Sheltering Stock

$4e jpctójm jpgusu Numérenla experimenta have buen rnado that demónstrate l'ully that adequáto shelter for l'uüeoing stock is profitajble We quote oue whioa is full and exact froin Juhnston' Agrieultural (Jhernistry : "A Mr. Chüders folded tweuty sheep in an opon it'ld, and twouly of neaiiy equal woight wero placed und(jr a hIh'c) in a y :i r tí . Both lots were íed for three niunthtj - Jaouary, Febrnary and Mirc'i - upoo turnips, as many ns fchey choso to oat, half a pound of liuset-d cake. and huif a pint of barley to each aheep per day, with a little hay and salt. The sheep in tho fiold oonBumod the same quuntity of fod,all the barlay and oil cake, and about nineteofl pounds of turnips per day, fronn first to last, aud increased ou the whole five hundred and twelve pouods. Those undor the hed uonsutiic'd at first as mueh food as i he othors, but af'ter the third week thoy ate two [manda oí turnips each ws in the day, and in tho ninth week, again two pounds less, or only fifteen pounds per day. Of the lioseed eake they also ato about onethird lesa than thé othor lot, and yet they increased in weight aoven huudred and ninety pounds, over one third more than the others. The cold and exercise in tho field causod the ono lot to convert more of tlieir food mto dung, and the quiet and shekcr of tho other more into mntton. A oertain ainount of food is required to pupply the constant wasto of the body. It the eircumstances under which the auimal is placed are such as to require all the food which tho stomach may be able to digeat, or which may be furuished to it, to replace the constant waste, no fat wil! be laid on - no increased weight be gained. But if by shelter and quiet tbia waste is lessened, agreater part of the food consumed wiil be tuvned into fat. The same principies apply to stock that is not intended for the butcher - to cows, horses and store sheep. If woll sholtered they require less food to keep thum ie proper coaditio;. The proper kind of shelter is rery essen tial. Dryness is ono of the first requisitas. Sheda are often deficiënt in thia quality, beiug constructod so as to keep off the storms from above, but are wet under ioot Tliere should be a good dfscent iroai the back of a shed to the middle, at least, of the yard in front. If the soil is uaturally wet the bottom shauld bo paved, or otherwise fioorcd, and drains made undernaath. - Sheds are likewiso vory liable to be visited by too brisk ourrents of air ; tho wind blows under thom, and the snow is whirled in. In such casos cattle or sheep will hudd!e into a corner, and we have sometimos seen them prefer the open side of a barn, where the wind is broken off, to the shelter ot a shed that is subject to strong currents of air. What is needed m shelter is perfect dryness undernoath and overhead, and a stil!, pure atmosphere. Basement stables where the earth is banked against two or three sides, though warm, are liable to dampness from the walls, and from the earth under foot. Many havo better success in wintering flocks of sheep at stacks in the open fields than in their yards, from the fact that the shelter in the latter is too damp, and badly ventilated. Fresh air and dry places to sleep and tread on, are highly essential to animáis which, left to themselves for six months in the year, will seek no other. Eemombor, a dry floor, a fresh, still atmosphere, plenty of room, and, in general, a cheerful look, as though you would be contented to stay there part ot the time yourself, are the first requisitas of good shelter. -