62 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. [Chap. I. 



80. rnruly AnimalSi — As a general rule, our domestic animals arc never 

 unruly, except when taught to be so. For instance, some persons, in turning 

 stock from one field to another, only let down a few of the top rails or bars, 

 and force the animals to jump over. Too lazy to put up as well as to let 

 down, they leave the gap half closed, as a temptation to the stock to jump 

 back again. A few practical lessons of tiiis kind make stock unruly. Care- 

 lessness in regard to putting up fences when thrown down, or in repairing 

 weak spots, conilrms the habit. A writer saj'S his practice has always been 

 to teach his cows, calves, sheep, and hogs to go tlirough or under, rather 

 than over, the bars or fences, always leaving a rail or bar up at the top. 

 Taught this way, they never think of junijiing, and he has never been 

 troubled with unruly animals, even when liis fences were low. 



81. Kindness to BrutcSi — No man can aflord to be unkind to his domestic 

 animals, because animals which are treated tlie most kindly are the most 

 gentle and obedient, and also thrive the best; hence, no one can afford to 

 use them unkindly. By kindness, mingled with firmness, the most ferocious 

 animals are subdued, and it is vain to su]->pose that the same means would 

 not be effectual in training domestic animals. Surely, no one should degrade 

 himself by continuing a jiractice which is botli unproiitable and inhuman — 

 a practice that makes man the brute instead of the quadruped. There is no 

 economy in half starving any stock through the winter, and causing thcni to 

 take all the storms without any shelter ; but, on the contrary, it is a clear 

 waste and loss to the owner. 



82. Shelter for fattlet — Next to the necessity of an adequate supply of 

 food for stock, comes the importance of shelter. It needs no argument to 

 prove the truism that animals can not live Mithout food; and it is just as 

 certain that our domestic stock, artificially susceptible to the storms and 

 changes of our Northern climate, can not thrive without proper slieltcr. It 

 seems now to be well settled, tiiat a due degree of warmth is equivalent, in 

 a measure, to food ; and we all know that an entire abandon to ease and 

 comfort, M'liile in a state of rest — a perfect freedom from apprehension of 

 any kind, which may arise from a lack of food, or from exposure, or any 

 other cause — is necessaiy to the maximum of thrift or usefulness. 



On old, improved, rich lands, it would be policy in the farmer to stable or 

 yard his cattle and horses during the whole year ; but I should prefer j'arding 

 in the summer season, as more air and room for exercise would be allowed, 

 both of which would be conducive to the health of the animals. 



One acre of land, in good condition, sown to corn, and cut and fed from 

 the time it begins to tassel until it begins to glaze, will keep six head of 

 cattle during the time, and perhaps inpre — say two months — while it Avould 

 have taken six acres of pasture to keep them the same length of time. 



On farms whore the pasture is generally tiie roughest, poorest part of the 

 farm, and that which could not be applied as profitably to other purposes — 

 on such lands the cattle must be allowed to get their own living in summer. 



The above are excerpta from several excellent essays in the Genesee 



