64 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



of the stock being kept on the eminent 

 domain of the mountains and valleys, 

 owned and occupied by none but tempor- 

 ary herders. But the new agriculture is 

 rapidly changing conditions and many 

 well appointed barns with suitable sur- 

 roundings have been constructed in the 

 last few years. Men have learned that 

 good stock well fed and properly 

 housed yield better returns than scrubs or 

 natives left to range upon the free govern- 

 ment pastures. 



Thus a range sheep may be worth two 

 dollars and shear five pounds of common 

 wool, while a farm kept sheep will be 

 worth four dollars and yield ten pounds 

 of fine wool. 



GOOD WATER. 



Pure water is necessary for all animals 

 and many diseases are traceable to neglect 

 in supplying the water regularly or forc- 

 ing the dumb animals to drink that which 

 is unclean. Water should always be kept 

 in a trough in the barnyard, as a man of- 

 ten wastes much time and loses his tem- 

 per in chasing after stock turned out to 

 the creek or ditch to drink. A flowing 

 well is the proper thing and can frequently 

 be obtained very cheaply, but all farms 

 are not located in artesian basins. If the 

 underflow of a stream or the sheet water 

 of the plain can be tapped an ordinary ten 

 foot windmill serves the purpose of a wa- 

 ter lifter and does duty at but little cost. 

 Where rain water is stored in cisterns it 

 becomes unwholesome unless considerable 

 lime or salt is occasionally thrown into it. 



CARE OF HORSES. 



The Horse is one of the farm necessities 

 whose value cannot be reckoned in dollars 

 and cents if he is true and trusty. When 

 a man has found a good team he seldom 

 makes anything by trading for new ones, 

 even though he seems to drive a splendid 

 bargain financially. Horses demand warm 

 stables, pure food, clean water, plenty of 

 exercise and careful handling while in the 

 stable or harness. Common sense loading 

 loose check rains and open bridles without 



blinds, and kind treatment are some of 

 the methods of making gentle and trusty 

 horses. 



HORSE PEED. 



Hay forms the basis of much of the 

 western feeding and consists chiefly of al- 

 falfa. This is supposed to be all the feed 

 required when horses are not worked every 

 day. But horses require grain as well as 

 hay and a change in the ration at least 

 once a week. The ration varies with 

 the temperature of the stable and amount 

 of labor to be performed as well as with 

 the altitude and climatic conditions. A 

 ration of fifteen pounds of hay and twelve 

 quarts of oats per day is considered suf- 

 ficient under ordinary circumstances for a 

 moderately worked horse 



Corn is better crushed and from three to 

 six quarts daily is a good ration when 

 plenty of hay is given. The hay is best 

 cut in short pieces by a cutting mill which 

 should occupy a place in every barn. Fre- 

 quent mixtures of warm bran and cut hay 

 are relished and insure better health. 



THE ORCHARD. 



An orchard of five acres or more should 

 be planted by the new farmer as soon as 

 he can clear the land or is able to purchase 

 trees for land already in condition. The 

 trees of every variety grow in value yearly 

 until the wise man can sit in the shade dur- 

 ing his declining years and enjoy the com- 

 forts of life from the products of his or- 

 chard. When the land is properly leveled 

 before planting and sufficient water for ir- 

 rigation is assured, fruit trees of every 

 variety may be expected to begin bearing 

 in from three to ten years and continue 

 fruiting annually while the planter lives. 

 They require pruning, cultivation, irriga- 

 tion and spraying but reward their owners 

 many fold before ceasing to bear. 



THE FRUIT TREES. 



Fruit trees should be planted in squares 

 if possible, with several of the same spe- 

 cies in each line or cluster. This is nec- 

 cessary for convenience in pruning, spray- 

 ing and harvesting the fruit and to insure 



