The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-03
THE DAILY NEWS.
Bryrs ON AGRICULTURE.
Farm Notes for December.

Thriftless farmers are very apt to consider
December month in which they may give q
loose rein to enjoyment. But the energetic,
progressive farmer will keep himself and all
his hands just as busy in December as In July.
The chief interest on tho farm at this season is
to put everything snugly into winter quarters,
making all suitable provision promptly, that
nothing, whether stock or crops, may suffer
from the pinchings Of jack frost, or, worse
still, from chilling storms Of wind, rain or
snow. One days exposure to cold rain Will
take away the profits of q weeks good feedng;
and COW giving milk will show IN the faihns
off OF her daily flow ESQ experienced DAIRY peo-
ple tell us) the cost of such exposure. The
COW is not singular in this respect-she suffers
under general law.
SrocK-YARp.-For reasons above suggested,
give the stock-yard special attention, having
place for everything, and everything IN lis
place. All cattle should be now in good con-
dition. The rich pasturage OF the fail months,
the temperate weather and exemption from
flies and other annoyances, give them oppor-
tunity for their winter preparation. Ihls
thrifty state gives great advantage in the win
tering, and with it it is simply shameful! 10
have them come out in the spring po:r, hide.
bound, with hollow horn aud other evils Oh
poverty and destitution. =,
Cows.-Such COWS as give milk must have
comfortable stalls, entirely protected from the
weather, and be fed with corn-fodder, clover,
hay or other good provender, with meal and
Iran, and roots of some kind. The profit IL
milk will be proportloned to the quantity OF
good food digesled. Care must oe taken here,
however, that on any change Of food II be not
1.,n,loro oo 70 1,1optify hOt that the increase
begradual, up to the point OF grea est pront.
70 adjust this properly needs care and caution.
CALyEs.-Ses that these are carried through
the winter, not only with their lives, but Thrift
THY and 10 growing condition. They need not
be fattened or forced, but they should have
reasonable increase OF bone and flesh from three
months feeding, and go out to pasture IN
spring with life and spirits enough to make
profitable run through the season of grass.
HORSES AND MULEs.-When these have regu-
lar work they must have, OF course, regular at
tention, not only as TO food and water, but
grooming and stabling. Especially Is it need
ful to rub and dry them of, and clean their
legs and feet Of mud, &C.. when they come from
work. Boxes instead Of stalls, with pair OF
work horses to each box, would be great I'M
provement.
SHfEP.-Sheep have better health for Tree
range Of the pasture grounds during. good
weather. This gives them, however, distaste
for their dry food, which should, therefore, be Of
smch quality as to tempt them. 1t is found
good economy to give small quantity OF grain
daily, If done with proper Judgment. A shelter
must be provided for bad weather, and when
the severity OF winter comes on 1t ls wen to to
morning feed.
Hoas.-The stock hogs should be sufic. emily
fed With grain to keep them in good order, and
should have dry beds and comfortable shelter
apart from ether stock Especially keep them
away from heaps OF manure, wnicn give them
cous" sno o'sea''e u en0 'AA' - '--'' ''e
lnenl. q .l
,,o.oh;ne esnecaly of stiff clay soils, ore .oo
manifest to justify discussion. BY Cunning
n7er the soil and leaving it exposed to the
froste of winter it becomes fr1able to an extent
that cannot be accomplished by any other
means. To those, therefore, who have ad-
vanced thus far in agricultural improvement
ma ssy. keep YOUR teams at work every day
until your task is accomplished, or until the
ground becomes frozen or otherwise unit for
ploughing. ill.,; o horo
resolved to make "hobby" OF 1t 10 the SUD
iect Of manure. And, fearing some OF our
them that winter is the harvest time for manure,
first as summer is the harvest time for whea1.
Eyej,y farmer will admit that he cannot labor
successfully without the use OF manure; ana
vet nine-tenths Of the farmers OF the South al
tempt that which they all SO readily admit TO
be impossible. Guano and otaer standard
fertilizers are not to be ignored, but the farmer
must not neglect his composts even though
Peruvian puano were sold at one-half
its present price. Every pig-stye, every hen
roost, every fence corner, every ditch,bank,
every every swamp, every forest, every mil, pond
must be made to contribute its quota to the
immen:e heap that should be raised, almost
rnonntain hieh in every farm-yard In the land.
Our farmers must learn the Importance OF CIV
ing back to the soil what they take from it in
every crop. And to do this they must learn
that the basis Of good crops is the manure
heap. December Is q splendid month for be-
ginning the manure harvest.