The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-19
M'mhs Eatttt.
HINTS ABOUT WORK.

NeAI W HIS ldll auu li| c StOCh HIS lilst-
chinery costs the most money. Ere
quently it costs more than the live
stock. 1t ought to be carefully used
and kept. Whatever implement has
not been thoroughly cleaned, oiled, and
put away, should now be attended to.
Machinery will be used more and more,
and man of intelligence can use it
most proftaby. Farmers should there
fore study mechanics, not only that they
may know how to use and care for their
machines, but how to improve them
and invent new ones. Many new agri
cultural machines are brought out that
are useless from the first, because the
inventors knew nothing about agricul-
turc, An inventor of a new blowing
machine acknowledged to US that he
did not know that sod should be turned
over when powed. He had a machine
that tore it into fragments and left it
upon the surface Farmers should be
their own inventors, and in course of
time they will be, if the young men
study.
THE STABLEs.-If our earlier hints
have been regarded, the stables will
now only need daily cleaning. Manure
should not be left to freeze in hard
Jumps beneath the stock. The stables
should be warm enough to prevent
freezing in them, or the cattle will suffer
loss, or more feed must be given. BY
wheeling out the manure the first thing
each morning to the heap in the yard,
and piliing it up neatly and compactly,
the whole may be kept from freezing
during the Winter, and it will be in fine
condition for use in the Spring.
CELLARs-Root cellars should now
be made safe against frost. Protect
the house cellar, but provide for ventila-
ton.
THE DWELLING HoUsE-Porches for
protection to the front and back doors
will cost but few dollars They should
be made SO as to be fastened to the
house by hook and staple upon each
side, and removed in Spring Weather
strips are rarely seen in country houses,
but they save much fuel, and add to the
comfort. \ good substitute may be
made by cutting sheet rubber into strips,
and mailing them around the doors and
windows. Let an ample supply of dry
wood be kept in the kitchen.
THE STocK-Liberal feeding is now
needed. No stock should be allowed to
lose now what they have made in the
Summer On the contrary, they should
be kept growing. And they may be by
proper feeding He becometh poor
that dealeth with slack hand, " is very
true in this respect. There must be
close attention to this matter, or money
is lost in feed and in weight of stock.
Don't trust too much to hired men or
boys. Have exact measurements for
the feed. A box to hold three quarts,
should be in every feed bin. This
makes a fair allowance for one OK or
horse, or for two cows or four calves at
each feed \ bushel basket Of fine cut
hay is an average for one horse or COW,
or two calves at each feed. There
should be no waste, but as much feed
given as will be eaten up clean. Give
salt regularly in small quantities, or
have it accessible to the animals.
MILK Cows.-Milk cows will suffer
from chapped teats, if they are not
wiped dry after milking. Some warm
water, piece of soap, and dry cloth,
should be taken to the stable at every
milking time. The teats and udder
should be washed and wiped dry, pre-
vious to and after milking If the teats
are chapped, some fresh lard will soften
and heal them Newly calved COWS
should be guarded against cold, and
their drink should be slightly warm.
SHEEP-Irregular feeding will show
in the wool. Every time the sheep
falls off in condition, there will be a
weak spot in the fiber, and the wool
will snap there when stretched. Wool
buyers don't neglect to look for this,
and the wool loses or 6 cents pound
in value, where they find it. Regularity
in poor feeding, is not so bad as good
and bad feeding alternately. The sheep
do not suffer so much Half pint of
grain a day will keep sheep in good
condition, with good straw or sweet
corn-fodder a little sulphur in the
salt is a preventive of stretches"
which is simply indigestion.
Observation-Disclosures, when it
is carefully cured, is by many regarded
next in value to hay. To throw it in
bundles into the yards, to be picked
over and trampled under foot is waste
full, and it is a nuisance when the
manure is to be moved in the Spring
When cut in fodder cutter, a bushel
Of it mixed with meal, q to quarts),
makes an ample feed for a horse or COW.
Stock may be kept in good condition
with no other fodder through the whole
Winter, with great economy.
FATTENING ANIMALs.-Therc is a
point beyond which it does not pay to
feed either hogs, sheep, or beeves.-
When they fall off in their feed, feed is
wasted. As long as young animals
will eat well, it may pay to keep them.
But full-grown animals when full V fat,
will eat and eat and keep stationary
1t is we'll to keep watchiul eye upon
such.
bitches Wherever water stands
upon wheat or rye fields, burrows or
bitches should he made to let it off
Drains should be made or looked to
before the ground freezes up.
PAsTURGSG GRAIN-As a rule, too
much Of this is done But where the
wheat Or rye is very thrifty, few
sheep may he allowed to run over the
fields without injury. Where the grain
is heaved with the frost, coming soon
after rain, a flock of sheep will trampIc
thousands of the plants into the soil
again.
MANURE.-Manure may be hauled at
any time, but it should usually be spread
as it is hauled, and not left in heaps.
AgricuIturist.
Cutting Fodder for Sheep.