The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-12-04
The Farm.

TIh9~F ar1n.
wi At the present time the course Of the
markets is closely studied. When to.
sell, is I serious question with farmers.
Hitherto they have frequently had the
modification to see their grain. pass
from their hands at low prices, which
have been brought about BY. conbina-
tions Of spectators and dealers. These
persons. Is soon as they had secured
the grain, have put up prices and cleared
millions Of dollars, which by right
ought to have gone to tho farmers
packets. At the present time the mar
ket has been influenced by false reports
Of enormous crops in Europe, and grain
has been sold for delivery several
months ahead, 1t prices which
will not pay the cost of raising
it. The London Mark Lane Express,
speaks of low stocks At present
with no room for decline, and that ev.
cry exporting country complains Bit
terly Of English rates. This means
higher prices, and if grain is not forced
on the markets, we do not see how they
can 5e prevented. Fortunately far.
mers are becoming better able to act
in their own defense, and having
learned to combine for this purpose,
may set their own price Oh their prod
ucts, and demand the fair value for
their labor. Some commercial papers
pretend that this is an improper thing
to do; that it is next to criminal for
farmers to set price upon she worlds
food. That they should sell at the
earliest moment their grain is ready for
market, and take the current price for
it. But what other producers do this
None. All other producers fix their
prices, and hold their products for
them as long as they are
! able. And this the farmer has q
| right to do. No other man may fix the
price for the farmers labor. TO do that
is his own personal privilege. But to
be able to watch his own interests
closely, and protect his privileges, the
farmer must keep "posted." He must
be reading man. 1t is by reading,
more than by practical experience, that
men become educated and mans cd.
ncation is not finished while he lives.
Ones own experience is narrow. When
one reads he gathers the accumulated
experience of hundreds or thousands.
The farmer therefore must read papers.
His local paper, as matter Of course,
should be read, because every farmer
should interest himself in his own loca
affairs, and make his weight felt socially
and politically. This is his duty to
himself and to his neighbors.-Am:ri-
can Agriculturist.
The first work to be done is to at
tend to the comfort of the farm stock,
neglecting none. Probably these have
been neglected in the hurry of harvest
ing and storing crops. They should
now be looked to. Every loose board
upon the stables and sheds should be
tightly nailed, the open cracks should
be battened, openings in the caves
should be closed, windows and roofs
repaired, broken floors made sound,
and some extra feed provided. If fodder
is short, it is economy to keep the
stock warm and dry, and feed literally
before severe weather comes. Animals
in good condition will be able to stand
some hardship in the spring, and come
out better than those that are stinted
now aud given extra care then. 1t is
a difficult matter to bring up poor stock
when spring is coming on.
| Horscs.--Provide blankets for the
horses. A warm blanket will save feed
and loss Of time by sickness. Avoid
exposure to cold ra MS, and if caught in
a storm, let the horses be rubbed dry
before the blankets are put over them
Keep the stalls clean, and on no &C.
count allow manure to gather beneath
the horses feet. This INJURIES the hoofs,
and often produces cracked heels. Be.
sides, it renders the air foul, and is very
injurious to the animals eyes. In the
effort to keep the stable warm. proper
ventilation should not b. neglected l..
The curry comb and brush should not
lie idle; their use invigorates the skin,
and promotes healthful secretions.
Cows.--Milking COWS will now need
extra feed. On the whole, more value
in milk will be returned from bran than
any other feed--not the light husks,
but what is known as bran at country
mills. A winter dairy we'll managed
may be made more profitable than a
summer one. Dry COWS should
be kept in good condition. They are
now storing up material for future
profit. The future value of the calf
too: depends upon how the dam is fed
before its birth. Bran is excellent
feed for in-calf COWS, and it is cheap
now. It is we'll not TO waste time in
milking COWS that give only a quart a
day, but it will be better to dry them
off.
I Young Stoek.-All young animals
need liberal and kindly treatment, and
watchful care. The farmers eye
should ever be on the alert to discover
the first sign Of disorder, and when
found, it should be remedied at once.
Sheep.--No stock suffer more from
damp close quarters than sheep. They
will winter better in the open field, than
in low damp filthy yard. But they
should be spared either of these inflic'
tons. An open shed that may be
closed in driving storms ought to be
provided, with a roomy yard in which
they may lie in fair weather. Oats
and corn are both dear this season, and
bran, rye or buckwheat, may be given
with equal profit. A little variation o
feed is good for sheep, but the changes
should not be made frequently, or they
will learn to look for it and become dis
satisfied. Frozen grass or any cold
watery feed is bad for ewes that are tc
lamb early.
Breeding Ewes, to lamb i'll April
should be put with the ram this month
From this time their feed should be
gradually increased.