Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-07
farmer's Department.
Work for the Month.

eDl care anu dlCeHtiOH - the HldiidSPlneut OI
Cattle which require warm quarters under
c0rer, at night, and during storms Feed
them in and around the barns rather than at
u stack-yard half mile off, Provide racks
for out door feeding. For grazers who are
constantly feediug cattle for market, a one or
two horse power corn and cob mill, and a straw
cutter are almost Indispensable appendages
A straw cutter of some kind should be in eve
ry barn.
Com FOR SEED.-If not saved, as it should
have been, at the time of harvest, select the
best ears and now put them away nnshelled
until planting time
FENCES. Procure timber from the frozen
swamps and split out the yearly supply of rails
and stakes Make posts, working in holes or
pinning two small pieces together The hem
lock logs peeled last summer should now be
taken to the mill to be sawed for fencing and
timber. Make gates to take the place of the
less convenient bars.
GRAIN.--Look out for mice and rats on un-
threshed stacks or mows. Keep stock of all
kinds from fields not covered with SHOW
During thaws look to the drains aid see that
no water is allowed to stand on the fields.
Hoes i not fattened and killed last month
hasten along. Unless waiting for market it
is far better to fatten early. Keep well bed
ded at night and supply manure materials for
them to work over. Look to the future in
crease and provide healthy male of improv-
ed stock
HORSES AND MULEs-Give ground feed
with cut hay or straw, moisteued with water.
Mix few cut carrots with their feed occasion
ally.
ICE HoUsFS-Fnl with the first firm ice of
the season, packing it in closely and covering
with plenty of straw
MANURES.-keep up the manufacturing at
all times, mixing in the muck and leaves Stor-
ed under cover last Fall. If the manure is
not covered in the yard cart it to the fields
Bring home on wheels or runners all manureS
purchased at a distance and also muck from
the sWamps.
Marketing is part Of the thrifty farmers
business, and the beginner has much to learn.
il is best to take only good produce to market
Large fruit sells better than inferior kinds -
by sorting potatoes the farmer gets manv bush
cis OF small ones for his hogs, while the large
measure just as much without them, and bring
better price. Clean, plump wheat sells rea-
dily at an advanced price Tor seed. So with
stock and other produce
PoULTRY.-Wa-m quarters on a ground
floor. will usually secure good supply of eggs
in Winter. Chopped cabbage is IA good sub
stitute for the green food Of the. mlder sea-
sons. Keep roosts clean, carefully saving the
contents.
RoADs.-Let pride and love of order, to say
nothing of convenience, stimulate those in
charge to keep the highways always passable.
Roads left blocked up with SHOW indicate
Slovenly neighborhood
SCHooLs-Have good ones and send your
children TO them punctualIy aud constantly
Avoid keeping the Older boys at home occa-
sonaly They have a right to an education
and conSldeiate parent will not weigh his
boys work against his intelligence Visit the
schools TO encourage both teacher and pupils.
SHEEP.--Look to an increase of improved
stock by introducing choice buck Let salt
he accessible, or feed salt hay occasionally
Shelter from storms, of course
TIMBER.-1n the N)rthern regions, get ont
pine and hemlock logs, as well as cedar, chest
nut and locust for fencing and other purposes
A Z" Dob sled" will he Servicablc
TooLS.-See that steel and iron surfaces do
not rust. Employ leisure time in repairing
those that are failing provide needed new
ones for the Spring A II implements are pre-
sumed to he under cover 4 Winters expo
sure is as injurious as a seasons wear A tool
house and Il work room, with carpenters tools
should be an appendage to every farm house.
TURNIrs AND OTHER RooTs.-Feed daily to
mich cows If mixed with Indian meal and
fed after milking, little or no taste will be Civ
cn to the milk.
WooD-Get up enough to last a year, at
least. Cut, split, and pile under cover. There
will be economy in it, to say nothing of snpe-
rior cooking, meals in season and q pleasant
housewife
ORCHARD AND NURSERY.
These, in the Northern States, are mainly
covered with snow and require little care save
guarding against mice and clearing the snow
from the branches of the small trees
Tramp around the trees in the orchard af-
ter the first snow to form an icy barrier near
the ground which mice will rarely pass.
Shake off the newly fallen snow from
branches of eyergreens, aud raise any limbs
partially buried and liable to he pulled still
further down when rains or warm weather
settle the drifts
AT the South, and whenever the ground is
open at the North, transplanting may still be
done, scale washed from young trees, and moss
and rough bark scraped from the trunks of
older ones
In nurseries labels and division stakes should
now be provided for Spring use. Probably
busy season is awaiting the nurseryman to
balance the light trade Of last Fall. We hope
so at least
Scions should be procured for Spring graft
ing, burying them in snow bank, dry earth
or in sand or moss in the cellar. See that TO
mistake is made in cutting them, and liable each
variety with care. BY shaving off but one end
of a scion the name can be legibly written up
on the green wood with pencil, if no label is
at hand
Prnninn .nnm In dnna linhtlr In MILL 10 L