Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-01-22
Winter Promptirgs.

Winter Promptirgs.
What say the bleak wind and the fast
falling snow-aakcs 10 the frmers2 They
bid him prepare for months Of cold and
.iorm-io make no delay in completing his
preparations Tor the comfort and thrift OF
hi. stock, and proper carrying on Of all the
farm work allowable In winter. Every sea-
son has il. appropriate work-and this,
though less stirring and imPorian, than
sced.time or harvest, Is one that calls for
constant attention and labor.
We have frequently declared that consid.
erat,on' OF economy rs we'll a. humanity
demanded the shelter Of domestic animals
in inclcmcnt weather. Less food Is required
to s1stain in u thriving condition tho shel.
tered animal. Tho vital heat must hc kept
up 20 certain p, int about 100 deg and
this is d.ne by the food consumed, which
serves as fuel To sustain that temperature.
Shelter tends % keep up the animal heat,
exposure decreases, or rather makes more
food or fuel requisite to support Il. An
cquablc temperature Is more healthy-,he
most hardy animal suffer- if exposed to a
winter s,orm-it loses in health and condl-
tion. The moisture may rapidly cmpornte,
but every drop OF water thus passing or
,-L-- -i,h ., I-,.,.s-, ~s ..~ vital heat al
the animal.
Those who have not ample shed and sta.
ble room for all their stock should lose ~
time providing tho same. Sheds may be
bdiIt OF boards, poles or rails, and straw ;
which will keep or many n shiSering blast
Of slcc,, and shelter sheep and cattle abou,
~ we'll As more costly structurcs-lOr the
winter. When built Of rails, make double
walls aud GlI them with straw, which nav
also be used as q thatch, or evergreen
b)ughs, when convenient, form an excellent
substitute.
Keep your stock in good heart, IL you
would winter them easily. ltany plnching
la. got TO be done, let it come n, late in
spring ns possible. II sheep and cattle get
poor carly in winter, i, will bs harl work
To keep them alive until grass groWs-and
it will c,st moro to bring them through
than IL would to have kept them dccontly
lr1m the first. 10 make the most %! the
forage, straw cutter should be provided.
Straw, coarse hay, and corn stalks go much
farther when cut, aud even the best ol hay
is increased in value by this operation. II
grain Of any kind is fed, 1t should trst be
ground and mixed with cut straw. and the
whole mois,encd with water. Ii will be
better dieeslcd. aud 60 farther to satisfy the
appetite OF the animal than IT fed alone.
Apples, pumpkins, and the different root
crops, should be provided as sauce for the
dry fodder Of winter.
/ Water as we'll as food is necessity. TIL,
should to brought into the yard, II It may
be-, ~ that every animal may have just all
be want, without extra labor. IL is an eI.
cellcnt plan 10 have cis,erns 20 receive the
water from the barn roof--and when springs
are not available, a supply OF the best wa
ter may thus be secured.
A word ON manurcs, and then we will
come out Of the barn.yard, though It is the
place most irequenied by the good farmers
in winter. Even at this season much can
be done toward increasing tho quality and
quantity Of the manure heap. The stables
should he kept we'll Uttered, and the pig pen
supplied with the raw material for the
young 20, kers to work up at their leisure.
Muck, coarse grass and straw, leaves FROM
the woods. sod from the ionce corners, and
such absorbent materials, will add much u
the stock Of manure. Enough Of thesC
should be mixed with the stable dung u
prevent It's heating" Us we'll as 10 take
up the liquid portions OF the same. Let nC
I fertilizer 20 TO waste which reasonable car,
can save.
Indoors the cold prompts US to look tc
the supply Of fuel-and there should never
be less than six months stock on hand. Let
sled aud AK be ready, and do not wait until
heavy SHOWS shut up the woods, or compel
you to dig through huge DRIFTS to make
your way there. If the wood is desired Il
grow again, cut all clean at ouce-shut out
all browsing animals--and the new croI
will start with an even growth, and soon
cover the land with a thrifty young forest.
Why not have a Farmers Club in every
neighbOrhOod? Political matters have be
come dull, and IT is surely worth the farm
er's while to gather all the information he
can upon his chosen vocation. Learn iron
each other. Associate together for your
mutual advancement. There Is no class OF
profession which make less us, Of the prin.
ciple Of association than the farmer, and
none to which IL can be OF such practical
benefit. Individual experience should be-
come the general stock.
Once more, aud We have done. Let win
ter lromp, us TO kindly thoughts OF th'
poOr-to charitable provision for their ne
cessities. Let us not centre our attentions
upon soll and its belongings, bat take int
a warm heart the brotherhood o. suffering
humanity. TRaral New Yorker.