1862. 



THE ILLmOIS FAKMEK. 



359 



Pure Water for Stock. — A good draught of 

 good water is, probably, as refreshing to beasts 

 as it is to people. But in the month of August, 

 nearly all domestic animals suffer far more than 

 we immagine, for want of good water. Sheep 

 will thrive far better if they can have plenty of 

 pure water ; and if milch cows must drink stag 

 nant water wherever they can find it, how is it 

 possible for them to give their usual flow of good 

 milk. It is impracticable for them to do it. 



Some people allow water to stand in troughs 

 day after day, many times, and compel their an- 

 imals to drink it all up. Did such people ever 

 drink water from an old dirty slop pail after it 

 had been allowed to stand in the sunshine for 

 two or three days? Let them try the experi- 

 ment of such water, and wait for the result, and 

 then they ■t-ill be prepared to express a correct 

 opinion, whether or not such water is as good 

 for stock, in the sultry days of August, as pure 

 cold water would be. 



Water troughs and water tanks should be 

 cleaned frequently, during the hot dnys of Aug- 

 ust, and fresh water pumped into them several 

 times during the day. 



Milch cows require a vast quantity of pure 

 water in hot weather, in order to pi oduce their 

 usual flow cf good mild. — Country Gentleman. 



Unquiet Milch Cows. — One of the greatest 

 errors in overcoming cows that are unquiet while 

 being milked, is to whip, beat, kick and brawl at 

 them. This is generally done, and the cow be- 

 comes afraid or angry, and, instead of becoming 

 better, grows worse. Milch cows cannot be 

 whipped or terrified into standing quietly and 

 gently during milking. They dislike to be milk- 

 ed, for they know that hard words and hard 

 blows always attends the operation. They dread 

 to see the milker as a little urchin dreads to see 

 the birch rod in the hands of the angry peda- 

 gogue Avheri he expects to see it applied to his 

 back. A cow, kindly and properly treated, is 

 pleased to see the mi'ker, gladly awaits his or her 

 approach, and submits with pleasure to the ope- 

 ration of being milked. Every one having ex- 

 perience with cows knows this to be true. Bat 

 the cow is opposed to a change of milkers; she 

 soon becomes attached to one person who per- 

 forms the operation, and does not willingly and 

 freely give down her milk to another person ; 

 therefore, have one regular milker to certain 

 cows, &ad bear in mind if you change milkers it 

 is at the expense of a loss of milk and of an in- 

 jury to the cow. All animals are appreciative 

 of kind treatment and resent abusive treatment. 

 It is their nature or instinct to do this. There- 

 fore, if you would have them gentle and quiet, 

 treat them gently and kindly. See that those 

 who milk them can control themselves, govern 

 their passions, speak low and kindly under any 

 provocation, and soon the cows will learn that 

 they are not going to be abused, and will submit 

 to the operation. Milking should be performed 

 at regular hours, not varying fifteen minutes 

 from one day to the other. No talking or laugh- 

 ing should be permitted at the time, and it 

 should be done as speedily as possible. — Ex. 



Wool Growing at the West — General 

 Hints Thereon. 



This branch of stock growing is receiving 

 largely increased attention throughout our Wes- 

 tern States ; partly caused by the war and in- 

 creased demand for wool consequent, and partly 

 owing to the partial failure and low price of 

 wheat, and to the fact that pork sells low com- 

 pared with former years. In this increase of 

 sheep, as we predicted in this Journal three 

 years ago, no hin ieriag cause has been found 

 and no new enemy developed. The present year 

 has been a remarkably wet one, andj'et sheep in 

 larger numbers than ever befare have pastured 

 tbe prairie in perfect health. 



Many farmers almost unacquainted with sheep 

 and wool growing have invested in flocks the 

 past summer. The coming winter may prove a 

 dear "experience school" to them and cause 

 them to wish heir money back again. 



In sheep growing there are 'three distinct sour- 

 ces of profit sought, viz : increase of number by 

 natural propagation; growth or increase of size 

 and weight, and annual product of wool. The 

 fattening of sheep for mutton exchis"ve y, con- 

 stitutes a branch of business by itself. 



The three objects above noted are the chief 

 aim of Vv'estern sheep growers. The ewe used 

 in breeding should possess as nearly as possible 

 the points of excellence desired in the offspiing. 

 They should at least be one year old, of good, 

 strong constitution, have air, exercise and faith- 

 ful diet. The lamb will thrive finely if the dam 

 be strong, healthy, and a good breeder. Prairie 

 storms are exceedingly severe on lambs, and 

 they require good shelter, dry undtr foot. Those 

 farmers who have discarded swine for sheep, 

 should bear in mind that a hog reeve and shep- 

 herd are quite separate occupations^. The hog, 

 though native of a warm climate^ will thrive, if 

 well fed, without shelter ; the sheep vrill suffer 

 far more, and its increase frequently perish. 

 The ewe, healthy, well fed and sheUered, will 

 generally realize the food hopes of the shepherd 

 for increase. Growth afterward is natural, easy 

 and rapid. Good health is necessary, which re- 

 quires dry pastures and proper food — subjects 

 for study not eas'ly exhausted. 



The annual product of wool depends much 

 upon the health of the sheep, both for strength 

 and beauty of fiber and also weight of fleece. 



The three sources of increase above named 

 closely looked after, and there will be small 

 chance of failure in making wool or sheep grow- 

 ing a remunerative branch of Western hus^ban- 

 dry. W^e have the summer range wi'hout limit, 

 and winter forage superior and more abundant 

 than any other portion of the earth visited by 

 us. Let it no longer be said the prairies are un- 

 suited to the production of sheep and wool. — 

 American Stock Journal. 



Jg^^The following curious epitaph, it is said, 

 may be found in a graveyard in Italy : " Here 

 lies Estelia, who transported a large fortune to 

 heaven in acts of charity, and has gone thither 

 to enjoy it." 



