Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-03-24

No widows groan shah load our cause,
No blood of brethren slain,
We've won without such aid before,
And so we shall again,
q RURAL CoNvENIENoEs AND ANIMAL Con-
ToRTs.-Very few persons fully realize the
beau ideal of comfort in the country, although
it is by no means very difficult of attainment.
Luxuries of the first class may be supplied by
the fruit and kitchen garden, the orchard, and
through well-kept stock of domestic ami
mails. We do not allude to the common, slip
shod, and imperfect way in which these sup
plies are obtained; that is, by means of late
and stunted vegetables in a weedy and unma-
nured garden, or fruit of doubtful character,
OH neglected. moss grown, unpruned trees,
and everything else of similar style of pro-
duction. These cannot be called luxuries,
and even the inhabitant of dense cities, who
sees only brick walls, and one small patch Of
clear sky just oyerl cad, may get much better
at the nearest market, or the corner of the
next street. What we allude to, are articles
of much higher perfection-tbe best early veg
etables from the hot bed; the most delicious
raised in the open garden; fruits of the most
improved varieties, under the best cultivation,
and comprising the whole yearly circle, from
the earliest strawberries and cherries, through
the profusion of sorts that ripen in summer
and autumn, to tho finest bookkeeping APP
pies and pears. Every one, almost, has plen-
ty of fruit DUNG a certain brief period in au-
tumn, and some have partial or occasional
supply through large portion of the year;
but very few are able to place fine dish of
the best upon their tables for every day of the
year. The animals of the farm contribute
their share; "the flowing cup, fresh from the
dairy virgins liberal hand,' as Armstrong ex-
presses it; real genuine cream for the straw
berries, and not the market mixture of chalk
and milk; fowl for che table, when needed,
and plenty of fresh eggs from the poultry
house at all times; these all contribute much
to the comfort of country life. But these are
not all; the neat residence, the well-kept or
namental grounds, the well-furnished rooms,
the Intellectual food of books and papers, all
have large share in making up the complete
whole.
But while the country resident is providing
for his own convenience, he should mot forget
the comfort of his domestic animals. 1t is
always gratifying to see the same complete
system Of convenience in farmery, as in the
most perfect and best kept family residence.
Warm, well ventilated, well Uttered stables,
thoroughly cleaned at least twice, but better
three times day. are not SO rare as ample
provision for the smaller animals. All ani-
mails are most liable to disease, and most sub
Ject to loss of flesh, when suffering from
any kind Of discomfort, among the most pro-
minent of which are badly cleaned floors and
an impure atmosphere. Good milk Is not to
be expected, nor good butter 10 be made from
cows suffering under these unfayorabIe infiu-
ences. A very rare thing is a clean, inoffen-
sive piggery. Every playhouse should have
a smooth, hard hoor, SO as to be constantly
scraped and swept, by the easiest possible re-
moval Of the accumulation. Where several
inches of peat or turf are deposited for them
70 root or burrow in when the weather is
freezing,) this should never be allowed to re-
main long enough to create an unpleasant
odor, and a hard floor viii contribute much
towards its easy removal. How much better
would be such special provision as this than
the more common practice of allowing swine
to roam the barn-yard among cattle, seeking
shelter and cleanliness, but finding none.
Fowls are very sensitive to cold and discom-
fort. We have examined many well-made
poultry-houses, but scarcely one kept sweet
and clca n. 1t costs but little more to re-
move peck of hen guapo, might semi daily
lnstalments, than at one weekly and disagree
able operation. Sheep would grow and thrive,
and survive our winters, enough better to paw
or artificial shelter, in year or two, if COM
.ortable sheds and dry yards were provided
or them, and sufficient divisions made for
zeeping the various classes of weak and
1seong, young and old, separate.
Complete ranges Of buildings to furnish
ample provision for all these purposes should
be regarded as siae qua non of every good
Farnn; and if the tools and implements, also,
could be only regarded as having some de-
gree of sensation, perhaps better care would
be taken, and better shelter be provided for
chem. Carts, wagons, and plows; rakes, hoes,
and forks; harrows, cultivators, and drills,
should as much have special rooms provided
for them in which they should be carefully >
kept when not in use, as the favorite horse.
There is one other room of different char
acter, which should never be ommitted on any
farm of considerable size, but of which near
~ every one is entirely destitute. This is a 4
business Office, attached to the dwelling,
where the account books are kept, where hired
men are settled with and paid, where bargains
are made with business men, and all consul
a room need not be more than ten or twelve
feet square, and may be of very simple con-
structicn, warmed by small stove, and not
consuming cord Of wood year. II the
farmer does not himself sec the advantage Of
such an office, every neat house wife most
certainly will, who is 50 ottsn annoyed by
such transactions in those singularly appro-
pirate places, the parlor, or around the kitchen
cook-stoye. gag ei9s
We might add to the list Of conxeniencas.
good, well gravelled farm roads; well paved
or tagged barn yards; and self shutting and