Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-20
TURNER'S Department.
Calender of Operations for Jan, 1859.

fodder in abundance, and mind in keeping
with the quietude which reigns about him, the
thrifty farmer may now sit cOntentedly before
the fire while the wintry blu>tS sweep by his
door. He has no need of going out every few
hours, with shovel in hand, to see it the sheep
are buried beneath drift, or the calves perish
ing with cold He has ample time Tor reading,
and to nature plans for the year now commcnc-
ing, aud especially to close up all accounts of
the past season.
Let New Years day be new starting point,
and. with the experience of former years fresh
in memory, let strong effort be made to rem
der the acres doubiy productive at a slightly
increased expense of tillage.
Barns aud stables require especial attention,
for through them passes much of the Summers
toll. Remember "to save, is to earn" and
suffer nothing to be wasted upon the floors, in
the managers, or yards Chaff and coarse fOd-
der with readily he eaten if run through hay
cutter and mixed with ground feed. Use dried
muck or saw dust for abSOrbentS in the stables
which both benefit the stock and Increase the
manure heap
Breeding Animals of all kinds require care
full attention, but not ovcr-fcedimg. Give them
q good shelter in comfortable quarters.
Cattle thrive better on less food, when COM
fortably housed, than when SO exposed to
require large quantity of fodder to keep up
the animal heat Feed portion of the roots
stored in the cellar, giving turnipS to milch
COWS aticr rather than before milking, or they
may flavor the milk Carrots are better on
this account than turnipS
Cellars may need some extra protection to
keep out frost. Spread mats or straw over
root and potato bins where frost can not be ex-
cIuded from the cellars
Constitutes seed was saved, as it should
have been, at the times of harvest, select it,
from the best in the bins-Grind or cook any
fed out as to get the full benefit Of it.
FENCING STUFF.-Secure good supply Of
posts, rails, and board timber while the SwampS
are frozen Posts may be holed or pinned
toy; ther, and gates made during stormy days.
HEMLOCK AND OAK BARK.-Market early,
that which was peeled last summer for tanning
purposes.
HoGs-Warm, snug and dry quarters are
now wanted for hogs Keep the pens well
coated with mnck, leaves, straw or sawdust,
for bedding and manure Clean out often =
Provide for Spring pigs by turning in the male,
if rot already done.
HoRsES.-Take good care of these noble
animals, since winter with its fine sleighiag
and Shedding scarcely affords a season of rest
Through heat or cold, sun, Irain, and snow, up
on the road for pleasure drive, or to market
the surplus produce, IN the woods for lumber
or fuel, or carting home the distant purchased
manure, the horse has an almost daily task
and richly merits kind humane treatment and
generous food. Cover with blankets when not
using, give good bedding at night and liberal
allowance of grain, alternating with carrots
where they can be had
LUMBER Many farmers have surplus of
pine, hemlo k, cedar, and various kinds Ofhard
wood lumber, which they can now get ont for
railroad ties, shpbulding, furniture, or car
penter work. Preserve the young and thrifty
trees from injury as timber is yearly growing
more valuable.
MANURE Continue to make, even at this
inclement season. BY keeping every manulac-
tory we'll supplied with muck, double the usual
amount of equally good manure can be made.
In the absence of muck, use saw dust, spent
tan, the refuse of almost any mandatory in
your ncighhorhood. Road scrapings, sods, or
even common soil carted into the yard as ab-
sorbents of liquid manure, will always pay
richly for the trouble
Flowing heavy soils in open wiHter weather
will usually improve them 10y turning up the
hard pan to the shaking influence of frost, be.
sides killing burrowing insects and roots of
peStiferouS perennial plants.
PouLTRY.-Keep in warm quarters, feeding
we'll while the ground is frozen or covered with
snow Cellars under barns or other buildings,
or an excavation made in the side of a hill
with q roof over it affords good shelter during
winter Give meat, also pounded oyster shells
or lime to keep up the supply of eggs. Boil
ed potatoes and buck-wheat cakes, alternating
with grain, are good food.
RoADs-keep them open to the public travel
even if snow storms are frequent. 1t shows a
lack Of public spirit to see community Oblg-
ed to leave the highway cked up by snow
drifts until thawed out in the spring
SALr-All farm stock should have salt once
a week at least. Salt hay will answer the same
purpose
SHEEP-Provde suitable shelter separate
from other stock, Give few cut roots each day.
TOoIS-Many of those wanted another sea
son may be made or repaired during the stormy
days of this month.
Vermn such as rats and mice are unprof-
table animals. Keep only a small stock about
the premises. Terriers, ferrets cats, traps,
strychnine, and arsenic are the proper antidotes
4 small bounty on their tails will usually set
the children astir, and rats too.
WooD.-Cut and draw from the swamps
while they are frozen and the shedding or cart.
ing good Have a full years supply, not only
at the door, bnt cut, split and piled away un-
der cover if possible, before the Spring work
commences upon the farm. Remember the
annoyance of having men called from the hay
field to get oven wood, or the breakfast delay
ed on account of only green stuff for fuel
ORCHARD AND NrRsERY.-Little needs to be
done here during this month, at the North
In the Southern States ground may be dug and
otherwise prepared and both orchard and nnr.