The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-01-26
farm and Auilsrlluld,
Tho Enrmnr,a Winter.

IhC Farmers winter
Farmers, generally, regard their winte
monthsas lost timo--beoause they are abl,
topcrlorm 50 little productive labor. The,
can neither plow, nor SOW, nor plant moi
cnlivato tlier crops, nor reap thoir har
Vests--but their labor nowadays, wlot
thore is TO moro forest 10 destroy, consist,
mainly in feeding TO their stock a portion
of tho products Of their summers labor,
aud in cutting aud preparing fuel for the
family. But those who know how to make
the most Of tune and opportunity, will make
tho winters leisure rs profitable as the
summers toll
Without reference to the valuable montal
improvements which the farmer may make
through the long winter evenings he may
30 improve this season OF leisure as TO add
greatly TO tho productycncss o! his fam,
lilo can make his plans for the future--de.
termine what crops ho will cultivate, aud
what fields are In best condition for grow
ing tho different crops--consult his neigh.
bors-the best agricultural journals s-and
all resources Of Information, and il possible,
make improvements in his mothod of cul.
ture--his system OF farming
lie may review his past labors and sec If
no has been raising some crops that did not
pay. We have no doubt that most farmers
are raising some crops, from year to year.
that do not pay tho cost OF production, in
blissCnl ignorance of the fact, for the reason
that they do not keep accounts with their
crops, and bring them to = reckoning. They
continue to grow certain crops, because
they always have grown them, aud their
fathers did bofolo them, without knowing
whether thoy are a source Of profit or loss
t. them. Any merchant or manufacturer
al, L.,
system, or want OF system, would soon liud
his effects in tho hands of the sheriff, aud
himself earnestly seeking employment.
II is seldom that two farmers, evon in the
sumo neigborhood, can pursue the Same
system of cropping with profit, owing to
difference in soils. Oao may have q moist,
heavy soil, on which oats, barley, grass,
and similar crops VIII flourish, ana the
other light, dry SOIL better adapted 10
p9;atoos, Indian corn, &c Farmers should
B'udy their soils carefully and ascertain
What crops they are best adapted to. Now
il tho timo to do it-when work is net
cHowding-when every days labor is not
requiring tho undivided attention, leaving
~ timo for retrospective thought
The farmer who improves the winters
leisure in gathering Information in think
ing, plmuing, and resolving, will, in his
prosperous career, leave far behind, him
who ncglocts to improve his mind aud who
never looks ahoad-lneriom Farmer
.----a- .-S----.---a.--
Too Much stock.
Farmers lose a great deal every year by
keeping moro stock than they can properly
feed and take care of. They commit a
great mistake by keeping more than they
can keep well. To keep stock well, they
must be kept in u constantly thriving con-
ditior, In summer they shoul have album
dant pastungo, and in winter warm shelter,
aud all the good nutritious food thcy will
eat. Stock thus managed are always profit.
ahle-always improving and increasing in
Vllue-rarcly, If ever, become sick or die,
and afford one pleasure to look upon.
TO illustrate; Suppose q farmer should
Keep twelve cows, even in tocrablo con
dtion, and make butter through the winter
Now, il he would bestow the same care,
attention aud food upon eight, and we
might safely say six, OF the best OF his cows
providing them comfortable quarters, and
keeping thom healthy and thrivins--h
will make much moro butter from them
than he would from tho twelve. Or il he
will keep q less number of any kind OF
stock, and feed bettcr, they viii at any
time sell for more money than n greater
number of small, scrawny, halffcd animals
ltis good care and good feed that makes
good animals. And farmers who overstock
commit great error. Ii you have plenty
OF feed, keep all the stock that you can
feed wcll--but keep no more: but it will
pay farmers well to feed better, aud to pro
vide better shelter than they are in tho
habit of doing for all domestic animals. No
animal can thrive well even upon all the
food it will eat, exposed to the inclcmcnt
weather. Warm shelter is indispensable
10 stock in winter, and those who provide
no better roof for their stock than the blue
heavens above should lose no time in chang
ing their policy of keeping stocs. 1t can
only be attended with lnss.-R,um IYOrR.