Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-22
agricultural.
HINTS ABOUT WORK.

of their t0ckS ana herds take place cnleHy
in the spriug time, and the careful herds
man gives especial attention to animals
heavy with young.
Brood Mares that will foal this spring, if
worked, should be driven with caution,
never ovcrheated, nor put to their speed,
nor given drink when hot, nor lack water
when thirsty. Light work will not hurt
them, even before the pillow and harrow.
If not worked, give them good room ltls
equally important that
Wilch CO,cS, soon to calve should not De
too much confined in stables. Exposure to
the weather when it is not wet, IN dry
wards and lawns where they can take some
exercise. but not where they will be sub
iect to the annoyance of quarrelsome cattle,
will be of essential benefit to them. If their
stables are kept scrupulously clean and
sweet, and they have good feed of hay and
some roots they will pass this critical per-
iod successfully Cows very near their
time, may be recognized by their dlstend
udder, and such should be placed every
night in we'll Uttered box stalls. Should
the bag become hard, tender, and feverish
before calving, it is sometimes necessary
TO draw the milk, and rub and wash the
bag with warm suds, and perhaps with
diluted tincture of arnica. Use the same
treatment after calving if necessary 1t is
often desirable to milk young cows for
some weeks or months after calving, three
times a day (once in about hours), so
that the tendency to milk secretion shall be
increased in every way for the same reas-
on give succulent food, mashes of oil-cake
and bran, and plenty to drink. Steaming
the fodder is also well.
Calves-When calves are to be brought
up by hand which is the economical way
we are decidedly of the opinion that it is
the most humane practice to remove the
young animal from the dam at once; the
more the COW has to do with it, the harder
will the parting. When provision has
been made tor having enough roots for new
mich cows to take the place of grass, it is
very desirable to have the calves dropped
early. As veal, they are mvch more valu-
able and if they are to be raised, they are
able to take care of themselves in the pas
ture much earlier, and require little care
when other farm lAbors are pressing.
ShesD and Lam6S--lt is on the whole sell
dom desirable to have sheep yean very
early. Yet early lambs of the mutton
breeds meet with quick market and high
prices at green-peas time, and when such
hooks nave HFSl-TaIt care, II IS ilOI uN-
common that the male lambs pay ALL the
expenses of the flock, leaving the wool and
the eve lambs clear profit Mutton sheep
should have their daily feed Of grains and
roots increased Ewes that will soon yean,
ought to be separated from the flock, and
given dry comfortable quarters, and an ex-
ira allowance of roots, peas or beans.
Working Oren and Steers that have not
tb h. 4
uaIly accustomed to hard labor There
will be light work enough that may be
distributed among them, to get their necks
toughened ard the muscles and wind
strengthened before the hard labor Of plow-
ing and narrowing comes on. Oxen scarce
ly less than
Horses, and indeed all animals shedding
their coats, should be thoroughly and care
fully curred and brushed it greatly pro-
notes health and good looks, and makes
the feed go further. Work horses should
be exercised daily by doing some work
There is wood to saw, straw to cut, clover
seed to clean, or there may be other ma
chine work to do. Such work ought to be
kept along for the good Of the teams, and
not dashed off at one grand "spurt," crowd,
iug the teams and wearying them in their
Painting may be done in dry weather to
excellent advantage, because there is little
OF no dust flying, the sun cracks are not
Gaping open as in summer they will be
covered more smoothly, and there is less
liability of the heat of the sun bIisterng
the hai-dry paint surfaces to be painted
must be thoroughly dry, however, or paint
will be apt to peel.
Repairing.--In the lull of other work,
which a cold snap, or rain may occasion,
the time may well be employed in making
alterations or repairs il the barns and out
buildings, or in preparing to do so when
the cattle are at pasture, and the mows
and bay are clear of fodder.
Manure may be hauled with much less
labor to both men and beasts, on runners
than on wheels. So it will often pay we'll,
though a little of the value of the manure
may be lost, to haul out that destined for
the most distant fields, where it is to be
plowed in as soon as the frost is out We
do not believe i'll top dressing with animal
manures in the spring. Plaster, ashes and
bone may be applied very well, but even
these are better put on in the autumn.
Leave the manure in compact heaps, spread
it when the frost is coming out Of the
ground, but not where it is wet or springy,
or liable to wash away. The present is a
good time to prepare
Compost Heaps for corn, etc.-Use muck,
if you have it, with any good yard manure,
mingling with it any manures you can find,
rs the waste of factories, breweries, chan
deries, etc. The lime and similar alkaline
wastes should not be mixed with animal
uanures, or with others containing nitro
gen, unless great quantities of muck or soil
are used
Fletd WOrk-Therc is work enough in
the meadows and pastures at this season
when the ground is loosened by the frost
stones may be raised, picked up and hauled
of' or thrown in heaps fences righted up,
and the posts reset or renewed. Burrows
should be plowed to draw off surface wa
ter, and water burrows in grain fields
opened anew. Wherever
The Wash Of the Highways can be turned
upon the meadows and pastures it should
be secured, and when the current is not
very strong, or may be easily spread, it is
very valuable on any land This is especi.
ally true of snow water
Delays often happen which cannot be