Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-11
farmsr's Department.
Work for the Month. /.


for the provident farmer, anxious to relieve
more busy season from every possible care,
there is plenty of work that may appropriate
ly be done now. The chief employment will
be the daily care Of stock of all kinds, and that
nothing is suffered to waste about the build
ings. Too many farmers look upon the Win
ter season as time when little can be earned,
without sufficiently bearing in mind that to
husband is to earn. The barn, the workshop
the wood-shed, the cellar, the forest or wood
pile will admit variety of labor in clear or
stormy weather. The Southern planter will
now be actively at work manuring, plowing
and putting in early crops.
Cattle require large amount of care dur
ing this MONTH both on their own, and their
owners account They should not fall away
in flesh as Spring approaches, nor should law
ish, wasteful method of feeding be pursued,
thus exhausting the fodder before grazing
time Use the straw cutter daily. and if
there isl much coarse feed, steaming appa
ratus will be found very valuable. Give ex-
ira feed to cows about calving, and allow them
plenty of room at night.
CELLARs-Watch against frost keep sweet
and clean, sort over fruit, and expel or catch
rats and mice
the west, and as far may apply remedy in fu-
ture. Procure seed early and test its vegeta-
ting powers by sprouting samples in the house.
The planting season will commence at the far
South during the latter part of the month.
FENcEs-Continue to get out materials, as
directed last month Repair and build new
ones where the frost will admit
FLAX AND HEMp--Complete dressing any
yet unfinished
FoDpER-Cut and steam as much Of the
coarse as possible, feeding with Indian meal,
bran, and cut roots Use in the racks in the
yard, rather than scatter the fodder where it
will be tramped by stock. We trust the prac-
tice of feeding in distant stack yard has
been discarded
FowLs-See directions of last month"; and
give cooked potatoes or other vegetables in
addition to their grain feed. Select and set
eggs during the latter part of the month for
early chickens.
GRAIN-If any remains unthreshed, leave it
no longer prey to rats and mice. See that
vermin are kept from the granares, and cattle
and sheep from the growing fields. Eating
off at this season will he very injurious. Look
out for early spring seed.
HoGs-With full supply of warmed cook
cd food, give charcoal and salt occasionally
especially to breeding sows. Keep their pens
we'll supplied with manurial agents, and good
bed Of straw or leaves
HORSES AND MULEs-Give grain or carrots
with cut feed See that working horses are
well shod, during icy weather. Keep blanket
ed when not in use. and well bedded at night.
Ice HoUsEs-Watch for the first opportu-
nifty to fill with thick clear ice, if not already
done Pack close, filing crevises with broken
pieces. All this, if you get any ice this Win
ter. We have seen none to this date Jan.
23)
MAyuREs-Coutinue to manufacture, and
cart it to the fields as directed last month
Leave it in large heaps until wanted for use,
covering them with muck, loan or soil. Save
all the liquids of the yards and stalls by alb
sorbing them with the muck or leaves stored
for the purpose. 1t is to be hoped that the
manure is also kept under cover, if it is only
O roof of poles thatched with straw or corn
butts
PorAroEs-Sort over for seed. Planting
NAV be done at the South during the latter
part of the month.
SHEEp-Keep them sheltered from storms
and separate from cattle and horses. Feed
grain and cut roots with coarse fodder. Let
them have free access to a trough Of salt, with
pure water in the yard.
SUGAR MAPLEs-Will require topping dur
ing the middle or latter part of the month in
mild latitudes The particular period must
be governed by the season. Provide the nec-
essary troughs or buckets and spouts Have
the boilers arranged aud everything in readi-
ness for operation.
TooLs-Employ the stormy days in putting
them in order, and making an7 new ones want
ed in the Spring or Summer. Wagons, carts,
harnesses and farm gear Of oil kinds should be
looked to-
TURNIPs AM OTHER Roors--Feed daily,
giving after rather than before milking. Use
the root cutter TO reduce them fine enough for
sheep even.
WooD-If the supply Of last year is now ex-
hausted, get up larger pile this Winter
Improve the Shedding at the nOrth aid good
wheeling elsewhere to the best advantage while
they last But, split and store under cover
enough to last till April, at least Of next year.
There will be economy in it, in more ways
than one.
ORCHARD AND NURSERY.
Where grounds are frozen or covered with
snow, little now can be done among the trees,
save scraping of moss and rough bark, pruning
and clearing the snow from the branches OF
small tress. In some localities the ground is
open and transplanting may be done. lands
manured and plowed, nursery trees taken up
packed and sent away.
The comparative leisure Of this month will
afford good opportunity to 90 through both
Orchard and Nursery and cleanse old and
young trees from moss, rough bark and insects
using soap suds freely. The moss can readily
be washed from the branches of large trees
Immediately after a rain, by a brush broom
tied to a pole If little potash or soap bt
added to the water, so much the better.