782 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



a gentle slope, so that there will be no danger of its being filled 

 by wash from the fields. Do not make it over ten feet wide, and 

 of such length as will be necesssry for the amount of water 

 needed ; plant around it a double row of soft-maple trees, or 

 some other quick-growing timber, to grow a dense shade for 

 its protection, and fence it thoroughly, so that no stock can ever 

 get into it. I would dig the pond east and west, and arrange at 

 the east end for the stock to get at the water, as this point 

 would not need so much shade. At this end set the fence a few 

 feet into the pond, and make a gradual slope to the water, and 

 cover it with broken stone or gravel to such a depth that the 

 stock will not get into the mud. Such a pond could be dug with 

 .the plow and scraper at a moderate expense, and when the trees 

 have attained a few years growth, the water would keep cool 

 and wholesome. 



Shade in every pasture is desirable, and the best way to 

 secure it is to plant shelter-belts of timber along the north and 

 west side of the field. These belts will not only furnish grate- 

 ful shade during the heat of summer, but protection in spring 

 and fall, not only for the stock, but also for the grass or grain 

 crops. There are many days when the cattle are not comfortable 

 in the pastures, if unprotected, and at such times these timber- 

 belts would be of great value. It has been proved, that with 

 one-sixth of the land planted in timber on the praries, the other 

 five-sixths produced as much grain as the whole did without the 

 shelter, and there is no product of the farm that is likely to 

 give so great profit in the future as timber, and if we can get 

 benefit from it while growing, as well as a profit when it is 

 marketed, there is a double motive for planting timber-belts. 

 How to start these timber-belts is told in another chapter. 



Winter Care of Cattle. I have already in this chapter 

 shown that bad wintering made unprofitable cattle. The wise 

 farmer will, before winter sets in, take an inventory of his 

 stock and resources, and if he finds that he has not enough food 

 to carry his stock through in good condition, he will either buy 

 food or sell stock. It is wise to do this in the fall rather than 

 to wait till the latter part of winter, for the fanner who tries to 



