Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-10-03
AarifuItnral.
MANAGING LIVE STOCK.

The gain from any animal is by the
conversion Of food into some desired
product, and the most valuable animals
are those that have the capacity of con-
verting the largest amount Of food into
a product Of some kind in the shortest
period of time, but in order to realize
such expectations the farmer should
utilize the breeds which will accomplish
the objects sought. The digestive ca
pacity of each animal differs from the
others, and condition for success must
be created where they do not exist.
Breeds must not be depended upon
alone, as the best breeds are the result
of the most favorable conditions
When the fall season ends and the
winter work begins the farmer, who
must face cold winds, storms, snow and
ice, must make profit at a season when
everything depends upon labor and
management There is a smaller varie-
ty of food and its quality is changed, as
the pasture can no longer assist with its
green material, and shelter must be pro-
vided in order to economic in the food
and thus reduce the cost, success being
attained only when the producing ami
mails are such as to return a maximum
product for the materials consumed. 1t
is in the fall when the preparations
should be made, so as to be able to give
good care after the winter opens. Win
ter work is such as to permit of mis-
takes. 1t is then more difficult to bal
ance the rstions because the tempera-
ture Of the atmosphere is more variable
than in summer, and also because, while
the animals when on pasture can select
their foods, the farmer must then be the
judge Of the quality and kind, and is
somewhat restricted in his selections.
With a knowledge of the characteristics
Of the breed the work is performed with
greater efficiency.
There is no period on a well-regu-
lated farm during which idleness should
exist. Stock raising combines many
occupations. The dairyman who has a
large herd must rise early and work
until darkness returns. The many lit.
tie details will keep him busy, and there
is always something to be done; YET
there are hundreds Of farmers who have
but few animals because they object t.
the work that necessarily follows the
keeping Of the stock, but the farmers
lose just 80 much time in the whole
year and also deprive themselves of that
portion of the profits which are mad,
by utilizing the homegrown products
that are not salable in any form unless
consumed by stock. They overlook tn,
fact that every pound of material grow
on the farm that can be used for othe
productions Of some higher priced pro
duct increases the profits by cheapeninl
the cost as well as the saving in labor il
hauling and shipping bulky products Il
market. One operation on the farm
leads to another in regular rotation, ant
just the same as spring seeding leads t,
harvest, so does the storing of the pro
ducts on the farm lead to the employ
ment Of the best methods of disposing
Of those products at a season of the yea
when the farmer is not called to the tielC
10 give his entire attention to work aw.
from the barnyard The care of tn
manure heap after the fall is gone /
alone worth tho time and labor of tn
farmer wh:.e the machinery and i'm
plements may be overhauled Faru
work has no ending and the labor tina
can be bestowed after harvest will re
turn satisfactory product.-Philadel
phia Record.