Saturday morning visitor., 1849-02-24
From The Valley Farmer for February.
FARM WORK FOR FEBRUARY.

Our g0oG friends must not suppose tnat |
in any hints which we throw out, we for
get that the farmer should have other me-
ihods Of spending his time, especially in
winter, besides continual toil--labor and
unrenittIng drudgery. No--he has ma
ny other privileges end enjoyments; and
while the Yankee philanhrofists some
times thank God that their soil is so stub
born, and their climate so ungenial that
the farmer is compelled TO incessant Toll 10
keep soul and body together, we rejoice
that with us man Of ordinary prudence
and sagaci,y may command for himself and
family every comfort, and still have abun-
dant leisure TO cultivate the social virtues,
improve his mind, and enrich it with val
liable knowledge. But herein consists
the secret; good management, and a sys-
tematic arrangement of all your affairs
Never put off till tomorrow what can be
done to-day Not only have place but
time for every Thing, and lei this time be
at the very first opportunity. By always
keeping ahead of your work, you can se-
cure many seasons OF leisure which you
cannot otherwise obtain.
During tins month your stock need more
careful attention than during any other OF
the twelve. If your working cattle and
horses now get tliin, and weak, they will
be unfit for the spring work, which must
soon be commenced. And the animals
with young-see that they are provided d
with good food and plenty Of it; with warm
bedding, and not worried or teased by vi
vious animals yarded with them. The
food for such animals should be nu,ricious
rather than hearty, and as the period for
partIrilion approaches, they should be
sheltered with additional care. For three
or four weeks before they bring forth,
their food should be of such nature as
will impair, strength TO them and their off
spring, and at The same lime promote the
secretion Of milk Brewers grains or
can be obtained, are among the best and
cheapest articles that can be used. They
may be fed 10 cows at the rate of peck
for each COW per day, before cal,ing, and
hal. bushel per day afterwards. Sheep
may be led from one TO three quarts per
day. When these articles cannot be had,
little corn or cats Tor sheep, and for cows
corn meal, at the rates of from two TO four
quarts each per day, will be beneficial -
a few Carrots will greatly favor the Sc
creliou of milk, both in COW 5 and sheep,
and may be given with advantage in addI-
tion 10 the corn or meal. We cannot o.
nit this opportunity 10 say one word more
here on subjec, upon which We express
ed ourselves pretty freely last month we
mean The protection and shelter Of stock.
A merciful man is mercitul 10 his beast I;
and no humane man will leave Ills stock
exposed 10 all the storms and colds of our
variable climate, if he can by any means
prevent il; and there are but lew men
who cannot provide something 10 protect
their poor faithful dumb beasts. A man
had better sell one half Of his stock and
provide shelter for the rest, than 10 keep
al he has and leave them exposed 10 the
winds and storms of heaven.
Make your preparations during this
month for the cultivation Of a GARpEN.-
How much comfort and luxury do many
farmers deprive themselves and families
OF, by neglecling that all-important matter
the kitchen garden! Many will throw
the labor and care of il wholly upon the
female members OF the family, hardly wil-
ling, apparently 10 take time TO plow the
ground and many, very many, have we
seen lha, lived year afler year, with none
at all--not even a truck paich.'a In the
summer of lS47, in our wanderines in
search Of a treasure-more precious than
the gold of Caiiiornia--health-w go.
jourEed few days at The residence of a
dear relative, whose farm of 400 acres
!, gave ample employment 10 its owner and
J his eight or ten able bodied men whom he
, fedal his table, and led forth to their dali
ly labor. Here was The orchard yielding
its thousands of bushels of fruit; The dai-
ry furnishing milk for the hundred pound
cheese, The fifty acres of meadow, and
! oil that but when we looked for The gar
Z den, and iis precious and wholesome rep
resentaiive Of the Otherwise well spread
I board, they were not there no early beet'
1 nor potatoes, no peas nor beans, nor squash.
es, nor corn, nor cabbage mo lettuce, mol
4 raddish, nor cucumber, nor tomatoes, mol
egg plant. all because the good wife wa'
! sick in the spring, and could not make 1
d gardsnl How many of our readers were
2 lin the same predicament last year /? How
+ many will be in il this yearP A good
: garden is by far the most profitable par
{ Of farm, as any map may convince him
'll self, who will cultivate one. .s....,
; II you have mol finished getting up you
: years supply Of wood, take our advice
I and do Il wi,hout'delay. This is amaiie
: lin which every head Of family shoul'
: ISsel deep and absorbing interest. w
wish that sveFyis couldconsider him