THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. 



A highly elevated temperature, by keeping an ani- 

 mal in a state of excitement, often produces func- 

 tional disorders of the liver, which lead todiarrhavi 

 and a consequent diminution in the secretion of 

 milk ; while the opposite state of the atmosphere, 

 by depressing the vital functions, has a similar 

 result. Notwithstanding this, an animal has the 

 power of maintaining a uniform heat of its body 

 under any circumstances it may be placed in, with 

 regard to temperature. This heat, which is equal 

 to about 100" of Fahrenheit, is, however, kept up 

 with less tax on the system under some circum- 

 stances than under others. As a general princijjle 

 a greater dem.and is made on some of the elements 

 of the body in cold than in warm weather. It is 

 principally by the union of the oxygen of the at- 

 mosphere with the carbon and hydrogen of the 

 system, and the consequent production of carbonic 

 acid gas and watery vapour, which takes place in 

 the capillary vessels of the entire organism, that 

 animal heat is produced. The carbon and hydro- 

 gen are thus being constantly consumed, and to 

 supply their place the hydro-carbonaceous mate- 

 rials of the body are appropriated. By the process 

 of respiration oxygen enters the system ; and by 

 the same process the carbonic acid and watery 

 vapour are cast out. Cream, as we have elsewhere 

 stated, consists chiefly of the oleaginous or hydro- 

 carbonaceous elements of the milk, their source 

 being the food; but if these are consumed while 

 still in part within the blood to keep up the heat 

 of the body, it follows as a consequence that a 

 diminished amount will be found in the milk. 

 Protection from the cold and inclement weather of 

 winter thus becomes indirectly the cause of supply 

 of a given quantity of food, and the same protec- 

 tion is no less beneficial in allaying undue excita- 

 tion during the heat of summer. 



The owners of stock on the Continent seem well 

 aware of the advantages of warmth. In the 

 Netherlands, where the cows are housed during the 

 winter months, thay can sutler little from cold ; they 

 are brought into their winter quarters in November, 

 and are put out to grass in May if the weather is 

 mild When first the cows are let out into the 

 meadows, a piece of coarse cloth is put over their 



loins, and tied round their bodies, to prevent the 



injurious effects of cold dews and fogs : this ia 

 discontinued when the air becomes warmer. In 

 all Northern Germany too, and in Holstein, tha 

 cows are as warmly winter-sheltered, or more so 

 than in the Netherlands. In Holstein the housing 

 of the cows requires very extensive buildings ; for 

 there the herds are large, and in fact their dairies 

 are "the glory " of the intelligent Danish farmers. 

 The advantage, indeed, of adapting the circum- 

 stances in which our animals are placed to the 

 changes of the seasons need hardly be enlarged 

 upon. The winter coats of our horses (which are 

 barbarously clipped off), and many other natural 

 phenomena, tell us the necessity of the same thing. 

 The very worm we tread upon seeks a warmer 

 habitation as winter approaches; he then dives 

 down into deeper and warmer chambers, and again 

 approaches the surface as the season becomes 

 genial. We may thus take a hint from very 

 "humble creatures"*; and if at this merry season 

 we just give a few minutes to the consideration of 

 how those jiatient cows — those shivering pigs can 

 be made a little more " comfortable," we may per- 

 haps accomplish something worth while by even 

 small efforts, that would not sound very important 

 in print. The extension of a haulm wall — a better 

 closed window or door — a transfer at night to a 

 wanner shed during comfortless snows and fogs — 

 a little variation in the food, or a warmer bed — 

 might be sensibly felt even in the dairy. xVnd 

 when we are considering our herds and flocks, 

 assuredly it would be a kindly act to remember 

 that the herdsman and the shepherd have also 

 little flocks at home of their own, who might per- 

 chance, by some kind little act or word of advice 

 and t ho u(/htf nines s, be also rendered warmer and 

 drier. At any rate, it gives little trouble and less 

 expense en our part to "just see to this"; the very 

 pleasure of trying to do it is an ample reward, I 

 know full well, to all those to whom I care to 

 address myself ; and in any event, the mere attempt 

 to give comfort will certainly not render the glo- 

 rious season of Christmas less joyous, either in the 

 house or in the homestead. 



THE ADVANTAGES OF WINTER PLOUGHING, 



'flic season of the year has now amved when the 

 majority of our farmers are far advanced, or are 

 rapidly pro.ressing, with the important operation of 

 ploughing-up the land for tlio winter. With gmeral 

 consent, this system has been accepted and adopted 

 with very advantageous results ; but there arc some 

 districts in which greater attention to the practice will 



bo productive of much benefit, aud wo therefore feel 

 it important to draw attention to it. The soil, like all 

 other matter, needs a period of renovation after it has 



* " Humble Creatures " is the title of a nice little 

 3*. 6d. volume on the worm and the house-fly (all 

 Van Voorst's books are, in fact, good), by Samuel- 

 son and Hicks, just published. 



