Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-21
agricultural.
Preparation For Winter.

A long list of Jobs demands the attention
of every farmer at this season of the year
The first thing to be attended to is protec,
tion for and feeding of all kinds Of stock
Animals no longer find subsistence in the
field Herbage has failed For this rea
son. feed must be dealt out with a frugal
hand
Young animals need suitable sheds in our
cold climate, in addition to nutritious food
\ few hundred feet of boards, two or three
pounds of nails, and few hours work will
erect a good shelter for a few calves, or a
span of colts, or a small flock of sheep -
Many farmers have hundreds Of feet of
boards and plank scattered around their
yards, which would be injured far less by
the weather if used up i'll making tempo
rary shelters, than they would to lie ex-
posed to the snow, rain, and drying winds
Of winter.
In many parts of the country, fence
boards may be used during the foddering
season for protecting stock, or for making
temporary sheds over manure where II Is
exposed to drenching rains /; and, when the
winter has passed away, 1t could be used
tor fencing. Many of our best farmers
have learned that it pays to protect man
ure as we'll as their domestic animals.
Before the ground freezes, fruit trees of
all kinds, wherever they they are liable to be
girdlcd by mice, should be banked up with
earth. If the trees stand in sod ground,
take a square sod, cut ii in two parts with
a spade, gouge out one side of each piece
so that when the two are placed together
the tree will be enclosed on every side
Il IL,
the ground beneath deep snow in winter,
if they meet with a mound of earth, or the
square edge of a sod they will pass around
it, and the tree will be saved We have
never known this remedy to fail.
Winter grain needs some attention where
water is liable to stand on the surface
The outlets of all drains whether open or
provided with tile or stone, should be clean
ed out with a shovel and, when small
ponds Of water collect on grass ground,
lurrows should be plowed and the loose
earth thrown out, 50 that it may flow away
freely.
Wherever the intense cold of winter in
iures grape vines they should be cut loose
from their supports, laid fiat on the ground,
and covered with earth. 1t will pay in a
more abundant crop of fruit next season to
lay down raspberry bushes, and some kinds
Of blackberry bushes
The vitality and productiveness of straw
berry vines is sometimes nearly destroyed
by the severity of the weather. So long
rs the beds are covered with a sheet of
snow, they suffer no injury. But, to shield
them when the ground is bare, shavings of
any kind, tan-bark, leaves or straw, should
be spread about two inches deep until cold
weather has passed
Bees ought not to be allowed to fly away
from their hives in winter They can get
nothing by going abroad When the hives
stand in various parts Of the yard, they
should be protected by standing pieces Of
boards all around them to shield them from
The piercing winds, as we'll as the cheerful
sunshine, which invites them to fly away
into the cold air, where they shortly become
chilled, and are never able to return to their
hives
Cellar windows should either be well pro-
tectcd by earth, sod, tan-bark or straw, or
an extra sash with glass it may be fitted
10 one side of the window frame. thus form
ing an air chamber between two sashes.
Break up stones of any kind, and drive
the pieces into the rat holes then mingle
Hliidli pieces OF broken glass WIN mortar,
and point the intcrsticcS with it,
Fave roughs should be cleared OF sedi-
ment, to prevent the snow and ice accumu-
lating near the caves, causing the water to
lack mp beneath the shingles, and run down
inside the building
There are scores Of other things that
might be enumerated, quite as important,
perhaps, as those to which allusion has
been made, all Of which may be perform
Cd when there appears little else to be
done