Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-12-20
Hints About Farmers Work.

DCi gives TIE louOWluk uSeIul ana tlmely
| hints for farmers
Hard work, such as chopping wood OF
thrashing with a fail, is not favorable tC
mental activity. A farmer should econo.
miZe his energies both of mind and body
The more work man does the more he
can do is truth which we should all dc
well to remember.
The busiest man is the man of most lei.
sure. The indolent man has never time to
| do anything he does not wish to do.
Early rising is good; getting at your
work early is better. There are men who
pride themselves ON getting up early IN the
morning who do nothing after they are up
or do 1t listlessly.
Energy is the one quality which farmer
OF the present age most needs. 1t is not
the number of hours that q man works.
but the skill, intelligence, and activity that
he brings to it are the test of his ability and
industry.
Machinery must take the place of hand
labor; but machinery, however perfect,
needs man Of intelligence to keep it in
order and to manage it to the best advant-
age. Machinery does not do away with
the necessity for labor it merely changes
its character. 1t demands brains rather
than muscle.
Thinking is harder work than chopping,
and much more remunerative.
Better hire an extra man than devote
your whole time to mere routine work.
A good boy can frequently be obtained
in the winter for little more than his board.
1t is poor economy for farmer to spend
several hours every day in doing work
which such boy can do nearly or quite as
well rs he can.
Make the house comfortable. See that
the windows and doors do not admit a
stream Of cold air. Every hole stopped
will save stick of wood. A window rat
Ting in the easement Is reflection on the
owners intelligence.
Many an old house that is as "cold as
barn may be made very comfortable by
the aid of few laths, shingle-nails and
putty. Try it.
Animals require daily care. Make them
comfortable. Feed regularly and liberal
ly, and see that they have constant sup
ply of fresh water.
Shelter saves food. 1t sometimes does
more than this. 1t saves the life OF the
animal.
Butter and tallow are not economical
food for cows and sheep. When we let
an animal grow thin in winter we are feed
ing fat and flesh. 1t is injurious to the
animal and great loss to us.
Chatting hay and straw adds nothing to
their nutritive value. But with proper ar
rangements 1t is more convenient to feed
cut fodder; and when mixed with meal
or bran, horses, cows and sheep will eat
cut straw and stalks as greedily as hay.
When there is an abundance of straw and
stalks this is a very economical method of
wintering stock. A bushel of chaffed
straw (say lbs.) and quart Of cornmeal,
three times day, isa good allowance for
a cow not giving milk. Cows giving
milk should be allowed more meal or
bran. Say three pints of cornmeal to
bushel of cut straw, three times day; or
a quart each of meal and bran.
Horses should be fed according to their
work. A bushel Of cut straw and two
quarts of cornmeal may be regarded as
equivalent to hay. If the horses are doing
but little they will do well on this mix
allowed all they will eat up
clean. If at steady work, give two or
three quarts of oats or other grain three
times day in addition.
When feeding hay it is bad practice to
let the horse stand with rack full of hay
before him all the time.
We think it is good plan to give all
sheep little grain every day in winter.
Fattening sheep, of course, should have |
grain enough to push them forward as
rapidly as possible. One pound of corn
per head per day for Merinos is an average |
allowance. The large breeds may be fed |
u Id. each per day. The better plan is to |
commence with half a pound of grain per
lay, and as the sheep become accustomed |
% it gradually increase the amount. For |
he last month of fattening, Merino sheep |
an be fed II Id. of corn per day to adj
,antage. With good, bright straw and
he above allowance OF grain, well-selected
'heep should gain from IL to 3 lbs. each
Der week.
Breeding ewes and store sheep will win
er well on good straw and half a
pound of corn daily.
Last springs lambs should be kept sepa-
ate from the older sheep. 1t would be
veil to give them at least one feed day
# hay.
Sows that are desired to breed next
April should be coupled this month. A
title extra feed will secure the object. Af-
erwards the sows should be fed sufficient
o keep them in good, healthy condition,
'ut not fat Young sows that are grow
ng should be fed more literally than older
mes. The latter, il they have a warm,
Try pen to run in, with plenty of bedding.
will require very little food. We feed our
'wn breeding sows principally on bran
oaked In water or the slops from the
louse. A few inangels may be fed with
,reat advantage to the health of the sows.
sut If You have not an ample supply better
clay feeding them out until toward
pring.
Fattening hogs should be pushed for
yard rapidly. Ii they do not eat well