Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-13
WINTER WORK.

whom wintor was the most laborious
season of the year, when tho ringing
of tho sturdy woodman's axo woke
tho echoes on evory hand, each day
that came and went, as bo cleared
away tho forest, that tho soil might
yield it's tribute to the industry of
man. Beautiful homcsLcads and
wcll cultivated fields now grace tho
landscape, whore once stood the
I gladcs Of forest, unbroken save by the
tread of tho wild beast or tho still
wilder Indian; yet in tho efforts mado
to clear the soil wo fear tho wood
mans axe has boon too unsparing, and
already many regret that more wis
dom had not been exercised in lcav-
ing belts of forest along the northern
sido of every farm, rs q shelter from
the chilling blasts which row sweep
uncontrolled over the bleak wintery
landscape. Before many years it will
be found a necessity to plant trees
both for shelter and fuel, the last be-
ing already scarce near tho older se.-
Elements. Yet even now there is
plenty of work 10 be done to beguile
away tho short but weary hours.
Now is the time to lay your plans
for tho busy season of vegetation.
Determine what you will do with
each field and patch on the farm, and
thon do it rightly; remembering that
what is worth doing at all is worth
doing well. Lay in enough fuel
while there is slcighing to last tho
summer through; and what is more,
have it cut and piled near tho. house
handy for the "women folks" Mono
but those who have experienced it can
know what 4 bother and loss of val
liable time is to be cutting Grewood
in the busy season and then only
thiEi what pity it is to have sweet
tempcrs ruled. calling in vain for
wood, and having to 90 and cut it for
themselves TO cook tho dinner for q
number Of hungry fellows hard at
wo.k in the folds ready for :repairing
the fences. That next to the road
shoalI C: especially be 80.
With tho progress Of agricultural
knowledge tho old idea that manure
should be kept in the yard till jus: be-
IF , seeding time, anI then hauled out
ad hid under the soil, is fast bccom-
ing obsolete. Manure it is found,
gives the best returns whom applied as
the dressing, 10 tho soil, and the
winter is tho time to haul it out, if
we'll ro,ted on to tho meadows, or
even fall wheat; if not IL can bo left
i'll heaps, ready to spread in spling,
before plo~ing commences.
1t is q wonder that with 80 many
resources 1T cur disposal out of which
TO increase the productions of the
country, so few uro disposed to make
use of them. There is scarcely n
farm on which there is not swamp
or bed Of. muck which is the best raw
material out of which tho manure
heap can DC Increased.
Now, this material rarely freezes
10 any depth, and can be most easily
dug out in winter and hauled to the
barn-yard, where, mixed with tho ma
nurc heap, it soon decomposes, imbi-
bes tho ammonia from tho urine, and
adds a largo amount of vegetable
salts to those Of animal attraction al.
ready in tho heap. The unlcachcd
ashes should bo carefully saved and
mixed with the plaster in proportion
of ono to four before sowing. This
ad !ition Of ashes is sure destruction
sorrell, and helps the crops greatly on
Ill soils in which lime is present in
any Quantity.
Do not forget to sec that all the
implements are in proper repair, rea-
dy for the spring work.. Last, but
not least, remember that it is the
mind that makes the bvdy rich. You
havo soul. Whatgood would it dc
You if. you owned tho whole world
and had no pleasant future to Ioob
forwardto7 The days Of man ore
short; they arc Numbered. like til.
grass he growetb, then bo witheretl
away. eaenvy not the nan wht
when bis days work is dones canno
enjoy the pleasant relaxation of al
evening spent,i in reading and intelli.
, gent conversation with his family VI
p his neigbbors.
With h6present facilities for th
, spread Of knowledge. through tha
!, mighty engine the press, which ha
revolutionized the ideasiof the world
, books and papers are go cheap that
is a disgrace to any man not to hav
an abundance of them in his house
Would that their sense in selectin,
them were equal to their ability t,
:. possess them.
Il Don't,forget that tho care Of stool
o in winter is: esof the most. iippor