The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1872-11-13
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- - 49, 80 AS
seasonable Hints.


The provident farmer always looks
ahead and natures his plans for fu-
ture operations, and provides for all
contingencies, with the approach of
winter. The GAZETTE remembers,
however. that there are many men
who till the soil that are remiss in
not sufficiently forecasting and pre-
pairing for the wants and possibilities
of approaching seasons, and there
fore, makes the following sugges-
tions which are appropriate to the
time of year.
Preparations for wintering stock
of all kinds should be completed,
and the animals placed in comforta-
BILE quarters before they suffer from
exposure to cold weather. 1t should
be borne III mind, that young stock
are more sensitive to sudden changes
in temperature than animals which
are older and better seasoned they
should, therefore, be well cared for
in advance of pinching cold.
We should not advise carrying
poor stock through the winter; such
animals should be got rid Of; for it
is bad policy to house and feed ami
mails which do not pay for the keep
ing. Worthless beasts consume as
much food, and take up as much
room as those of great value. New
er keep over old horses, old cows,
OF old sheep, in which there is no
profit. When past their prime,
these all deteriorate rapidly.
The judicious management Of
provender, for stock, is OF much inl- /
portance. BY exercising proper /
economy, a moderate amount Of /
provender may be made to produce /
results equal TO those obtained from .
a much larger quantity given in a
careless and wasteful manner. Reg
ularity in feeding and watering stock
is indispensable to their health. 1t
is very poor policy to cram at one
time and stint at another, in feeding.
The evils of such . shiltless way OF
taking care Of animals are soon aD-
parent in the appearance and health
of the animals. Working horses.
especially, should be well cared for.
The shoeing Of horses is an inpor-
tant operation. The foot Of the
horse is a wonderful piece of me-
chanism. The study Of its various
parts shows how admirably it Is
adapted to bear up the weight Of
The animal and COunteract the con
cussiOn occasiOned hv moving rapid I
~ over a hard surface. The smith,
who puts on the shoes, should I'M
derstand his business and take great
care not to injure the hoof bat adj /
apt the shoe TO the peculiarly Of
the foot and the gait Of the horse. !
Good clean straw may be utilized /
to a much greater extent than IS
now done in wintering stock. Prop (
er care should be observed in saving /
it, keeping it dry and bright and .
free from must.
There is loss Of grain by its be
ing stored in places unfit for its re-
ception. 1t is better to sell grain,
generally, in the fail, when it IS
plump and heavy, than to store it
for n rise until II is shrunken,
and damaged by rats and mice. and
insects. Grain should be well clean
ed, and if there IS much foreign mat
ter, in the shape Of seeds Of weeds,
the refuse should be burned. Never (.
mix it with the manure heap.
: When the soil is not naturally or /.
artifcially drained, and water stands
on the surface the farmer cannot re-
move the standing water too soon.
Or, if the soil IS spongy and retains
the water, deep double burrows
should be run through it in such q
manner as that the water will run oil.
The course may be zigzag. or in va
rious directions. so that there Is q
slight fall or decline. 4 common
spirit-level way be used to ascertain
and indicate where to make the fur
rows. Good crops cannot be grown
on land saturated with water. 1t is
frequently the case that winter
wheat is very much injured by the
collection of water in hollow places.
and becoming ice-bOund. The wa
ter courses and drains should he
kept clear Of distinctions. This IS
a favorable time to clear out such
courses, and make channels for car
rying away surplus water.
Every farmer should provide him
self with an ice-house. and secure
ice for summer use. If there are no
lakes or ponds near, from which to
obtain a supply, water can be drawn
from the well during freezing wealth
er and exposed for freezing. In
this manner we have known farmers
to secure an ample supply during
the winter, for use during the sum
mer. A good ice-house is easily
built near almost every farm house
or dairy. If q side hill is convenient
it may be made available. In ma
king the excavation it is essential to
procure thorough drainage. Unless
such drainage cannot be obtained III
an excavation, the house had better
be partly, or entirely. above ground.
4 house, ten feet by ten, enclosed
with double walls of plank, with a
space of eight or ten inches between
and filed with sawdust, viii keep
ice during the summer. A large
house, however, will preserve the ice
better.