The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-11-13
A Few Fall Chores. y

spring work is hardly moro important
than Fall work. The latter should be
done in its appropriate season, and done
well. Some jobs can not be deferred un-
Ill Spring, and others can be done now
better than then. '
One item, for many farmers, Is tho
draining Of swamp or bottom lands. They
are rich in peat, or mari, or muck, which,
IT rightly used with manure, almost
doubles the value of pure stable dungs.
Now is good time to drain those lands,
while the low grounds are comparatively
dry, and before the heavy Fall rains set
in. Cut good broad bitches straighl
through them, leading into some natural
outlet, where the water will have FREQ
channel and good fall Cut the sides
of each ditch soping, so that the soft dirt
will not crumble and cave in aud obslruct
the channel. In short time, this drain
ed land will bear up teams, and so allow
the farmer to haul out many load Of
fertilizing material for his hungry uplands.
Or, if the hauling cnn not be done now,
let the muck be thrown up in heaps to
dry, so that it can easily be loaded up
and drawn out in Winter. Let every un-
employed team bring forth the rich de-
posiLs, aud draw them into the barn yard
for composing, or take them out to tho
hilly lands, where they can be exposed to
the air and frost, and perhaps mixed
with lime, and so be got ready for next
year.
Another item relates to shelter for
stock. We are no advocates for fancy
architecture in the barn yard. Our rich
neighbor, who paints his commonest barns
and cattle sheds puro white, does il on
his own responsibility. He seems TO like
to see his Short Horns and Berkshires
rub their dirty hides against bis snow
white lead. This is not to our taste.
We advocate comfort for cattle, from tho
most brutish grunter up to the noble
horse. Keep them comfortable, both in
Winter and Sumner Keep them grow
ing, or at least improving their condition,
so as to be always ready for market, ready
for use, or at any rate, in such condition
that it will be a satisfaction 10 look at
them.
To this end let the farm buildings uu-
dergo thorough examination this month.
and let material be provided for repairing
them. This leaky roof must be shingl d.
or at least patched These loose boards
must be nailed on, or it old and rotten,
new ones must supply their place. Yon-
der, the seams have opened Too wide be-
tween the half-seasoned boards; they
should be battened up. The floors in
those stalls are beginning to give way !;
they are worn and half-rotten. Now,
right off, before those oxen and valuable
horses have broken through and sprained
their legs, we must put in some new
pIanks; may be some joists beneath to
support them. Aud these sheds around
the yard and that lean-to, need righting
up. That wide opening at the north
west corner, between the long barn and
the courthouse, should be boarded up;
the wind and snow drive in there unmer.
cifully during the Winter. r
Along with this work let there 90 q
thorough cleaning up. The manure SO
apt to accumulate under the barn floor,
must be got out and wheeled into the
corner for composting. The heaps in the
corners of the sheds, and around the barn
doors, the drinking troughs, and gates,
should be scraped up and deposited where
they will not waste. This will make the
buildings sweeter and pleasanter, and the
yards will be cleaner to the feet all thro'
the rainy months. 'rl r
The stock need looking to before they
are taken into their permanent winter
quarters. Not few farmers keep them
out too late, and on too short commons.
Between this time and December, there
will doubtless be much good pasturage,
but after the frosts have become severe,
grass is not very nutritious. 1t may be
abundant, but after il has been several
times frozen, it is little better than so
much straw. Cattle often grow poor
while standing knee-deep in such fodder
Probably, the cold rains, and sleeping OH
The cold ground, have something to dc
with their leanness.
Let it be repeated here, that stock
should seldom be allowed to stand still
in their condition; they should be kept
growing if they are young, and improv.
: ing if already grown. If under-fed oil
J poorly fed, they recover bat slowly
if at all. Let them have good food all
through the Fall; give them shelter by
night and in long storms, if they desire il,
Bring them into their winter quarters
, strong and healthy. So shall il be well
/, with thee, and with thy focks and thy
] herds. American Agricuturist
WHEELS ON PLows.-The best way
| lo snnnrn a inifnrm danfh In nlnwinn i.