The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-11
evening State gontnat.
MONDAY EvE'G, NOV. II, 1872.
Work for the Month.

Work for the Month.
We take from the american Ag1icu1tA-
rist the following excellent directions for
the month:
Winter is rapidly approaching. What
we do must be done quickly. The days
are getting shorter and shorter, and the
weather colder and more uncertain. No
vember on the farm seems to an outsider q
dreary month. A city visitor wonders
what pleasure we can find in such life.
He is glad to get back to the gas-llt streets
and the warm and cosy rooms of his city
home. Sitting in his comfortable chair, by
bright open fire, in a well-furnished Ii
brary, reading the evening paper or talking
with his friends, he may we'll be excused
for congratulating himself that he is not a
farmer.
From his standpoint farm-life seems
dull, and dreary, and dirty He forgets
that the faithful performance of duty gives
happiness. The farmer has plenty of work
to do. And he finds pleasure in it. Dig
ging potatoes and putting them in the cell
lar is dirty work. A farmer, with his PAN
falcons stuck in his boots, walking through
q muddy barn-yard, or milking in the rain,
is not an attractive picture. Carrying
swill to the pigs is not an ennobling occupa-
ton. 1t is no use to deny it. But we
have known politicians to do dirtier work
with less benefit to themselves and the
country.
Farmers should guard against plodding.
Let us work when we work. Let us put
spirit and force and energy and thought
into all that we do. Let us study to econo-
mize labor-to apply it to the best adyan-
tage. Let US discipline ourselves.
There is much in farmers life to call out
all the best, highest, and noblest faculties
of our nature. Is has been truly said that
no one can succeed as breeder unless he is
gentleman. And it is no less true that to
attain the highest success farmer must be
man. The field that demands the most
attention is himself. lie should aim to
root out every bad habit, and to develop
every manly quality. lie must be prompt,
regular, systematic, thoughtful, energetic,
Industrious, orderly, kind, not easily pro-
voked, temperate in all things, economical,
hopeful, and patient.
We are very sure that there is no occu-
patton more useful and honorable than
agriculture, and none in which there are
more frequent opportunities for the culti-
'"eiVh VI uoulC iuSulIys
HINTS ABOUT WORK.
1t is good plan to write down list Of
everything that has to be done before win
ter sets in on the farm, in the garden, in
the orchard, in the wood lot, in the barns,
sheds, horse and COW stables, courthouse,
piggery, hen-house, cellars, etc., etc. Con-
suit with the members of your family and
the hired help on the subject. Encourage
them to give an opinion as to the best way
Of dong the work and how long it will
take. Go as much as possible into details
especially in regard to the implements,
tools, etc that will be needed.
What 10 do first is an important ques-
ton, and should have careful consideration.
You must take the uncertainty of the
weather into account, and aim to plan so
that whether it is wet or dry, cold or
warm, there shall be no loss of time and
no loss Of or injury to crops. 1t shows
bad planning to husk corn in the barn du-
ing warm, dry weather, and afterwards to
dig potatoes in a snow-storm.
The most important acoyk for the month
is the care and management OF animals, In
our anxiety to push forward the labor of
gathering and securing the crops we too
often neglect to give that daily attention to
our live stock, on which so much of the loss
or profit of farming depends.
Horses.-Avoid as far as possible expos
ing horses to storms. When on Journey
aim to feed at the regular hour. If moth
ing more can be done, take along some
corn-meal and put quart in pail of
water, and stir it up while the horse is
drinking. It will greatly refresh and
strengthen him. Many horses suffer from
dyspepsia, and one great cause of it is
irregularity in feeding and giving too much
grain when the horse is fatigued. When
horse has been exposed to storm, and
comes home in an exhausted condition,
give him warm bran-mash. Put two or
three quarts of bran in pail and pour
on two or three quarts of boiling water
and stir it up. Then add cold water suffi-
Gent to cool it to the temperature of new
milk, and give it to the horse. Blanket
the horse and rub his head, ears, and legs
dry, and afterwards rub him dry all over.
Many an attack of collie would be avoided
by these means. We think many farmers
err in not feeding their horses more grain.
1t would be better to work harder, or at
least more constantly, and feed higher. OF
one thing we are very sure not one farmer
in ten grooms his horses sufficiently. 1t
is q shame to man to leave horse at
night, after hard days work, until he has
been rubbed clean, dry-bedded, and all his
wants attended to.
Co,cs.-During storms cows are far bet
ter in dry stable or shed than in the field.
A little extra feed in the shape of com
fodder, hay, bran, or corn-meal, will prove
very profitable. 1t isa good plan to flesh
up cow at this season. You will get it
back again in milk next spring and summer.
Young Cattle should be literally fed and
provided with comfortable quarters. 1t
pays to give growing animal all the food
it can cat and digest.
Sheep.-There is nothing so essential to
the health of sheep as dry land, shelter
from storms, and fresh air. Low, wet land
dirty yards, and close, damp quarters are
fatal to their health and vigor. In dry
weather, no matter how cold it may be,
sheep are better in the field, but during
storms they should be brought into the
yards, and kept dry. Ifthey no not go under
cover of their own accord, they should be
driven in and shut up until the storm is over.
Animals do not al,oays know what is best for
them. Mature" is all very well, but rea-
son, observation, and experience are far
better. But we repeat that the shed or
barn must be dry, clean, and well ventila-