The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-03-16

pound the chopping block with the
back Of the ak to make sure that
he is in good working trim the first
| erations. The horses will be soft
too, and they need gradual break
ing into the harness and the collars
and to get their systems adjusted to
the change. Don't think that be-
cause they have had a long rest they
can go out and work till the hair
curls and then keep working with
out reducing their strength and their
flesh and their vitality for the next
days work. Develop them gradually
and conserve their energies. Don't
load them too heavily the first few
days and start sore shoulders that
will reduce their working capacity
for Is or 20 days. Guard against
all of these losses this spring more
than ever because there is so much
at stake. A little mis-management
may break you when prices are high.
At this time of the year there is
apt to be some sorting of vegetables
done in the cellar. There may be
some damaged potatoes and other
| things to throw out or to be fed to
the cows and the pigs, allowing them
to pick out what they want from
a bad mess Be careful about this,
and especially if your animals have
not had much variety of feed. They
are apt to be hungry for things they
have not been gettine, and have I'M
natural appetites for something, al
most anything appeals to them and
they eat injurious things for the
good spots in them that satisfy the
longing. They also eat too much,
and you may lose valuable animals
or damage cows milk and butter
or cause any mother animal to lose
her young by this incautious feast
thrown out for them to help them
selves to. 1t is not economy to let
them have access to lot of stuff
and let them pick out what they
want. 1t would be far better to cut
and trim and wash until you get
scant supply for each one to eat
as relish, than to dump the whole
batch out for them to work over.
Fancy yourself half STAYED for straw
berries and being given dish of
partly spoiled ones and allowed to
eat them just as they come or leave
them alone, having no chance to cut
and trim to avoid eating the mildew.
Guard we'll the mother animals from
such experiences, and see that every
possible comfort is given them. Re-
member the experience of others who
have fed their brood mares gener-
ously with nice oats and find that
it costs them the loss of some or
all of the coming colts. 1t seems
that brood mares approaching ma
ternity should receive very little
oats, as it produces too much heat.
That may or may not be true, but
loss of colt crops frequently checks
up with mares having plenty of oats.
Calves and colts and pigs are worth
more money than usual, and the man
who does not take good care of them
from love and sympathy ought to be
careful of their comfort because of
their value in dollars and cents. If
he were not quite willing to stay up
at nights to protect them at birth in
former years he ought to be willing
now because of the great opportunity
he now has to get rich by being care
full in all his management. Remem-
Der it is a cold old world at best,
and the baby animal that arrives
such nights as these with nothing
but a wet fig leaf for clothing does
not deserve to be left to shiver his
little life away in hardship that
would hill on adult