Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-08
Farmers Department.
Calendar of Operations for Dec. 1859.


The close Of this year is an appropriate time
TO balance the farm accounts, and make new
inventory. This will show your standing from
year to year. and enable you at glance to
see whether farming pays. fit does not pay,
with lantern in hand, Diogenes like, search for
and stop the leaks And while balancing the
farm accounts, you may as well balance the
grocers account current, and any other items
or bills. Excepting those with whom you have
a sort of barter notwithstanding them with
a portion of surplus produce-it is not deSira-
bic to keep open accounts. Pay as you 60"
is a good aud safe rule, which many persons
have regretted violating.
Although but little active labor is carried
on, ont of doors, in the northern States which
seems to bring cash returns, yet the farmer
who recollects that :" to husband is to earn
can save great deal by proper care and at
tention, that would otherwise 90 to waste
At the south much of what we call "Spring
work is now done.
Cattle require special care now.
Cellars may need additional guarding against
frosts
Christmas-May it be merry one to all,
all and feast of fat things in which the poor
are not forgotten.
Fencing Materals-Coect from the woods
and Swamps now that they are frozen over
Rails may be split and posts prepared for
another season.
Fodder Racks-See that the feeding yards
are provided with them to keep the hay, straw
etc, from being trampled under foot. Cattle
food is valuable now.
Forest Leaves.-If any Of these are accessi-
bic, collect as many as possible for bedding aud
manure. They are very valuable for both
HogS.-Kill, any now fattening. Keep
stores in good thrift, providing for an increase
at the appropriate season.
Ice Houses may be filed in some places
The first ice is usually the best
rigation.-Some of the meadows and in
tervales can be overlowed for short time to
their manifest advantage. Cranberry meadows
are improved by keeping them flooded during
the Winter.
Lumber, Timber, etc-This may now be got
from the forests and taken to the saw-mill-
The early SHOWS usually make the best sled
ding for this purpose.
Manures-PuSh the manufacture of these
at this season. Use muck, loan, leaves and
straw to absorb all the liquids Of the yards and
and stable. Cart 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 as much manure as
would be saved where liquids are allowed to
run to waste, with no absorbent.
Marketing Produce.-Some Of the surplus
productions may now be sold, unless it is evil
dent higher prices will prevail in the SPRING
Farmers are apt to hold on to grain and other
produce until the best market has gone by.
POultrv rnCuiFn tho cop,n trootr,op+ lo,+
month, with protection from the cold, and
gravel or sand toscratch ill., Give meat scraps
from the kitchen.
Schools are now in session in most districts
Let the children attend as steadily as possible
aad show them, by frequent visits, that you
take lively interest in their success.
Sheep.-Proyide racks for, and feed under
cover during storms. Keep horned cattle and
horses from them. Give tnrnips 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
Tool House-Look over the implements
stored here, during the stormy days of this
month. Some Of them may need repairing, and
few want replacing with new ones which can
now be made See that nothing is left to
rust, and decay or be buried by unexpected
SHOWS.
Turnips-Harvest, any still in the ground.
Give pits and additional covering and close
the ventilators at night if there is danger of
freezing.
Water Pipes and pumps may need pgotec-
tion from frost
Winter Grain Fields-Allow no water to
stand upon them nor should cattle or sheep
Craze them at this season.
Wood.-Mark early preparations for cutting
and hauling full supply for the coming year.
In snowy countries it is better to cut in con-
venient lengths for handling aud pile both
" down stuff" and the standing trees, SO that
the first fall of snow may be improved to sled
it home.
ORCHARD AND NURsERY.-If the directions
given last month have been fully carried out.
the orchard needs little care now Excepting
at the SOnth we would not urge planting during
this month. Compost may still be applied
about old trees to advantage.
To forward the labors of the hurried season
in Spring good supply Of stakes and labels
should be prepared for nursery use. They can
be made during stormy days, and painted ready
for use The head and division stakes in the
nursery rows need looking to- that none Of
them are removed or displaced, and if any of
the plots or squares are not registered in a
book, let it be done now 1t is not enough to
trust to stakes and memory Let a plain re-
cord be kept of both orchard and nursery.
Pruning is not of season at the north Bet
ter leave the remaining branches until next
Summer. We would rather remove them now
however than in Spring.
Scions may very properly be cut at this sea-
son. while the shoots are not frozen. Bury in
dry earth ont of doors, or in sand in the eel
lar Mark them carefully.
Transplanting mag still be done, but as re-
marked last month, we much prefer the first