Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-17


coots and shrunken forms--spectres, that, II you
have any sensblities, will rob you of many mo-
meut of repose. On the other hand, If you know
that they are comfortably housed and fed, what
more surely prepares the mind to enjoy the home
comforts Of the fresidel
The mind will 4 active: he Is wise who can d.
rect its activity probably, and so shape his busi-
ness Ms to leave nothing for conscience to reproach
him with-no neglected duties to his dependents or
equals, no vacuums to present their horrid blanks
In the picture Of the past, for the mind is the VIII
ling servant of circumstances and will continually
obtrude these powerful matters II they exist, to
the exclusion or confusion of things in the future
which demand attention Forgetting the things
which are behind, Let us look into the arrangements
for the coming season.
First, then, while the ground Is frozen, Is the
time to prepare your fuel. and when the ground is
covered with snow is the time to haul IL 10 the
wood-pile. Don't be afraid Of getting too much I;
cut enough for the whole year, and split Il and
stick II up on end in small piles to season. 1fthis
has not been your habit, try 1t this season. and a.
bandOn 1t afterward II you like green wood best.
Now, examine your fences and see IL you will
require any new rails to reset them in the spring,
and IL so, make them now. Examine, also, your
tools, see If they want any repairs; If so, now Is
the time to do it. Are your plows sharp and in
perfect ORDER II not attend 10 them now. Your
harrows are they in order, and arc the teeth sharp
cradles aud scythes, hoes and spades In short,
examine all the tools you expect to use the next
season, and SEQ that they ready to use at mo-
ment's warning. and 50 well housed that they will
remain 10 till wanted. Is your hay-rake in its
place, and all the teeth AMI bolts secure Is your
pillow and wagon harness all sound and well oiled
Are your stables in good condition and your stalls
and feed-boxes all sound and sccure-cannot you
contrive some improvement in your stable arrange
men so as to facilitate the operation Of cutting and
mixing feed All these and other kindred matters
which will suggest themselves being attended TO-,
don't forget to examine your arrangement for saw
ing manure. If you have not considered this q
matter Of much importance, be assured that you
have much to learn in farming II your manure
is exposed to the weather. let II be in such place
as shall not admit o. having its strength washed
away by the rain, and be sure that none Of the
drip from your stable roofs adds its force to the
rain which falls direct. in Teaching away your ma
Dure. Ifyou see, after hard rain, q stream OF
dark fluid running from your manure pile, be as
sured that you are submitting to a ruinous waste,
perfect robbery, and lose no time in applying
the remedy Bed with saw-dust, If you can get il ;
or with leaves raked so close rs to take up little
soil with them and include all III rot,on logs you
can get fine enough to crumble up like saw-dust
throw this on and around your manure pile from
time to time thrngh the winter, and have a lot Of
it handy to use in the spring and summer. Ifyou
have cut up your corn, you have now a fine sup
ply Of rough feed for your stock TO pick at during
the day; feed it in ricks in some place sheltered
from the north and convenient to your stables and
have eye to the fine pile Of manure that is accu-
mulatng round the ricks. ready to haul out next
fall. Cover this with leaves as often as you can
fort of your stock and greatly to the value Of your
manure. These are q few OF the things which will
occupy your time at this season. While attending
to these. think over the others, arrange them in
order, arrange for all sorts Of weather. 50 that let
the day be cold or warm, rainy or clear, you know
at once what to set your hands at. To do this,
you must think. In short, you can do nothing on
the farm well without previously thinking Think
over your crops for next season. One field may
want rest and recuperating. Don't fail to SOW il
in clover this spring. and get ii IN early. There
are some unsightly stumps in another field; few
days work with yoke Of oxen, a long chain. and
stout lever or spar will remove them. Think Of
and arrange some good system of rotation Of crops,
If you have not attended to this matter before.
You cannot farm prohtably without it. for it is not
fair estimate of profit to count that as gain
which is obtained by robbing the land of its fert-
ty, Think over all these things. then, while the
winter affords you an opportunity. -Louisriiie
Journal.