Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-01-08


horses form the average animal working force
on a New-llampshire farm. These oxen and
the horses have to be supported all the year
and seldom work half the time for while,
just at planting time and in hav harvest. both
teams are necessary, but even then deal Of
standing in the stable and idleness on the
part of both takes place for while the men
are moving with the scythe, when they are
hoeing corn or potatoes. and when doing all
other jobs which require naught but manual
labor, these cattle eat on, but earn nothing.
A deal of labor is thus lost for the oxen and
the horses are often past six years old, and
instead of increasing in value they are every
year decreasing. Now this is where man
on small farm Is at a disadvantage. for
more than half the labor of these teams Is
lost. and the cost of keeping them is so much
taken from the profits OF his farming. 1t is
probable that they eat in the winter for weeks
together without earning one cent, custom
giving them better feed than the Young stock
which is being raised in fact the support of
such an oyer-preponderance of working ami
mails Is a complete incubus to the successful
career Of the farmer.
Look at the plot system in the State men
toned see the little patches which are cul-
tivated note the labor lost in such frequent
turnings; and again, watch the practice Of a
man TO hold the plow and one to drive the
oxen, and, when the cultiyator is used be-
tween the corn or the potatoes, witness one
man ride the horse and another guide the i'm
plement, and then who can deny that labor is
lost? and who can wonder that with early ris-
ing, late retiring, economy in the house-keep-
ing, severe industry and self denial unexam-
pied in any other part of the world, the kind
est hearted yeomanry fail to do more than
get a living and gradually lesson the fertili-
ty of the soil-the land over-cropped, man
kind over-wrought and the results swallowed
up by labor lost &C. g. in Country Gentle
man.
BOARDS AND NAILS FOR FODDER. Not long
since, while looking over the premises of a
neat and thoughtful farmer, and admiring his
warm stable, pig-pen and shed for manure,
he remarked that little funny article in
your paper about boards saving hay, written
by somebody Rufus Nutting, Esq. in Ran
dolph, Vermont, was worth year s subscrip-
ton to me- 1t is strange, - he continued,
4" that so few farmers in this cold country pro-
vide a warm place for their stock Those
who read Mr. \. + article will remember that
he estimated that in many cases two dollars
worth of boards and nails might save in cx-
pense Of fodder, and by the increase Of the
milk Of say five cows, fifty dollars in one
hundred winter days. After the ends and
back Of the stable are made sufficiently tight,
he recommended that few boards be hinged
on in front. 50 that in severe weather the
IL l.. If
when the weather Is milder.
For closing crevices in underpinning, &c,
the Prairie Farmer recommends a mortar of
lime and sand or ashes, using hogs bristles
instead Of plastering hair. to give it greater
tenacity, and fill this into the cracks with
t-owel.-N Z. Farmer.
SHARES HARBow FOR 0RcHARDs.-This i'm
plement, now 50 well known. and commonly
used for pulyerizing the upper surface Of in
verted sod, appears to be very little used, and
its advantages but imperiectly comprehended,
for working in orchards The peculiar con-
sructicn Of its teeth causes them to ride over
any obstruction so that they are never caught
by roots. When pl0w encounters a large
root, the point is thrust deeper into the
ground beneath it, and the root must be
either broken and torn out, or the team back
ed in order that the plow may be withdrawn.
Cultivat0r teeth operate somewhat in the
same manner. The Shares teeth are lust
the reverse, going IN as deeply as they ought
10, when the soil viii admit them, and ris-
ng nearer the surface where roots are large
IT abundant.
SPREADING MANURE IS WNTEE.-The Bos-
0H CaHirqf0r mentions the case Of farmer
II Palmer. Mass. who formally drew out bis
manure and left II in small heaps. Ii fr0ze
lard and could not be spread till it had
hawed in spring, and being intended rs a
op-dres-i ng for meadows. killed the grass I'M
Ter the heap. lie now draws and spreads
rom the load, which be finds great improve
nent. Another farmer breaks up the ma
Iure into a fine powder by bushins it, which
Increase its value.
The objection tiat the manure. or manure
water will wash OF. has not been found valid.
\ meadow with a steep side hill, was dressed /
nth manure in strips in winter. and when rain .
occurred with the thaw, II could not be dis
overed that the liquid manure had run five
eet down the hill, nor given any increased
rowth OF the grass five fee- off, as IT bad done
carer the spread belt.
His hens roost in trees through the storms
Winter, and he complains that they lay
o eggs; his cows shiyer by the side Of the
snce. and he complains that the chll lrcn eat
DO much butter; he goes to the grocery with
jug in one end of the sack and a stone in
be other, and he wipes his nose with his
Dat sleeve