN mid
winter which moderate SHOWS will not /
,over with serious results.
Wherever there are natural wind |
Freaks, prudent thought will preserve
hese for winter protection. They will /
,rove less expensive in the end, on
'round .of moderate value. than reh- |
nee upon sheds made of lumber which +
ooner or later decay. No expense
hould be spared in providing an abun-
ance of pure water. This should be
ccessIble at every hour Of the day
the year. An abundance
t drinking troughs should enable the
Feakling to satisfy It's thirst as freely
s the strongest animal. Constant
hought and search for light as to the
est methods will enable theindustri-
lis man to find returns for his labor, if
uided by intelligence and skill. = West
rn Rural.
RURAL PHILOSOPHY.
hsse is Food in It for Reflection by Every
Farmer.
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