Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-08
Hints for the Season.

AHuWlnler is rather q quiet time on the
farm in most cases, but still an active minded
man will find something to do, enough, per-
haps, to occupy his time during the short
days of this month. The s.osA WIN nave a
good share or his attention-he will study it's
comfort and thrift, and do all in his power to
promote it, He will avoid its exposure to
the cold storms much as possible; see that
it has a full supply of pure water, plenty
of healthful food, with frequent change,
good ventilation, and good and clean bed to
lie on.
One of the great secrets of the delicate
sweetness and aroma of June butter, is the
fact, that at pasture the COW feeds upon
great variety of succulent food. She is not
confined to grass alone, but great variety
of shrubs and plants contribute to her health
and to the delicious flavor of her products.
This is suggestive of the Importance of va
riety of food for COWS in milk, and no OBJ
serving farmer will fail to take hint from
it. For fattening cattle some meal is usually
provided. This should be finely ground, the
finer the better. Few farmers are aware how
great a loss is sustained by coarse grinding.
A large part passes through the animal organ
ism without digestion, and is, of course lost,
while if ground finer, it would be used in the
supply of nutriment to the system.
Cleanliness about the barn, the stables and
the cellars, is, of course, not to be over
looked, and a little care also, will enable the
farmer to keep the cattle themselves clean
and tidy. Manure may BIO hauled out upon
the fields during this month, if the snow is
not too deep, and spread upon the surface of
a level field, whether it is designed for top
dressing or for land that is to be ploughed in
the spring. If spread upon tolerably level
surface there is no danger of loss. Hauling
out now saves labor in spring while the cut
ting and poaching of the surface is avoided.
A barn cellar is very convenient in winter,
as it enables US to work over and compost
manures, and to economist the liquid pOr-
tions which are so liable to be lost by surface
drainage. There is time now, too, to study
the economy of feeding in various ways.
Cutting and moistening the coarser kinds of
feed renders it more palatable and more
easily digested. A mixture of chopped corn
stalks. meadow and English hay, straw, etc.
with little meal or shorts, or possibly few
chopped roots, the whole wet down with hot
water and allowed to stand covered up, for
some hours, is not a very difficult mess to
prepare, and every farmer would find his &C
count in it. stock of cattle can be carried
thrnnsh the winter on much less Ieed pre-
pared in this way, probably enough less to
pay the trouble and more.
We noed not allude to the work of cutting,
hauling and chopping fuel for the fires in the
house. A full supply for next summer
should be laid in now so as to be seasoning.
1t is too expensive to take time from the
work of summer to get up frewood.
The general plan of operations the farm
should be laid out now, and if put upon pa
per all the better. The very attempt to lay
down systematic plan for the work and
management of each lot will lead to thought
and study, and this of itself is useful and
salutary. Nor should general reading and
study be neglected at this season. Make up
your mind that it is infinitely better to wear
out than to rust out. OF the two give us
the man who fills up his spare moments with
useful study, rather than the one who is con-
tent to rust out in idle listleness, If you
want piece of work put through in shape,
90 to the busy man no matter if his hands
are full, he is more capable of doing more,
and taking more upon his shoulders than an
idler. Be sure and ell up the time with
something useful -Ploughmon