THE STOCK ON THE FARM 91 



The Shelter of Stock. Stock must be provided with 

 shelter at all seasons of the year to protect them from 

 the heat and storms of summer and the cold of winter. 

 If their stables are cold, then the additional heat re- 

 quired to keep them warm must be furnished by addi- 

 tional food. Animals, like persons, are very sensitive 

 to sudden changes of temperature, to sleet and snow, 

 and cold and wind. They " catch cold," get sick and 

 lose flesh in consequence. How necessary, then, for 

 the farmer to provide a shed for the cattle to run 

 under during storms, a tight board fence on the north 

 and west sides of the barnyard to break the wind, and 

 warm stables for all his stock. 



General Attention to Stock. General attention 

 covers that watchful care so necessary to successful 

 stock raising. Barns and barnyards must be kept 

 clean, stalls bedded, pure water provided, stock kept 

 free from ticks and lice, horses curried, their feet at- 

 tended to, the health of all animals carefully watched, 

 diseased ones removed and shut up by themselves; 

 these, all these, and a thousand and one other little 

 things constitute the general attention which the suc- 

 cessful farmer gives to his stock. 



Effect of Lack of Care. We can best prove that it 

 pays by imagining the result of a lack of such care. 

 With neglect more food is required to make the ani- 

 mals grow and more food needed to keep them warm. 

 Neglected animals grow slowly, are "stunted" in 

 growth, finally stop growing altogether, and some- 

 times sicken and die. Dirty animals are unhealthy 



