1851.] Economij ut Wuiixrimj Stock. 135 



ill treatment applied to stock engenders corresponding diseases. 

 The fact is, if we desire to save our stock, and make this Western 

 Country the Great Stock Market of the world, we must entirely 

 abandon the present mode of treatment, and substitute a system con- 

 sistent with reason and humanity. It is declared in the Bible that, 

 the merciful man is merciful to his beast. We have seen civilized, 

 humane farmers throwing fodder to their stock, that had no shelter 

 night nor day, though the snow lay upon the frozen earth, and the 

 keen winds sent a shiver through their bones, as if th.e tines of a fork 

 had penetrated their flesh. He can not bear such weather himself, 

 but somehow thinks that stock is not made of flesh and blood, and 

 do not feel uncomfortable with a frozen bed and frozen food, given 

 to them in a freezing atmosphere. Every animal before him has 

 his backbone arched, and feet drawn up under him, and shivers ; 

 but the farmer takes it as an indication of comfort ! He does not 

 believe that his stock has the same nature as himself, and needs pro- 

 tection as much, in order to thrive. To what slow tortures are multi- 

 tudes of beasts subjected, at this season, through the ignorance of their 

 owners ; and this piece of barbarism is as wasteful as it is cruel. It 

 takes a third more feed to winter stock in this way. Either enlarge 

 your barns, or diminish your stock. Let not this barbarous prac- 

 tice of thus wintering stock any longer disgrace our western country. 

 February and March are the hardest months in the year on stock, 

 and they require more attention, care and feeding than at any other 

 time. All young stock should be kept steadily growing, and should 

 be kept in a uniformly good condition the year round. If they are 

 neglected at this time, and suiFered to run down, it will take some 

 time to recruit them. Their ability to stand the weather is less at 

 this time than earlier in the season. They must eat in proportion 

 to the cold, or the fat and flesh will be wasted away in the produc- 

 tion of the warmth necessary to sustain life. 



FOOD. 



In wisely selecting the food which is best adapted to the natural 

 wants of neat cattle, milch cows, working teams, sheep and poultry, 

 we all have much to learn. 



My experience in feeding stock is this, that there is a great ad- 

 vantage in cutting feed, such as straw, corn stalks and hay, as a mat- 

 ter of economy. It aids in digestion, and is much better relished by 

 the animals : there should be added some bran, shorts or corn meal. 



