SOME RURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 8

SOME RURAL NOTES.

By. OoWNTO. One of the most essential conditions of good health, both as regards human Tcntiiatioit beings and other animals, is the of breathing of pure air ; yet the stabiei. proper ventilation of inhabited building* is a matter wofully neglected, both as regards humankind and come of the domestio animals, especially horses. In a favourable notioe of " Through the Stable and Saddleroom," by Arthur T. Fisher (Richard Bentley and Son), by the London Spectator, there are some remarks on this tßubject well worth attention, to wit : — "Everybody knoWB something.of the importance of ventilation, both for man and horse ; but it is not bo widely known as it ought to be, that while horses seldom or never take cold through -being' exposed to cold, they, are often made ill by being too warm. It is the inside, not the outside, air that gives them coughs, sore throats, congestion of the lungs, and sundry other ills to which horseflesh is heir. For this reason, old ramshackle stables, full of cracks and crevices, are healthier than brandnew buildings with tight doors and windows, and impervious roofs. Our author, who never generalises rashly, and supports his theories with copious inatanoeß, mentions one or two curious 'oases in point.' Remounts for cavalry regiments, whioh are mostly of Irish extraction, have often to travel in severe weather part of the way in cattle truoks, with no other protection from the cold than their own ooata. Nevertheless, the remounts nearly always arrive at tbair destination in perfect health j yet they are no sooner plaoed in stabtes, however well ventilated, than they begin to suffer from coughs and colds, whioh generally end in strangles. During the autumn manoeuvres of 1875, Major Fisher's regiment was encamped near Aldershot, and though it rained almost incessantly, and the horses were picketed in the open, without bo much as a blanket to cover them, colds and coughs were unheard of, and the favourite charger of one of his brother B 'offioers, which at the timeshe left the barrack-stable suffered from a severe cold, was made whole by a~ few days' exposure to the elements. These remarks seem tolerably conclusive &B to the absolutejneoessity of perfect ventilation in stables. It would seem well if there were considerable apertures in Btables to let in f reßh air. Even some draught will probably be less injurious to the horse than foul air vitiated by the breathing of the horses and the effluvia arising from saturated bedding. I observe Mr Robert Christie, of Glenomaru, has just ereoted a new stable, very substantially built, with iron roof and iron -wood posts, and has left it open behind the stalls; proteoted, however, by a Btrong wooden framework, bo as to make it impossible for horses or cattle to enter the stable and disturb the occupants. Suoh a stable would seem to let in abundance of air, Dogs, fowls, or pigs, if there are any about the yard, might possibly get in and' startle a shy young horse, but this might be provided against by a- suitable contrivance. Mr Christie has generally used these open stables, and cays hia horses Beldpm or never have colds or complaints of that sort.

It Beems to ba a common praotice here when ,• running horses, in p&ddopks to, Hone clothe them in horse,,, covers,/ ctT»«. made of thick oilcloth and

sometimes - lined with* ■ woollen cloth. I have no great faith fin ; the ' utility; U>r necessity of this prabtioe. A' horse has' a gobft thick' coat of his own to' protect him iron), the weather. What does he want .with extra covering, as if be were naked like a man? Probably the two constant use of these, horse covers makes horses more susceptible; to cold, ahd'also checks tbe natural growth of the hair. Covers will have the effeot of keeping the horses , ooat fine and sleeky : bat perhaps, at some risk to his ' health. I never put a horse cover on my horses, though they run constantly out in the paddook exposed to all sorts of weather, and they seldom have colds or any disease likely to be produced by exposure. When I bring my horse borne after riding, on removing tbe saddle I put a saddle cloth over where the saddle has been,- where the back is warm, strapping it on with a long, light girth or surcingle passing round the body, removing the cloth again in about half an hour or bo, when the horse ia cool and dry. : It is generally' better to let a horse take bis time before arriving at the end of a journey, so as not to, bring him in hot, Certainly if horses be very warm after work, jit might be as well to put a light covering over them if they are not stabled, but I think it would be well to remove the coyer again after the horse has cooled down. Horaes will stand the weather very well untrammelled with horse covers [if they' have Borne shelter, such as bush or sorub, or the side of a bill, and if they are also well fed and not starved.

There is some danger attending the common practice of tying up horses with mwdng a ropQ r ound the neck. I have tfp« heard of several horses being strangled to death through this way of hitching up, and once I very nearly lost a young maro of my own through it. Certainly a halter or head stall ie safer, and it is all the better if there be a running block of wood on the ropes. Of couree particularity about tying up is not of so much consequence where the hcrae is only tied up for a short time, and there are people about ; but, stabled for the night, the horse should be haltered aa safely as possible.

The Bailway Commissioners and their Tariff./

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir, — Could anything be more galling, not only to Mr G. M. Bell, bat to every member of the various dabs forming tbe farmers' union, than the result of the correspondence on the railway tariff, as published in your columns last week?

One of the principal items in the political platform, adopted by the farmers' union at its annual meeting last year, was the revision of the railway rates. This item was discussed by every farmers' club in Ofcago and Southland, and it was clearly shown at the meeting of the union in Danedin, at which the Hon. John M'Kenzie was present, that the existing railway tariff was actually driving the traffic on to the roads. In other words, that the farmers were paying county rates to keep the roads in repair, while b&lf-laden locomotives were running up and down onr railway lines. In the face of this the commissioners cooily inform the Government that unless a loss of £50,000 to £100,000 of revenue is sacrificed they cannot reduce our railway rates. " The reduction of |d a bushel on grain, l-16d per lb on meat, or 3d per head an sheep," we are informed would make no material difference to [us farmers, while it makes a material difference to the railway revenue. Farther, we are told ttiat owing to the large profits of f re" zing companies, and the high price of sheep and wool, the country is well able to bear a prohibitive railway tariff. Fortunately our sheep are provided with four legs to carry them to the freezing works, and the said works are close to water carriage, consequently the sheep farmer is partly

independent of the commissioners; mob after mob of sheep go down our roads alongside the railway lines, while the taxpayers look on and wonder why- we ever borrowed bo much money to construct railways if they can't be made to carry our stock. How much more would it cost Mr M'Kerrow to haul another dozen trucks behind> the half-laden engines ? Any person can see the waggons plying daily on the road between' Milton and Danedin alongside the railway line. I myself can get wool carted 13 miles over a road that has never been formed,. and with rats and holes deep enough to take a waggon to the axle, for the same price as I pay for the privilege af railing it 20 miles in a filthy coal truck:. Finally, the commissioners state that wheat is higher in price than it has been for years, consequently they argue the growers onght to be made to pay through the nose for railing it to a port. Bravo I Commissioners' logic for ever I This beats my grandmother— and she was clever.

The commissioners must be aware, that the bulk of farms in Otago and Southland won't grow wheat. How about the hundreds of hardworking settlers between Stirling and Invercargill who can grow only oats, and have in many cases to take Is per bushel rather than face the ruinous railway rates ? Prime milling oats have hardly aversged Is 6d per bushel ia Danedin for the past six months ; deduct commission and railage off that, and what has the farmer left? I hope the various farmers' clubs will take the matter up at once, and get the Otago and Southland M.H.R's to assist the Auckland members in procuring a trial of the Vaile system on oar railways. If this is not possible, then a redaction in the present tariff ought to be insisted upon. — I am, &c, William R. Moohe, Treasurer N.Z. Farmers' Union. Berwick, August 11.