Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-11-12
sTAUNTON, VA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 1872.
From the Farm and Fireside Journal.
Hints about Farm Work for Eoyember.

Buildings not In good order should be repair
ed without delay, all foul places cleanse,
thoroughly, and heavily whitewashed or sprink
led with lime
Cellars under houses should be scrupulousl
cleansed, and, if possible to avoid it, shoul
never be used for storing vegetables, as they d.
not add to the health Of the family.
animals should be studious!y protected. bu
only in thoroughly ventilated stables. Thei
food should be given four or five times during
the twenty-four hours. so that none of it neec
De refused because it is ''mussed' or soiled. =
Many farmers whose experience has been vari
ed prefer this plan, thinking it more econom
lcal, and more serviceabie to the animals thar
feeding only two or three times a day. Fol
horses and neat stock, place Jumps of rock sail
in the managers. Food must be varied to sui
the kind and condition Of animals He whC
| would prosper as stock breeder Or dairyman
cannot learn too much of the animal economy
Comfortable stables save food, and very mate.
rally assist in maintaining animals in good
condition. Cleansing the hide and frequent
rubbing will promote health. 1t has become
quite common practice with some farmers te
curry and rub down their neat stock, and VIC
trust it may become universal.
| Keep fdttening animals fully fed, but be care
ful to vary the food sufficiently to cause {. gooo
appetite.
Hogs should be fed on cooked or soaked corn
or corn meal, almost entirely towards the last
| days of their fattening Throw lime and ashes
In small quantities, On the floors Of the pens
from time to time, and occasionally feed little
sulphur.
Young animals ought not to be made tender
| by too close housing-shoud be treated gently
and with familiarity.
Steers and Colts may thus be brought to a
condition that will make it e very easy task to
break them into the yoke or harness.
| Sheds, at least thirty feet wide, with low
posts, and opening into yard On the sunny
side. surrounded by buildings, or high fence,
are highly approved Of for sheep and young
stock. They thus have an opportunity to ey-
ercise in the open air and sunlight, retiring to
well Uttered protection at their pleasure
| Care must be used in feeding, that the weaker
animals may have fair play.
| Manure making should be prosecuted with
the utmost vigor. As long as the weather per-
mits. occupy every spare hour in collecting
muck, pond mud, leaves, sods, ditch scrapings,
and organic deposits, to be thrown under cat
tie, in the hog pen, or manure yard. Recollect
that manure is the floating capital Of the farm
er, and if benefit is to be derived from its use,
care must be taken that it does not float of
literally. Devote study and thought to this
part OF your farming, bat DO not spare the
muscle, for much can be made by proper ma
nipulation and commiaglirg OF materials
Top dressing may be pursued as suggested
last month, and the hints there given as to
bitches, drains und drainage, should BE- needed
as far as possible during this month.
Heavy land may be plowed, provided it is not
so wet as to be sticky, and we should prefer the
lap tnrrows, that a greater amount of surface
be exposed to the frosts OF winter, and the ease
of filtration increased. By all means sub-aoil
plow in this month, if practicable, and get the
coarser manures under for next years hoed
crops
Light land, that is not wet, will be benefited By
being rolled after blowing, and will be all the
better II heavily mulched with coarse manure,
leaves, straw. refuse hay, rushes, Or any mate
rial that will keep the surface from blowing
away.
Fruit should be carefully culled over, and al
that is sound wiped dry, and laid away on
shelves, In dark cool rooms, Or dry cellars-as
uniform temperature as possible being kept
up. Cut Scions fer grating, and pack away IN
sawdust in good cellar until needed Cuttings
Of currants, etc., may be set as long as the
ground is open and friabe
Cellars and pits for vegetables need close
watching, that more protection may be given
when the cold weather begins in earnest. Plants
an cold frames should get all the sun and air
they can endure. Spinach and other crops left
out should be protected with litter tbickly laid
on. All roots should be Immediately gathered
and stored in pits, except that portion of the
parsnip crop intended for Spring use, which
will be better off in the ground, if standing
water is not allowed on the beds. Grape zines
should be carefully pruned-the Concord, Is
abeila. end Catawba not as closely IS the finer
sorts. Some sorts in cold latisudes will need
to be laid down and covered with earth for the
Winter. This is also true Of tender rasp5errics.
Strawberries should be carefully covered, and
no staguant water allowed on the beds.
The BLIND.-Oh what sympathy, and what
assistance, We, who possess and enjoy the bless