JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
January  17,  1901 
66 
Tl\e  Proper  Housing  of  Live  Stock. 
The  buildings  of  the  farm,  their  suitability  for  the  holding  and 
general  condition,  have  more  to  do  with  making  success  or  failure  than 
probably  any  other  portion  of  the  farmer’s  stock  in  trade,  and  it  seldom 
happens  that  we  hear  a  farmer  declare  that  he  has  more  of  such 
accommodation  than  he  needs.  Bricks  and  mortar  are  such  an 
expensive  luxury  nowadays,  that  the  cutting  up  of  large  farms  into 
smaller  and  more  easily  let  ones  is  often  prevented  by  the  great 
expenditure  of  capital  which  the  landlord  would  have  to  incur  in 
providing  the  necessary  farmsteads. 
Experiments  have  lately  been  conducted  in  Scotland  by  Professor 
Wright  and  Dr.  Paterson  to  test  the  economic  value  of  housing  sheep. 
The  system  of  housing  prevails  very  largely  in  France,  but  little  in  this 
country ;  we  might  almost  say  never,  if  prize  sheep  be  left  out  of  the 
calculation.  The  sheep  being  a  hardy  animal,  and  one  which  does 
well  and  shows  a  fair  profit  without  the  expense  of  coddling  treatment, 
we  hardly  think  that  money  will  be  found  by  either  landlords  or 
tenants  for  such  a  purpose  except  in  isolated  cases,  but  it  would  be 
interesting  if  close  record  of  results  in  such  cases  could  be  kept,  so  as 
to  endorse  or  otherwise  the  fair  amount  of  success  which  attended  the 
Scottish  trials. 
Instead  of  considering  the  housing  of  sheep  much  still  remains  to 
be  done  on  many  farms  before  the  horses  and  cattle  can  be  expected  to 
keep  profitably  healthy.  Stables  are  too  often  found  with  such  bad 
roofs  that  in  wet  weather  the  water  drips  on  the  poor  animals’  backs 
as  they  are  tied  to  their  mangers;  others  are  so  arranged  that  the 
horses  stand  in  a  constant  draught,  and  coming  sweating  into  such  a 
death  trap,  as  they  must  frequently  do,  it ‘is  a  wonder  that  they 
stand  it  as  well  as  they  do.  Other  stables  have  the  doorways  too 
low,  or  are  themselves  so  low  that  the  beams  of  the  roof  are  within 
easy  reach  of  the  horses’  heads.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  under  such 
conditions  cases  of  poll-evil  should  be  frequently  occurring  ? 
Then,  again,  there  is  the  drainage,  which  is  very  often  defective. 
The  paving  of  what  may  have  been  and  otherwise  is  a  most  suitable 
stable  gets  worn  into  holes  by  the  stamping  of  the  animals’  feet,  the  result 
being  the  imperfect  disposal  of  the  urine,  which,  instead  of  passing  down 
the  gutter  into  the  sewer,  soaks  into  the  floor  and  creates  a  most 
unpleasant  and  unhealthy  atmosphere,  bad  alike  for  both  the 
breathing  and  visual  organs  of  the  horse.  Another  serious  defect  in 
farm  stables  is  a  very  common  one — i.e.,  double  standings,  or  rather 
wide  standings,  each  occupied  by  two  horses.  The  system  is  owing  in 
a  large  measure  to  the  desire  to  economise  space,  for  a  stable  which 
will  accommodate  twelve  horses  in  double  stalls  will  not  comfortably 
hold  more  than  eight  or  at  most  nine  in  single  ones.  But  .  the 
economy  is  a  delusive  one,  for  we  have  not  only  had  personal 
experience  of  the  evils  of  the  system,  but  have  known  many  instances 
where  farmers  have  been  driven  by  serious  accidents  and  resulting  loss 
amongst  their  horses  to  alter  their  stabling  accommodation  from 
double  to  single  stalls. 
Another  important  point  is  ventilation,  which  must  be  provided 
without  the  creation  of  draughts.  Apertures  in  the  form  of  chimneys 
placed  in  the  ridge  of  the  roof  will  provide  the  best  of  ventilation. 
The  question  of  light,  also,  is  not  to  be  passed  over  lightly.  (No  pun  !) 
We  believe  in  the  admission  of  as  much  sunlight  into  stables  as  we 
should  like  to  see  in  our  own  houses,  and  glazed  windows  are  equally 
necessary  in  both  cases.  Where  the  old-fashioned  sliding  windows 
are  in  vogue,  too  often  to  let  in  light  means  to  introduce  draught, 
therefore  the  window  remains  closed,  and  the  stable  dark.  We  must 
remember  that  sunshine  means  life  and  health. 
As  regards  the  winter  housing  of  cattle,  although  matters  have 
much  improved  during  the  last  twenty  years,  owing  to  the  greater 
importance  attached  to  meat- producing  animals,  much  remains  to  be 
done.  Covered  yards  are  now  no  great  novelty,  but  we  still  see 
constantly  the  huge  old-fashioned  open  yards  with  the  smallest 
possible  amount  of  shedding,  the  bottoms  well  dished  so  as  to  hold  as 
much  muck  as  possible,  in  dry  cold  weather  dreary  wastes,  and  in 
watery  times  very  sloughs  of  despond.  How  can  food  be  economically 
consumed  under  such  conditions  ?  Cattle  are  used  as  machines  for 
converting  lood  into  a  more  saleable  commodity,  and  the  machinery 
being  of  a  delicate  nature  it  must  be  treate  i  with  care,  or  the  object 
aimed  at  will  be  missed,  and  loss  instead  of  gain  be  the  result. 
We  do  not  think  that  any  open  yard  should  contain  more  than 
eight  head  of  stock.  Our  own  experience  has  been  strongly  in  favour 
of  small  yards.  Certainly  where  there  is  no,  or  insufficient,  box  or 
stall  accommodation,  and  cattle  have  to  be  fed  in  the  yards,  those  in 
the  smaller  yards  always  do  much  the  best,  and  we  cannot  see  why 
there  should  not  be  the  same  difference  in  the  case  of  young  and 
growing  or  breeding  stock.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  sheep  do 
better  when  folded  in  small  numbers,  and  the  same  rule  should 
apply  to  cattle,  and  we  are  confident  that  it  does.  We  have  seen 
several  instances  where  much  has  been  gained  by  the  subdivision  of 
big  yards,  both  covered  and  open.  To  divide  the  latter  boards  should 
be  used  so  as  to  make  as  many  sunny  and  sheltered  corners  as  possible. 
If  tarred  annually  such  a  board  will  last  for  many  years. 
As  may  be  gathered  from  previous  remarks,  we  do  not  believe  in 
bedded  ponds  as  suitable  lair  for  cattle.  Whatever  the  yards  may  be, 
large  or  small,  they  must  be  well  drained,  and  if  a  large  tank  be 
provided  for  the  drainage  to  flow  into  all  the  better,  especially  if 
the  soil  of  the  farm  be  of  a  dry  nature. 
The  cow  house  must  be  roomy  and  well  ventilated,  but  free  from 
draughts,  and  the  formation  of  the  floor  and  drainage  thereof  are 
equally  important  with  those  of  the  horse  stable.  A  good  and  constant 
supply  of  pure  water  is  indispensable,  and  no  cow  house  is  complete 
without  its  yard,  into  which  the  cows  may  be  turned  for  exercise  for 
longer  or  shorter  periods,  as  the  weather  varies  from  warm  to  cold. 
The  yard  should  be  well  open  to  the  sun,  and  the  animals  should  have 
the  benefit  of  as  much  of  his  rays  as  can  be  managed. 
Piggeries  are  not  so  important,  but  though  the  pig  is  at  home 
amongst  dirt  it  does  not  follow  that  he  would  not  thrive  better  amidst 
cleaner  surroundings.  That  is  so,  and  piggeries  should  be  both  warm 
and  well  drained.  For  feeding  pigs  light  is  rather  a  disadvantage, 
but  for  sows  and  stores  an  open  run  with  light  and  fresh  air  is 
necessary.  In  conclusion,  we  may  emphasise  the  fact  that  the  secret 
of  success  in  the  housing  of  stock  lies  in  proper  sanitation. 
Work  on  tlie  Home  Farm. 
At  last  we  have  the  desired  spell  of  winter,  if  it  only  lasts,  of  which 
we  are  very  doubtful,  for  as  we  write  the  sky  has  the  appearance  of 
more  snow,  and  the  barometer  is  falling.  Never,  except  in  the  harvest 
season,  have  we  seen  such  unanimity  of  work  as  there  is  amongst 
farmers  now.  The  muck  cart  is  the  only  implement  of  husbandry  in 
use  if  we  except  the  Turnip  cutter,  which  is  never  idle  in  winter. 
As  we  have  remarked  on  previous  occasions,  it  is  not  advisable  to 
mix  horse  manure  with  that  of  other  animals,  for  the  rapid  heating 
engendered  by  it  is  calculated  to  dissipate  to  a  large  extent  the 
ammonia  contained  in  the  other  manure.  On  a  holding  with  both 
strong  and  light  land  we  should  think  the  more  economical  way  to  be 
to  cart  the  manure  from  the  horse  stable  and  yard  directly  upon  the 
strong  land,  spreading  it  as  carted,  instead  of  putting  it  into  a  hill. 
The  cattle  and  pig  manure  may  be  led  into  a  heap,  ready  for  application 
to  the  lighter  soils  when  required. 
Since  writing  a  commendation  of  hen  manure  mixed  with  super¬ 
phosphate  as  a  manure  for  Mangold,  we  find  that,  through  the  formation 
of  a  syndicate,  supers  have  been  raised  in  price,  50s.  per  ton  being  now 
the  retail  price  to  the  farmer.  We  are  advised  that  a  further  rise  may 
follow,  so  it  might  be  wise  if  opportunity  should  offer  to  purchase  at 
once  and  for  early  delivery,  for  superphosphate  improves  in  condition 
with  keeping,  and  loses  nothing  in  quality.  The  carting  from  the 
station  also  may  be  done  whilst  the  frost  lasts. 
We  are  getting  in  a  fresh  supply  of  coals,  which  still  keep  their 
high  value,  24s.  6d.  per  ton,  and  not  forty  miles  from  a  colliery.  Pigs 
have  been  rather  profitable  this  season  so  far,  but  steaming  Potatoes  is 
expensive  at  these  prices  for  fuel,  and  we  fancy  that  if  a  strict  account 
were  kept  we  should  find  that  more  coals  had  been  used  for  this  purpose 
than  for  threshing ;  5  cwt.  is  almost  sufficient  for  the  latter  on  one  of 
these  short  days,  and  the  wheelbarrow  seems  to  be  constantly  on  the 
move  with  coal  for  the  steamhouse. 
Sheep  are  doing  well,  and  Turnips  are  no  worse  for  the  moderate 
frost  we  have  had.  They  have  never  been  really  hard  yet,  and  ewes 
can  cut  their  own  food  with  ease  and  comfort,  nevertheless  a  little 
extra  dry  food  must  be  given,  scarce  and  expensive  as  it  is.  Malt 
culms  are  excellent,  also  dried  grains,  unless  the  latter  have  arsenic  in 
them,  but  perhaps  a  little  would  be  useful  as  a  tonic. 
New  Agricultural  Holdings  Act. — A  useful,  if  modest,  measure 
is  the  new  Agricultural  Holdings  Act,  which  adds  to  the  number  of 
improvements  for  which  a  farmer  can  claim  compensation  at  the  end 
of  his  tenancy.  Most  of  these  improvements  are  intelligible  only  to 
persons  who  are  learned  in  the  matter  of  manures,  and  sixteen  of  them, 
it  may  be  noticed,  must  be  made  with  the  consent  of  the  landlord  before 
the  tenant  can  obtain  any  compensation.  Perhaps  the  chief  merit  of 
the  Act  is  that  it  simplifies  the  whole  procedure  for  the  assessment  of 
compensation  by  providing  that  the  landlord  and  tenant,  when  unable 
to  agree  as  to  the  amount  to  whioh  the  latter  is  entitled,  may  refer  the 
question  to  a  single  arbitrator,  whose  decision,  except  in  rare  instances, 
will  be  final. 
