The Republican journal., 1873-12-11
Farm, Garden and Household,
December Hints.

" lth 1ood at WILL i0uSe them below the storm
And watch them strict. Thomson.
Next to providing a comfortable home
for the family, the care of the farm stock
is the most important duty of the New
England farmer at this inclement season.
No time must be lost now till the build
ings are all made tight and warm. Ii is
much better economy to keep out cold
with boards, shingles and battens, than to
iced an extra quantity of hay OF grain to
keep mp the animal heat.
Cows that are to come in next April or
May, should be giving Us a good profit
for a couple of months yet 1t used to be
the fashion to dry off the COWS AT the be-
ginning of winter
MANY people have found out that milk
can be made nearly as cheaply in winter
Is in summer We do not value our time
now as in the busy season, and can afford
t. give the animals all the attention they
need II there are roots to be fed, it will
be better to give them few every day
all winter than to feed them freely awhile
and then let them 90 without Roots
should not be fed as an equivalent for fod
der, but as a condiment or appetizer We
heard an old farmer say the other day,
that he never meant to winter cattle an
i0r each Of his animals that eat hay
Ii has been 4 great drawb back to the sue
cess OF many farmers in these northern
countries, that they eat up in winter, all
that is raised in summer
We sit round the stove too much many
If us Farming can't be expected to make
u~ very rich with only seven or eight
months work in a year. If we have
planned wisely and worked faithfully the
past summer may we'll take it q little
easier now but every day should be made
10 count ns something. Absolute idleness
we abhor There are a great many little
lob~ and chores that may be done now,
that Will save time at more busy season,
AL the farm implements should be put in
good repair Carriages can be painted,
Many farm wagons and carts rot out faster
than they wear
The horses aGd oxen must be kept well
-harpsned if they are required to work
All stock should have some exercise in fair
weather. Many horses are spoiled every
winter by standing in the stall TOO long
without exercise. Young animals need
more chance to run than milch cows vet
they like to have trolic occasionally.
If not already done, protect all the horns
from doing injury by fastening on brass
lips. Many cases of garget have been at
tributed to overfeeding when a sharp horn
had done the mischief.
Fowls must be well cared for now. it
eggs are expected They will not lay iii
old weather unless they are cheated into
# by being kept in warm, comfortable
quarters and well fed Spring is the nat
ural time for birds to lay, and ii you would
have eggs in winter You must make them
+bo+
keep old fowls or inferior birds too long.
Young fowls give the best satisfaction gen
orally
lee that is made early in winter is the
best for preserving. 1t one has neighbors,
il is better 10 make a neigborhood Job of
laying mp ice 1t keeps better in large
body.
\ Years supply Of fuel should be provid-
ed now, and laid up under cover 1t is
poor economy to burn green wood, especi-
ally i'll hot weather. Some people say,
better be out of the world than out of
;he fashion" We say better be out of
fashion than out Of dry wood. 1t is no
small help TO many a farmer that he can
gather a supply OF fuel from his farm
without feeling the cost Of it, as if it We're
bought and paid for in cash. There is
often a great deal OF old stuff that may be
picked up that will keep lire at small
cost Old fences, broken tools, worn out
rarts, the trimmings Of the orchard, and
dead stuff from the woods. We believe in
looking over the wood lot occasionally,
ana taking OUT, not only the dead stuff
hut a part Of that which is alive Remove
the alderS, bircheS. pitch pines and other
inferior Kinds, and the more valuable
sorts Will have better chance to grow.
W. have had wood 50 plenty in this coun-
try. that We have not yet learned to value
IT, or 10 care tor woodland as they do i'll
other countries.
Fencing stuff and building materials of
all kinds may be prepared with advantage
al this season. II is very convenient to
have an assortment of boards and plank
on hand with which to make small repairs
Can't YOU get out stuff this winter for a
fence around the garden to keep the hens
out, on around the orchard to keep the
hens in2 The best and soundest apples
We saw last Year grown in Massachusetts,
were from trees that stood in a hen yard,
and then hens are such a nuisance run
ming at large over the garden, about the
door ward, OIL in the barn. If the large
kinds of fowls are kept, it does not cost
much more to fence them than cattle. A
renee lonr ftet nlgh Is ABOUT as goou as
that is higher, and any common
laborer can do AL the work. Now is the
time TO get the stuff out, and have it re ady
tor use in spring
And while in the woods. think of the
bean poles and pea brush that will be
needed in the garden next spring. We
have said thai many Of us sit round the
stove too much in winter but this is not a
fault with all. We find some farmers that
work too much and think too little.
New and valuable ideas gained by read
ing and study during the coming winter,
viii be worth as much as any kind Of cap
ital we can invest in. Farmers, as class, de-
pend altogether too much on the weather,
and too little on skillful management for
success in their business. We do not keep
posted as well as we might. We should
read more books and papers connected
with our business, and if there is a new
potato, or new kind of corn brought out,
or a better style of doing any kind of farm
work, or any advances whatever in either
theory or practice, that would benefit us,
We should be prepared to receive them
Immediately and not let them be a dozen
Years finding the way to our farms. n.
+ Farmer