The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-20

ana WatCn them slTlCl. A"o"'Ho"'
Next to providing comfortable home to
the family, the care of the farm stock is thu
most important duty of the New England
farmer at this Indictment season. No time
must be lost now till the buildings are al
made tight and warm. 1t is much better
economy to keep out cold with boards
shingles and battens, than to feed an extra
quantity of hay or grain to keep up the AMI
NAL heat.
Cows that are to come in next April or May
should be giving Us good profit for couple
of months get 1t used to be the fashion tc
dry off the cows at the beginning OF
winter
Many people have found out that milk car
be made nearly rs cheaply in winter as in
summer. We do not value our time now as
in the busy season, and can afford to give the
animals all the attention they need. If there
are roots to be fed, it will be better to give q
few every day all winter than to feed them
freely a while and then let them go without
Roots should not be fed rs an equivalent for
fodder, but as condiment or appetizer. We
heard an old farmer say the other day, that
he never meant to winter cattle another year
without peck OF roots day for each of his
animals that eat hay.
1t has been great drawback to the success
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 OF
is. Farming can't be expected to make us
very rich with only seven or eight months
work in a year. If we have planned wisely
and worked faithfully the past summer we
may well take it little easier now but every
day should be made to count US something
Absolute idleness we abhor. There are a
great many little jobs and chores that may be
done now that will save time at a more busy
season All 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 and oxen must be kept well
sharpened if they are required to work. All
stock sshould have some exercise in fair
weather. Many horses are spoiled every
winter by standing in the stall too long with
out exercise. Young animals need more
chance to run than mich cows yet they like
to have froiic occasionally.
If not already done, protect all the horns
from doing injury by fastening on brass tips.
Many cases of garget have been attributed to
overlooking when sharp horn had done the
mischief.
Fowls must be well cared for now, if eggs
are expected. They will not lay in cold
weather, unless they are cheated into it by
being kept in warm, comfortable quarters and
we'll fed. Spring is the natural time for birds
to lay, and if you would have eggs in winter,
you must make them believe that spring is
approaching. Don't keep old fowls or in
terior birds too long. Young fowls give the
best satisfaction generally.
Ice that Is made early in winter Is the best
for preserving. If one has ncighbors, it is
better to make neighborhood job of laying
;o, I. l.nnyc IN, n Ia
A years supply of fuel should be provided
now, and laid up under cover 1t is poor
economy to burn green wood, especially in
hot weather. Some people say, "bctter be
out of the world than out of the 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 supply Of fuel from his
farm without telling the cost of it, as lift were
bought and paid for in cash. There is often
II great deal Of old stuff that maybe picked up
that will keep n fire at small cost Old fences,
broken tools, worn out carts, the trimmings
Of the orchard and dead stuff from the woods.
We believe in looking over the wood lot oc.
casonally, and taking out. not only the dead
stuff, but u part Of that which is alive. Re
move the aldcrs, birchcs, pitch pines and
other inferior kinds, and the more valuable
sorts will have better chance to grow. We
have had wood so plenty in this country,
that we have not yet learned to value it, CT to
care for woodland as they do in other
countries.
Fencing stuff and building materials of all
kinds may be prepared with advantage at
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. or
around the orchard to keep the hens IN. The
best and sOundest apples we saw last year
crown in Massachusetts were from trees that
stood in n hen yard, and then hens are such
IA nuisance running at large over the garden,
about the door yard or in the baIn. If the
large kinds of fowls are kept, it does not cost
much more to fence them than cattle. a
fence four feet high is about as good az one
that i3 higher, and any common labOrcr can
do all the work. Now is the time to get the
stuff out, and have it ready for 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 that
many OF Us SIT round the stove too much in
winter; but this Is not a fault with all. We
lind some farmers that work too much and
think too little.
New and valuable ideas gained by reading
and study during the coming winter, will be
worth as much as any kind of capital we can
invest in. Farmers, as a class, depend alto
gether too much on the weather. and too lit
tie on skiltul 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 new potato, or q new kind of corn
brought out, or better style of doing any
kind of farm work, or any advances what in
either theory or practice, that would benefit
Us, we should be prepared to receive them
Immediately and not let them be dozen
years finding the way to our farms-Ner
England Farmer.