Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1875 — Keep Cattle in the Barnyard. [ARTICLE]

Keep Cattle in the Barnyard.

We read and hear a great deal about the importance of manure on the farm and of the immense outlay which the purchase of commercial fertilizers involves. And if we did not know the habits of farmers in this respect we should suppose they would use all available means to manufacture and also to save manure on their farms. But while we are glad to note an increasing interest in this direction, we are sorry that so many men neglect some of the easiest and simplest means for attaining this result. At this season of the year we see a great many cattle roaming around the fields, scattering and, in a great measure, wasting their manure. Ia allowing this their owners are certainly guilty of neglecting a very important item in farm management. They may claim, as some do, that the manure is not wasted; that the cattle distribute it over the fields where they feed, and thus the labor of men in spreading it is not required. In this they claim to get the work done without any expense. But such an idea cannot be held by men who give much thought to their farm work. For it can be seen at a glance that, although the manure is spread over the fields, it is done in a most wasteful manner. It is not left where it is wanted. There is a little scattered almost everywhere on the farm, but there is not enough in any place to do much good, and what little there is left in a place is not m any condition to be used as food for plants. Before it can be made available for this purpose it must be pulverized; and to go all over the farm with a hoe and break it in pieces, as ought to be done every spring, if cattle are left in the fields the preceding autumn, makes considerable work. The manure will not be worth more than half as much as it would if kept at the barn during the winter, and applied in the spring. Besides, if cattle are kept in barns, sheds or yards, the manure can all be saved, carted out and put where it is needed. It is also very much better for the cows to be kept in yards than it is to be running all over the fields. They will get better water and get it when they need it, if the farmer pays any decent attention to his business. When they run at large they will not always get water when they ought to have it; if it is some distance from the barn they will not go to it more than twice a day in very cold weather, and sometimes not but once. They then drink too much at a time, get chilled, and are made uncomfortable. But if in the yard where they can get water at any time of the day they will drink but little at a time and get it as it is wanted. This is very

much better for them than it is to drink a great deal of cold water at once. They will not be as likely to take cold or to contract diseases of the stomach or lungs. Cows will give more- and better milk if they are keptln the yard in cold weather than they will to be roaming around and vainly trying to satisfy hunger by eating the' spoiled and frost-bitten grass, which is all the food they can find in the lots. All things considered, it will pay well to keep cattle in the yard during cold weather. — 2f. E. Homestead.