416 



well cared for, and well housed, can be supported at much less expense, 

 and would be mucli more capable of performing their duty to us, than 

 if left to battle in an unprotected state, with the cold and storms of our 

 inclement and changing climate. A certain amount of animal heat is 

 necessary to the health, and also to the existence of every animal. 

 Heat, it is well known, is obtained by the consumption of the very ma- 

 terials which under other circumstances, would be used to form the 

 flesh and fat of the animal. If then, by a suitable protection from 

 cold without, we prevent the escape of an undue proportion of heat, we 

 actually save to ourselves the food which would be required to replenish 

 it, and at the same time have the satisfaction of knowing that we add 

 materially to the physical comfort of our animals. Good economy, as 

 well as humanity requires of us to furnish all animals with an abundant 

 supply of good food, suited to their condition, and agreeable to their 

 palate. In this way we shall not only render the animals themselves 

 more comfortable, but our returns from them will be far greater. The 

 next thing which is of equal importance, so far, at least, as profits are 

 concerned, is to select the best breeds of stock. Under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances, it costs no more to raise a fine, valuable animal, than to 

 raise one of inferior grade, and perhaps the one would readily sell for 

 twice or thrice as much as the other. There is a custom, somewhat 

 prevalent in our new country, to keep more stock than the farm can 

 well support. They are turned out to shift for themselves for a large 

 portion of the year. These cattle are taken into the yard during the 

 more severe part of winter, and if in the spring they rise alone, they 

 are called wintered. Now this I deem to be bad policy. What is 

 gained in one direction is more than lost in the other. Aside from the 

 trouble and expense of hunting them up in the fall, they frequently 

 get a scanty living, and in many instances do not attain as much growth 

 at three yeare old, as cattle well reared do, at two. 



But the great and all-engrossing object of the farmer should be, so 

 to replenish his grounds with manure, that his farm shall not deterio- 

 rate into barrenness, but grow better and better. Everything which 

 has life, must have food, vegetables as well as animals, and to supply 

 the most and best food at the cheapest rate, is the perfection of hus- 

 bandry. Such a succession of crops should be cultivated, as will en- 

 able him not only to receive the greatest present return, but such as will 



