The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-01-01
Walks and Talks on the Farm.

NdlhS lHlhS Ou Tie
FROM THE AMERICAN AGRIcULTURIsT
We must employ less labor in the sum-
mer and autumn, and =pore in spring and
winter. In this section, October and Nov
ember are the busiest months in the year.
We have apples to pick, potatoes to dig,
corn to husk, and a variety of other things
to do before winter sets il. The days are
short, the weather uncertain, and much
time is necessarily wasted. We must plant
less land to corn and potatoes. We should
try to raise as many bushels us we ROW do,
or more, but they should be grown on half
the number of acres. This can certainly
be done. The digging of poor crop of
potatoes this fall has cost more than half
what the potatoes would sell for, and SO in
huskinS poor crop of corn.
We must keep more stock, and this will
give more work for the winter MONTHS
Let all the straw, and especially the corn
stalks, be run through a cutting machine
This will add to the labor in the winter, but
greatly lessen it when we come to handle
the manure. The saving of food may or
may not pay for the labor Of chatting the
fodder. This is perhaps an open question,
but there can be little doubt that we save
the labor twice over before the manure gets
upon the land. The liquid from an animal
is of more value than the solids, and it is
with this that the greatest loss usually
occurs. Chaffed straw and corn stalks,
after the animals have eaten what they will
-. L. Al
and used for bedding, and they will absorb
much more liquid than when used uncut :;
and we can keep our animals dry and COM
Portable on half the litter. The manure
will he more valuable, because there is less
straw in it, and from having absorbed more
liquid mot rain, will decompose more rap
idly, and be sooner in proper condition to
apply to the land.
Judging from the manner many farmers
treat their animals, one would think that
the winter was the busiest season of tho
year. The cow stables are cleaned out
about once week, and the pig-pens when
they become so filthy as to be uncomfortable
How many men did any one ever see card
ing a COW? | do not know how it is with
Others but have known my men so hurried
in winter that they had not time to clean out
the cows Manager once a month, or not, in
fact, until it became the dirtiest part of the
stable. And does not the pig-trough, to
say nothing of the pen, often prove that
the winter is a very busy season on the
farm? How about the gentle sheep? Are
their wants properly and promptly attended
to? have known men so much occupied
that the sheep were left to do their own
feddering.
1t not unfrequently happens that men
con no had in winter for litf1a mona fb,,,
their board and it is certainly very short
sighted economy to put any work off till
spring or summer that can be done at this
season. Next spring we shall draw out
manure when the land is soft and the
manure more than three-fourths water
Can we not sometimes draw it out in winter
on sleighs or on wide stone boats? 1t is
not only easier to draw, but far easier to
load. Manure intended for distant parts
of the farm could be drawn out in winter
and piled in the field. But when manure
is not used in tho spring, but is piled in the
yard and then applied to the land the next
fall, is there nothing we can do in winter
that will save labor in the spring and sum-
mer? Look at our barn-yards and see.-
Look at mine look at yours! The manure
from the horse-stable is left near the door :;
that from the cows is back of the barn !;
IHe slieep llldHuTe Is IN the SheQS and around
the straw stack-and the pig manure, where
is that? The best half of it has soaked
through the planks into the ground, and
yonder heap of corn-cobs, dirt and straw
represents the other half. 1t will lie there
all winter without fermenting, and next
spring the man in loading it will spend half
his time in removing with his foot the corn
cebs that stick on the tines Of the fork
Instead of waiting till spring to mix and
pile the manure, why not do this work daily
during the winter? The early spring is
comparativelylei season on many farms,
but there is enough to be done without hav-
ing to do work that might as we'll or better
be done in winter. If such is not the case,
your farm is better drained than mine. To
relieve the pressure of work in summer,
much can be done now and in tho spring.
When we commence to NOW, my machine
always wants something done to it, and so
with the reaper. And is it not often the
case with rakes, hay-racks. scythes, cradles
etc. ? If not, you are far better manager
than am. These, you say, are little mat
tors. / thank you for that excuse. But |
cannot accept it. Farm life is made up of
such little matters, and he is the successful
farmer who keeps ahead of his work and
has everything in order.