49 2 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



sleeping places are greatly injurious, and exposure to a 

 cold rain or sleet storm may prove fatal. It should also be 

 remembered, that the degree of the protection required in 

 climates naturally damp is greater than in those naturally 

 dry. 



Protection for stock in summer. Although the neces- 

 sity for protecting stock in winter is more important rela- 

 tively than in summer, yet certain forms of protection in 

 summer exercise an important influence on the returns 

 which they will give for the food. They require protection : 

 (i) From excessive heat; (2) from the disturbance caused 

 by flies, and (3) in some instances from prolonged storms. 



Protection from heat in the case of horses, cattle, sheep 

 and swine, can only be secured by shielding them from the 

 hot rays of the sun, under conditions that will not tend to 

 check the movement of air currents. With swine, the addi- 

 tional provision of a wallow will add much to their com- 

 fort. Protection from excessive sunshine is secured by 

 means of shade in, or accessible to the pastures, and from 

 the same buildings that furnish protection in winter. 



The ideal conditions for shade in pastures are found 

 in a natural grove beside running water. A remnant of 

 forest included in a permanent pasture and made accessible 

 to other pastures is very suitable for providing shade. 

 Clumps of trees are to be preferred to single trees, as they 

 interfere less with cultivation. In planting trees to furnish 

 shade, they do not virtually interfere with cultivation when 

 planted in the corners of the pasture or field, and when 

 planting them, those varieties should be preferred that 

 grow quickly and that send their roots so far down as not 

 to take harm readily because of the treading of stock. For 

 this purpose no other tree excels the American elm. 

 In the absence of trees, shade may be provided usually 

 without much cost, by making a flat roof of poles sustained 

 by posts and covered with straw. 



The stables used for shelter in winter, when properly 

 ventilated, are usually cooler than groves in very hot 



