Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-11

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Ell That ~ can not DE reacneu rom the 49,.
AsHKs--If you do no. wish TO burn up, pro-
asb-pit, or an old potash-kettie may be uset tenn
poraTily. Weod-ashcs are much more danasrouB
than ooal-ashes, When apparently quite cold,
fire that only need air and contact With wood -
burn up the premises.
THE CELLAR should he thoroughly ventilated
whenever the temperature outside is above the
freezing point This is absolutely necessary for
the health Of the family. The fruit and vege-
tables will also keep better. IL il very conven-
lent to have Thermometer hanging in the eel
lar, and whenever the temperature rises above
45o, door or window, or both, may be opened,
even on the coolest DAYS, for a few minutes, pro-
tided the stream OF cold air docs not fall directly
ON anything easily affected by frost. How low
you may safely reduce the temperature in the
cellar depends on its construction. IL Il il "a
warm cellar" il will do no harm to keep the
door and windows open until the temperature of
the cellar IL down to within few degrees OF
freezing; but if the cellar is at all liable to
freeze in cold weather, it will not be safe to
Once the temperature 50 low, because il q very
cold, windy night should follow the potatoes
might be frozen. Should there be danger of this,
kettleful or two Of boiling water sprinkied
sbout the cellar floor before going to bed will do
much 70 prevent frost Water In freezing gives
out heat. And we have had our cistern in the
cellar freeze over an inch thick, while potatoes
in the same cellar were not injured.
APPLEs should be examined, and those COM
mencing to decay removed from the shelves or
barrels, and placed by themselves, for INN ,di-
ate use. 1t should not be forgotten that decay
ing apple that touches another apple will soon
rot 1t; but more than this, the presence OF decay
ing fruit in a cellar has tendency to induce de-
cay even in fruit that is not in direct contact
with ii. Remove all affected frutsfrom the eel
lar as soon as possible.
ANIMALS must receive regular, and irregular.
attention. They cannot help themselves. Their
daily wants must be supplied-and those vary
somewhat according to the weather. 1t is here
that the intelligence, promptness, and expert
hal ay
there Is much stock to attend to, and only say
two persons to do the work, il is important to
know what to do first. This will vary according
to circumstances. In our own case, commencing
say at half-past five in the morning, the horses
are first attended to, tie stable cleaned ont and
I the horses fed and watered. Then feed and
after breakfast, or about sunrise. feed the sheep
their grain, clean out the racks, and give fresh
straw or hay. Then feed the pigs, attending to
the youngest first; and then feed the poultry a
! little grain. After this, clean horses, pump
water for the sheep, clean ont the cow-stables
and water the cows, clean ont pig pens, and do
whatever is necessarytO make them comfortable.
and mangels for the cows and pigs, and get
everything ready for next mornings feeding.
This is great point. Much work can he done
before breakfast, provided everything is ready
to your hand.
HORsRs.-If possible, find something for Your
teams to do. Avoid exposing them to severe
storms Use the brush freely, aud feed more or
~
mistake is to keep horses in the stable for DAYS
or weeks, and then perhaps take a load of grain
or wood eight or ten miles to market, and when
there let them stand out in the cold The horses
are weak from want of exercise and nutritious
food, and when they get home they are i'm an
exhausted condition. Grain is perhaps then
and death. warm bran-mash migI' have
saved them. But steady work and Hbel.. feed
ing are the true preventives.
Cows.-There are an unusual number OF far
row cows in the country. II they are giving milk
and are good COWS, feed Literally, and continue
to milk them. II served now, they would calye
next fall, and new milch-cows at that time often
bring good prices. FarrOw cows, when well fed,
give very rich milk. Cows expected to com. in
early u spring are usually allowed to 20 dry this
month. This is the practice OF the winter.
Some of our associates advocate high feesling
and milking to within a few weeks Of calving
II depends much on the breed and the mole OF
feeding. Breeding and feeding for milk, and
milk alone, for generation after generation, is
one cause OF abortion. Our own aim is To get
the cows in good, strong, healthy condition
during the winter, and we feed gram enough TO
keep them about half-fat-say two OF three
quarts OF corn meal per day mixed with cut
feed.
You've STOCK should always feed literally.
and be provided with carbohydrates
KEEP THE Cows CLEAN by the free use of the
card or cuTycomb and brush. If you do not
"believe in it, I" try IL on few cows, and let the
others 60 dirty \ on will soon be satisfied that
1t pays to make the cows clean and comfortable
SwINK.-Sen all that are fat, and turn your
attention to the young and breeding stock. We
year, and shall get pay for good breeding and
good feeding. Last falls pigs should have the
best Of food, and warm, dry, weil-ventilated
pens. Keep them clean, and give a upply of
fresh water. Let them have access to a mixture
Of ashes, salt, charcoal, and sulphur, and better
still, superphosphate made by mixing ten pound
OF burnt bones with ten pounds of water, and
then stirring in ten pounds Of sulphuric acid.
Mix this with the ashes, ETC., and let the pigs
have all they win eat. 1t is especially good for
pigs troubled with tumors caused by eating too
much corn. Breeding sows should have plenty
OF exercise, and food enough to keep them In a
good, healthy, thrifty condition.
SHKEP.-Keep them dry, giving breeding ewes
as much exercise az possible, but avoid exposure
to storms, especially of rain. Keep the weak
sheep in separate pens from the strong, and the
better.
GRAIN Is CHEAP.-Half-a pound of grain
per day to each 100 lbs. live weight Will not hurt
either horses, cows or sheep, but on the contrary
will do them great deal of good, and pay far
ing animals may have one pound of grain per
day for each 100 lbs. live weight. That is the
average, but 1t is wen 10 give little less at first
and increase gradually as the animals get used
to it. Invery cold weather they may have little
more.
ORCHARD AND NURSERY.
Mild days often occur during this month, and
work Of the coming sping.
MANURE-Cart or sled out all the manure need
ed; it will prevent considerable injury to the
ground. In spring, the surface is 50 soft as to
render it difficult to carry heavy load into the
orchard, 50 that every days work of this kind
done now lessons the labor of early spring. The
manure should be placed in piles of moderate
size, and afterwards be spread evenly over the
surface. Do not place directly around the trunks
1t only affords a harbOr for vermin, and is OF M
use.
ANIMALs.-Should light snow fall, tramp firm
ly around each tree TO prevent the mice gaining
access to the bark. All gates and bars should bs
closed, to exclude stray cattle, which do damage
by breaking down young trees or treading upon
seed-beds. ,
INsECTs.-It is not too early to look after in.
sects. The eggs of the Tent-Caterpillar can
readily be seen now upon the twigs and small
branches and are more easily destroyed than
when they are Matched in the spring. Canker
worms will also appear during warm days and
means must be taken TO prevent their ascending
the trees. Use bands of paper smeared with tar
or printer ink, which should be renewed as soon
as the surface sets hard.
PRUNING may be done when there is time and
the weather is not too freezing. Cover the
wounds with paint, shellac varnish, or melted
grafting-wax, to prevent the moisture from the
fresh wound: otherwise there is no danger of
decay. -
DIGGIN6s Hon y q for froas A., Ia sax ,,o~-x -.