Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-09
farmer's Department.
Calender of opers tions for Dec. 1853.

undiSturbed by fear of snow before morning
upon an acre of turnips still unharvested.
The close ofthe year is an appropriate season
for balancing the accounts of the farm. 1t Is
we'll to make an inventory each seasen. Any
permanent improvements ShOnld, of course, be
considered as enhancing the vaIne OF the farm
and placed TO its credit. Live stock, Lay, gra II
and other provisions on hand should be summed
up. the outstanding debts taken account OF, by
comparing the statement with the previous
year. one can readily conclude whether he makes
bis farming operations pay.
If the merchant takes an exact account of
stock each year to ascertain his standing why
should not the farmer? 1t need take very
little time except few Of the winter evenings.
Mature early all your plans for next season,
deciding what fields to plant, what to SOW, how
many drains shall be dug, and where young
orchards shall be planted
Some of the surplus produce may now be
marketed and tne grocer's and outstanding ac-
counts liquidatcd Resolve that during the
coming year you will "pay as-you-gO,' rather
than run up lengthy accounts Ike those you
now find it difficult to pay off. Keep strict
expense and cash account taking and filing
away receipts, which, besides saving many dis
putes, and sometimes paying bills twice Will
enable YOU to discover where some Of the icaES
are, and if created 10y the purchases of those
things Won would be better off without resolve
to stop them at once Remember that the
apparently small sum of six cents per day for
drink or tobacco, will, during the next ten years
amount to over $500, to say nothing ofthe time
spent in getting it and the constitution injured
by its use But moralizing aside, let us look
ba forp nd llN- nt bn
Buildings for both man and beast, to see
that they are as comfortable as possible If
not already storm proof make them so.
Cattle come for large of attention now
Complete fattening the beeves as early as may
be, keep up the flow of milk by giving COWS
the remaining pumpkins, turnp and cabbage
tops, with cut feed and Indian meal, or shorts;
supply full feed to Young stock that they suffer
no check, in their growth, have working oxen
sharp shod where the ground is frozen or icy ;
and see that all the stock is sheltered at night
well supplied with water and salt, or salt hay
given them once a week.
Cellars may need additional protection to
keep out frosts.
CHRIsrMAs-May it be merry one to ali,
and feast of fat things, in which the are not
forgotten.
Drains may still be made where the ground
is not too wet or frozen.
FENcING.-Get material from the woods and
swamps and split full supply of rails, ard
prepare posts against the busy season of next
Spring.
FopDER-Do not waste it about the barn,
but run it through a straw or hay cutter and
add some kind of ground feed Use racks in
the yards TO keep it from being trodden under
foot.
FOREST LEAvEs.-Large quantities of these
are still blowing about the roadsideS and wood
borders. They make excellent bedding ma
nure and hot-bcd materials. Shall few loads
be secured under cover, before it is too.ate?
HOGs.-COmplete fattening, those intended
for killing. Keep their pens and yards well
supplied with muck and other manure agents
aud absorbents Have an eye to the increase
of stock, and turn the male among your breed
ing sows, if early pigs are wanted.
HORSES AND MULEs.-With grain feed give
portion of carrots, and see that their stalls
are warm and well bedded at night Tentilate
their stables and use absorbentS or deOdorizers
to take up the gasses which are unhealthy to
breathe but valuable when fixed in the compost
heap. Keep horses well shod
ICE HoCsEs-Fill with the first firm thick
ice, which is usually the best of the seasjn-
Houses may still be built
MANUREs-PuSh the manufacture of these
at this saaSon. Use muck, loan, leaves and
straw to absorb all the liquids of the yards
and stable Cart a large heap of muck from
the swamp to the stables for winter use. A
free bedding of it under horses to absorb the
urine, will make twice much manure as would
be saved where all the liquids were allowed to
run to waste, with no absorbent.
Flowing during open weather may still be
continued on clayey soils when sufficiently dry
PoUITRY.-Give warm quarters, plenty of
food and drink with gravel, lime and meat,
and you may expect eggs in the winter season.
Clean roots often, barrclng the contents for
an excellent homemade guanO.
Schools are now in session in most !diStricts
Let the children attend as steadily as pos
sble, and show them, by frequent visits, that
You take lively interest in their success.
SHELP-Provide racks for, and feed under
cover during storms, Keep horned cattle and
horses from them. Give turnpS or carrots,
instead of all dry feed See that they are sup
piled with SALT and provided with good buck
of an improved breed, if possible.
TooLs.-Look over, during the stormy days
of this month, and if any need repairing you
can better afford the time now than when they
are wanted for use at a busy season New
ones of domestic manufacture, such as harrows,
OK yokes, bows, hoe fork and AK handles, wood
SledS, &c, may also be made. Don't let a
snow storm bury the plow in one place harrow
in another, the oxyokes here, and chains, axes,
&e., somewhat else. They should be housed
every night.
TrRSIPs. Harvest. any still in the ground
Give pits an additional covering and close the
vcntlators at night if there is danger Of freez-
ing.
WATER PIPEs AND PCMPs.-See that they
are sufficiently protected from frostS.