Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1873 — Waste of Food. [ARTICLE]

Waste of Food.

A farmer who has an abundance of food for his stock may not feel the necessity of practising economy, and while feeding large quantities may think he is doing his whole duty to his animals. To give animals more than they actually need to keep them Healthy and in good condition is a waste, and the prudent farmer will endeavor to learn the exact quantity of each kind under certain conditions, and then supply it? accordingly. But the conditions under which stock are placed has much to do with the quantity of food required; for an animal exposed to the cold of winter without protection will need far more than one kept in a warm stable, and it is just here that many farmers waste a large amount which might be with proper care placed on the profit side of the farm accounts. The clothes which we wear and the shelter for our domestic animals serve in winter as an equivalent for a certain amount of food, and the more warmly we are clothed, and the better sheltered our animals, within certain limits, the less food will be consumed. Liebig says: “If we were to go naked like certain savage tribes, or if in hunting and fishing we were exposed to the same, degree of cold as the Samoydes, we should be able with ease to consume ten pounds of flesh and perhaps a dozen tallow candles into the bargain daily, as warmly clad travelers have related with • astonish ment of these people. We should then be able to take the same quantity of brandy or train oil without bad effects, because the carbon and hydrogen of these substances would only suffice to keep up the equilibrium between the external temperature and that of our bodies.” A want of attention to the effect of comfortable external beat upon the internal aliment, causes an annual waste of many millions of dollars’ worth of winter provender in America alone. How often do we see farmers carrying out hay, straw or corn-stalks in winter and spreading them upon snow banks, so that the animals, to obtain food, must stand not only in the snow but exposed to cold winds while obtaining a poor and scanty meal. Animals will not take sufficient time to masticate their food, or even eat enough under such unfavorable circnmstances, any more than a man would who •was obliged to eat his dinner under the same conditions, and it is not only cruelty to animals, but a waste of the products of the soil to feed stock in this manner. This is but one of the numerous “leaks” that occur in the system generally followed by our farmers. Taking the whole country together we may safely assert that twenty per cent, of the food saved for feeding stock in winter is wasted just for the want of proper shelter for our animals. We do, not suppose that our farmers are really willfully negligent in these matters, but they have never fiven the subject any attention. They o just as their fathers did before them, and perhaps some of them still believe that these animals are made more hardy and by exposure to hardships. Such? things are often talked of among farmers, and we have heard men'deelare that young colts should be allowed to run in the barn-yard in winter exposed to the cold, and have nothing but coarse food to eat, in order to make them tough and hardy. But this kind of acclimation is not practised among the breeders of improved stock, and the best horses or cattle of any kind are not raised in this way. It is time that this waste upon the farm was ended, and we believe that every man who will try to ascertain Ifie tenth of our assertion, that twenty per cent, of the food can be saved by giving warm winter quarters, will be satisfied with the results. It is by attending to all these apDarently unimportant things that our Eastern farmers are enabled to compete with and often excel the Western farmer in the profits of cattle raising. Where there is nothing wasted there is pretty sure to be something gained.— N. F. Sun. —Soaking Seed in Dry Times. —Rural Home says: “This is practiced to a considerable extent, but we have observed that it is a risky operation unless particular attention is paid to putting the soil in suitable condition. A soaked seed in dry and lumpy soil is almost sure to perish if the drouth is prolonged. The dry earth and the air in the crevices around the grain extract the moisture before the roots form and begin to absorb food from the soil. But if the soil is well pulverized, so that its natural condition is somewhat moist, and the seed is then covered pretty deep, it will usually live. Those who endeavor to hasten growth by soaking the seed previous to planting, should take care to use the roller and harrow without stint. —A man in North Canton, Conn., was recently left a fortune of $150,000 by the death of his brother. In examining the papers of the deceased he came across a later will, by which the property was divided up among relatives, churehes and charitable enterprises. As the man had the last will entered in probate, the~ people call him crazy. —This is how a New London inebriate, astride a hydrant, Saturday night, explained his condition! “Them pies (hie), them pies!” “What pies?” was asked. “Mince (hie) pies,” he retorted. “Cider put in ’em (hie) without my knowledge (hie); ain’t drinked anything before for a fortnight.” —The annual sales of the great publishing house of Marne & Co., in France, amount to 2,500,000 francs, Consumption.— For the cure of this distressing disease there has been no medicine yet discovered that can show more evidence of real merit than Allen’s Lung Balsam. This uneqnaled expectorant, for curing Consumption and all diseases leading to it, such as affections of the Throat, Lungs, and all diseases of the Pulmonary Organs, is introduced to the suffering public, after its merits for the positive cure of such diseases have been thoroughly tested by the medical faculty. The Balsam consequently, recommended by physicians who havti become acquainted with Its great success, > k

The Supreme Question. -y-Health is the most important of earthly blessings, and therefore the nervous anxiety of the sjflfcto ascertain the relative merits of mediciees in use is not sur- % Within the last two years many ds of invalids have abandoned the preparations of the pharmacopolist for the remedy introduced by Dr. Walker, of California, under the somewhat eccentric name of Vinegar Bitters. That this new Vegetable medicine is “winning golden opinions of all sorts of people” is beyond a doubt. The accounts we hear of its extraordinary effects in cases qf chronic dyspepsia, rheumatism, liver complaints, maladious fevers, nervous prostrations and many other distressing diseases, certainly justify the popularity which it has everywhere acquired. Dr. Walker claims for his specific a remedial poWer over all disorders that do not involve an irreparable destruction of bone and fibre, and results so far appear to have justified the claim. In this age of wonders we are not disposed to deny the possibility of any phenomena not directly at variance with the laws of nature, and as it is held by many physiologists that all maladies proceed from the same generic cause, we see no reason for the incredulity with which some people regard the idea of a Universal Medicine. Dr. Walker’s preparation seems destined to be universally approved. For Throat Diseases and Affections of the chest, “ Broom's Bronchial Troches" are of value. For Coughs, Irritation of the Throat caused by cold, or Unusual Exertion of the vocal organs, in speaking in public, or singing, they produce beneficial results. TnE crowns and Blacks produced tty that sterling preparation, Cristadoeo's Excelsior Hate Dye. cannot be excelled by Nature : Its tints rhrillrtn-r comparison with Nature’s most favored productions, and defy detection. Flagg's Instant Relief. — Warranted to relieve all Rheumatic Afflictions, Sprains, Neuralgia, etc. The best, the surest anti the quickest remedy for all Bowel Complaints. Relief guaranteed or the money refunded. Worthy of Note. —An exchange says there is scarcely a day passes that we do not hear, either from persons coming into our office or in some other way, of the success of Johnson's A nodyv-e Liniment in tlie eure ofcougbs and colds, so prevalent about town just now. If we can benefit the readers of this paper any by recommending Person's Pnrf/afive Pills to be the best anti-bilious medicine in the country, we are willing to do so. We have bad about as good a chance to know as any ofie. To have elegant light Biscuits, Rolls, Buckwheat Cakes, Fruit Dumplings, etc., you should use Dooley’s Yeast Powder. Ask your Grocer for it. It is a pure Baking I’owder.