128 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



If these opinions are well founrled, the conclusion is inevitable, 

 that, -whether it arise from ignorance of the facts, or from extrava- 

 gance, recklessness, or anj other cause, there is here a most serious 

 defect in our prevailing practice. 



The wintering of Farm stock is one of the heaviest bills which 

 the farmer is obliged to meet in the whole course of his experience, 

 and in not a few instances greater than any other ; and if he were 

 compelled to respond to a needless call from his winter stores, for 

 enough to supply his animals during an additional six weeks or two 

 months, he would deem the case a bitterly hard one, and justly, too ; 

 and yet, what can be more clearly capable of mathematical demonstra- 

 tion than the statement, that if a saving of a quarter or a third of 

 the present cost of wintering stock can be effected, that it would be 

 equivalent to an actual shortening of the winter, a lessening of his 

 expenses, an increase of his profits, — call it what you will — by just 

 so much ? And what would such a saving amount to on the three 

 hundred and fifty thousand* head of neat cattle in the State, (let 

 alone all other stock) ? This problem is commended to the farmers' 

 boys, to cypher upon during some of the winter evenings. The 

 answer will probably be found to count up dollars, not by hundreds 

 or thousands, but by millions ! 



Experience has amply proved, and every body is ready to admit, 

 that animals cotnfortahhj housed, and well cared for, can be wintered 

 more cheaply, and come out in spring in better condition, than if 

 exposed to the inclemencies of a northern winter, (or a western 

 winter, either). Shelter is cheaper than fodder^ and no farmer 

 or herdsman, who wishes to thrive in his calling, can afford to 

 neglect to furnish the full amount of shelter and itrotection 

 which can he economically done. 



To sustain a due degree of animal heat, is a prime necessity of 

 bodily existence — no individual can live without it. In order to 

 understand how comfortable shelter and the warmth thus saved, is 

 connected with the economical keeping and growth of animals, it is 

 necessary that we first endeavor to understand by what process of 

 nature animal heat is generated; and although we may not find the 



* The census returns in 1850 give tiie number then as three hundred and forty- 

 three thousand three hundred and thirty-nine. 



