156 
ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 
animal is conserved, -and it remains comfortable. If the temperature of 
the stable can be kept at 60 degrees, the minimum of food only will bo 
required. Just here 4wo integers come in; the cheapness of food as 
against shelter, and the cost of- labor. It is possible for food to be so 
cheap and labor so-dear, and the price of cattle so low, that the interest, 
OLD STYLE FARM YARD. 
on the shelter and the cost of labor would cat off the profits. It has 
been so in every section of the West first and last, and is so still in some 
new sections ; but nowhere so low that cattle could bo profitably fed 
without the protecting influence of gullies or timber to break the force of 
the wind. This is natural protection, and is the groundwork upon which 
all other is to be built. 
Artificial Protection. 
If the stock breeder has not 
timber, then the sooner *he plants 
wind-breaks to protect his yards 
and farm buildings the sooner 
will ho reap profit therefrom. 
This is the crudest of artificial 
protection and yet one of great 
importance, both in Winter and 
Summer. In Winter it breaks 
the force of storms of wind, rain, 
gleet, and snow, and in Summer furnishes shade. 
Th* nest crudest means of shelter is a shed of posts and poles, and 
farmer thriftless’ mode of protection. 
