380 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[ October, 
[COBYBIGHT SKCUIiKD.] 
TANTALUS .—Drawn and Engraved for the American 
Agriculturist. 
THE MODERN 
Experience with forest trees, and every fact 
of vegetable physiology, point to the correct¬ 
ness of the opinion that the ability of roots to 
produce a good growth in the ensuing season 
depends on the extent to which they have been 
reinforced, after the ripening of the seed, by 
their autumn vegetation. If the fall growth is 
allowed to remain, to supply strength to the 
underground organs, the natural conditions for 
future growth are complied with, and, so long 
as the fertility of the soil is preserved, full crops 
may be expected. It will, of course, be neces¬ 
sary to apply manure, and the best time to do 
this is soon after harvest. The only real ob¬ 
jection to the “old fog” is, that it may make the 
use of the mowing machine difficult. This is 
easily overcome by rolling early in the spring. 
We are satisfied that any observing farmer 
will on trial find it an excellent rule to adopt 
(and to stick to), never to let a lioof go on to the 
mowing fields, except for necessary worlc. 
Pasturing (as the animals take the materials 
of their growth and of their milk from the laud) 
is an impoverishing process. The grass allowed 
to fall and decay on the ground, is worth much 
more than the manure of pasturing animals. 
Neglect of Animals in Autumn. 
If animals were endowed with speech they 
would often remonstrate with their owners 
about the neglect and carelessness with which 
they are occasionally treated. And though they 
can not speak, yet they have a certain mute elo¬ 
quence in their look, and tell their tale with a 
force and point that are often more effectual 
than words. Very often the rough, shaggy, 
staring coat, the prominent ribs, drooping head, 
woe-begonc countenance, and appealing eye tell 
a tale as plainly as if it were in print. It tells 
of hard work, poor feed, exposure to storm and 
tempest and keenly-biting winds. And yet 
there may be a tight, snug barn, and stacks of 
fodder still remaining in the field, while from 
very thoughtlessness the poor old faithful ser¬ 
vant, who has plowed his master’s fields year by 
year, is permitted to remain in an airy yard or 
in a barren pasture, with half-filled belly, and 
sniff with impatient appetite at the fodder just 
beyond his reach across the fence. The picture 
drawn by our artist may be taken as an example 
of what may be seen any time during the 
autumn months without traveling far. It is to 
be hoped that it may attract the attention of 
those farmers who seem to think that the fresh 
air of our October nights and an occasional 
wetting with the cold fall rains are good for the 
health of their horses, colts, cows, or calves, 
and makes them hardy and vigorous. But this 
is all wrong. It is unprofitable as well as cruel. 
Animals exposed to tiie cold until they are 
chilled are stunted in their growth, and gather 
the seeds of future disease. Warmth saves feed. 
Cold wastes feed. Stock well housed keep in 
better condition on less food than those left out¬ 
doors in rail pens, damp yards, or exposed pas¬ 
tures. At this season no stock should be kept 
out at nights nor on stormy days, for the abrupt 
change from w T arm sunny days to cold storms 
of rain and sleet is too great a shock. Pine 
boards are in a sense excellent fodder, and a 
dry bed of straw the best of nutriment. Farmers 
who consult the comfort of their stock and their 
own profit will see to it that their stables and 
sheds are put in good order, loose boards nailed 
on, doors and roofs made tight, good dry straw 
furnished for bedding, and that their cattle are 
comfortably sheltered before the cold winds be¬ 
gin to blow and the first snow of the season flies 
