224 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



ground, for every man of common sense knows 

 this to be the case. A. 6. Sheldon. 



Wilmington, Mass., March 7, 1870. 



HORSE STABLES. 



Mangers are better than racks for feeding 

 any animals, and we are glad to know that 

 the old and injurious plan of compelling ani- 

 mals to haul their feed down from racks — 

 which is contrary to all laws of nature and 

 reason — is being rapidly done away with. 



The manger in a horse stable should be 

 situated at a convenient height for the horse 

 to eat comfortably. We are opposed to the 

 plan adopted by many of leaving a space be- 

 tween the manger and floor for putting bed- 

 ding, for the reason that the strongly scenttd 

 ammoniacal gas which arises from siraw 

 soaked with urine, is unhealthy for the horse 

 to inhale ; and further, being directly beneath 

 the feeding manger, the hay will be more or 

 less injured by it. Another objection is, the 

 bedding, when packed in that manner has no 

 chance to dry. 



The litter of the different stalls should be 

 removed and spread upon the barn floor, or 

 out of doors, if the weather will admit of it ; 

 but if there is no chance to do either of these, 

 we should prefer to shake it up thoroughly 

 and place it along the side of the stalls as far 

 back as possible, so that it may have some 

 chance to dry out. 



Afcer the bedding has been removed, and 

 floor made clean, some absorbent should be 

 put on, such as spent tan-bark, chaff or saw- 

 dust ; never use lime or ashes, as they will be 

 likely to injure the hair of the animal. Fresh, 

 dry earth is one of the best material to use 

 for purifying and drying up stable floors. 



The stable should be so arranged, with re- 

 gard to light, that a person on coming from 

 without would experience no difliculty in ob- 

 serving objects within. It is not best to have 

 a bright beam of light let in immediately 

 upon the horse's eyes ; but it should be a 

 diffused and subdued light. 



Ventilation should always have particular 

 attention, and the conveniences for this pur- 

 pose so arranged that a current of air coming 

 directly upon the horse may at any time be 

 shut off. A horse, coming heated from the 

 road, put Into a stall with the chilling wintry 

 winds blowing in a strong current upon him, 

 is very much in danger of taking cold and be- 

 ing stiffened up. — Ohio Farmer. 



Elder Oiktment. — Take the inside bark 

 of sweet elder, boil to a strong infusion ; strain 

 it, then add equal parts of beeswax and mut- 

 ton tallow ; say to one-half pint of the liquid 

 a piece of mutton tallow and beeswax each 

 the size of a hen's egg ; simmer until the wa- 

 ter is out. If a sorter ointment is desired, 

 use fresh butter instead of mutton tallow. 



Here you have a recipe for an ointment which 

 is invaluable as a healing remedy for erysipe- 

 las, sores, cuts, chilblains, and sores of all 

 kinds, and efpecially excellent for bums. — 

 Rural Neiv Yorker. 



COUNTBY AKD CIIY SOKEOWS. 



The following lines V7ere -written for the Western 

 iJwrai hy "Aunt Heity," in reply to an article on the 

 privations cf a "Farmer's Girl": — 



Read a HHle louder, Margrett, I would hear each 



spoken ViorA ; 

 For the euhject of thy reading every pulse has rudely 



stirrea ; 

 I was once a farmer's daughter, and my path has longer 



been 

 With ttie tiller of the soil, than with the wielderof the 



pen, 

 I have seen the snows of seventy, whit'nicg over hill 



and lea, 

 Seventy y earn has budding Spring-time shed its fra- 

 grance over u e ; 

 I would fay, atd say it boldly, all the sorrows farmers 



bear, 

 All the woes of plain and hill-side, with the city's can't 



compare. 



Ma>'grett, write the words I've spoken, for my hand is 



p Jsied now, 

 And the lines of time and grief are written deeply on 



my brow — 

 Lines that had not found a resting if I had but sooner 



learned 

 Life was not an idle pastime — not a birthright to be 



spurned. 

 I have wandered from the homestead, Margrett, thee 



may learn by this, — 

 Leiirn from one v, ho fain would lead thee in the sorest 



way to bliss, — 

 That 'lis not within a palace — not in lofty classic hall — 

 But where peace acid love united follow after dutj's 



call. 



Truly, ihee will find much sorrow In a shiftless far- 

 mer's cot ; 



Scant, indeed, will be the harvest of the good mate's 

 hapless lot; 



But reverse the order, Margrett; in the city thee can 

 see 



Man with all his gifted nature prone to sin and mis- 

 ery; 



Not alone the rough, wild country shows deformity 

 within, 



But the gilded halls of plenty breed both suffering and 

 sin; 



Not alone the farmer's helpmeet sighs for rest and 

 classic lore; 



City wives have craved such blessings, but their spirit's 

 freedom more. 



Thee would weai y of my story if I should the truth 

 relate 



Of the -wives of truant husbands, who their tardy com- 

 ing wiiit 



From the dens of vicloHs pleasures, where they wreck 

 each hope at birth — 



Hopes they mitht have loved to cherish of a true and 

 moral worth. 



Think thee, Margrett, thee could gladden at the slow 



unsteady p ce, 

 Could thee lay thy hand in blessing on the senseless 



bloated face? 

 Or, with kieees fond and tender, press corrupted lips 



that curse? 

 Answer me this queetiou, Margrett, can a farmer's 



wife find -worse? 

 Canitbe thy mindis puzzled? is the problem, then, 



too deep ? 

 Wouldst thou leave earth's rugged pathway, and a 



flowery border keep ? 

 It were well, but act thou wisely; choose the man and 



not the trade. 

 Or believe me, Margrett Merville, thee had better die a 



maid. 



