Year: 1865




Our correspondent, "N. S. IT, Es-
sex Co., Mass, in the following COM
munication, directs the attention Of the
readers of the .4griculturist to an i'm
portant subject. Foul water is the
fruitful source of unthrift and disease
in animals, besides, it is almost con-
stantly operating, and in time will pro-
duce effects not perceptible at first.


That farmer who has provided for
his barn-yard never-failing supply
CT good water, and an arrangement by
which it is brought into the troughs or
tubs without pumping or drawing, has
a convenience, the value of which Is
not likely to be over-estimated but 1t
is a matter Of no small importance that
it be given to the stock fresh and pure.
Because animals drink from filthy
trough or muddy and stagnant pool
with apparent relish, it does not follow
that their sense of taste is of low or
der and cannot appreciate good feed
ing. Necessity too often compels them
to drink anywhere, and whatever they
can find. Long continued habit dead
ems or perverts the taste. But animals
with unvitiated taste left free to choose
for themselves, will find the purest wa
ter as quickly as the sweetest grass;
especially is this true of the horse.
Some are naturally very fastidious
about both food and drink, and they
often suffer from thirst rather than
drink from a vessel or at well they
dislike. Some men entrusted with the
care of stock, seeing horse tasting
and slipping, or playing, as they imag
inc, say he is not dry, or is whimsical,
and bring him back to his stall, there
to remain till thirst compels him to
drink. Thus real cruelty is ignor-
antly practised against dumb beast,
when few moments attention would
discover and remove the trouble.
Fresh, pure water means more than
simply water free from sticks, dirt, or
substances which are readily detected
by the eye. Water exposed in shall
low vessels to the atmosphere during
warm weather, quickly loses its fresh
and sweet taste. Should it remain in
a stable twenty-four hours. it becomes
undrinkable from having absorbed the
impurities of the air. Ammonia, car
bonic acid, and all the gases escaping
in the stable are absorbed rapidly and
in large quantities by water. During
hot weather these gasses are always
largely present, even in well regulated
barns, and a tub of water exposed to
the air in the stable yard, or cellar,
soon becomes charged with them, and
is unfit for any animal to drink. Be
sides being of a disagreeable taste, it
becomes slightly aperient.


GA cover that fits closely to the
trough or tub is of some service in
keeping out dust and dirt, and prevent
ing contact with impure air, but it is
impossible to keep water in shallow
vessels about a barnyard and have it
absolutely pure. The safest plan of
ensuring purity is to draw from the
fountain head as often as wanted and
when the animals have drank, throw
the remainder away. 1t is a common
practice in summer to keep water in
the trough to prevent its drying and
falling into pieces. The more shallow
a trough is made the less liable it is to
dry up; but it is better to lose one oc-
casionally than to always give impure
water to the stock. Serupulous clean
illness in the care of all the arrange
ments for furnishing water commends
itself to every thinking man who is the
owner and lover of animals, in proper
ton as the i'll effects of neglecting
them are understood.-.fmerican .4g-
rictturiSt.