Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-10-05
agricultural.
Fan Work on the Farm.

OF work ever presents itself 10 the enter
prising farmer; and now, as the close Of
the year arrives, and the seasons labors
would seem to be at an end, a crowd Of
important matters need attention, which
will occupy the time until the ground Is
covered with snow.
The first work that should be done Is to
secure comfortable shelter for the live
stock. Among them should not be for
gotten the farmer himself and household.
The Inconvenience and exposures neces-
ssrily incident to the winter, may be very
much ameliorated by judicious prepAr-
lions around the homestead. A closed
shed for fuel Is an imperative necessity.
A closed porch around the kitchen door
will be found great comfort to those whose
domain is bounded thereby. A well-house
should not DC forgotten and close board
fence across the yard, to cut of the north
winds from the rear of the house, will be
sgrateful addition.
In the garden, the strawberry bed and
the rhubarb roots should be well protected
BY thick coating of litter or leaves, and
frame prepared for = hot-bed ia the
spring. An Iee-house should by all means
be prepared. and stack of sawdust or
tanbark be collected and kept in dry
place for use as packing. The luxury Of a
plentiful supply Of ice during the sum
ner months, not to speak Of its advantage
in the dairy, can hardly be computed in
comparison with the very trifing labor
needed TO secure it.
After the homestead, necessarily follow
the stables, coT.,heds, pig-pes and poul-
try-rc "a. w ae wanted here are
dryness, warmth, eleaneSs and ventilation
Zach and all are absolutely necessary to
the health Of the stock and their eeonO-
mical keeping. Warmth saves feed. A
few boards, closing up spaces in sheds
through which the bitter winds would
blow, the sun and the rain penetrate,
might save a ton or more Of feed. But
warmth sLolld not be gained a. the ex-
pense Of fresh air or ample ventilation.
Cold drafts are TO be avoided, and abrupt
changes Of temperature. A much larger
proportion of sick and ailing animals owe
their diseases TO want Of shelter on the
one hand, or want Of fresh air and clean
quarters upon the other, than TO want Of
feed. Animals in clean, dry, airy, we'll
protected sheds and stalls, are rarely
troubled with ailments or vermin, and
triply repay the cost Of their care and
keep. Neither should light be shut out
from the stables.
Cattle do not thrive so well in either
very light or dark stables as in those IN
which there is a subdued light and few
cheering, health-giving rsys Of sunshine.
Disorders Of the eye are often Caused by
bringing horses suddenly out of dark
stable into the glazing sunlight when the
ground Is covered with snow. The win
dOvs OF stables should be at the sides,
and not in full face Of the animals. 1t
will be found also Of great advantage to
make An open shed upon the north side Of
the barn-yard, and facing the south, in
which the stock may air themselves in
stormy weather. Preparations for all
these necessities or eonvenienees will oc-
eupy much Of the time of the next two
months.
But there Is also much 70 do IN the field
daring these two months. Probably the
most important work Is the collection Of
materials 10 add TO the manure pie. The
most TAluAble of these materials are
swamp muck aud leat-mould; leaves and
hard wood saxdus; for bedding stock
waste from tanneries, wooden mills, brew
cries and slaughter houses. Sea-weed is
= valuable fertilizer; wood ashes, waste
lime, plaster from old buildings, leather
scraps, bones, and almost every refuse al
ticle add value 70 the compost heap, aud
should be gathered from every source
Money and labor thus spent Is the most
profitable investment that can BE- made.
The farmer who hesitates thus 70 invest
bis money makes q costly mistake, and he
VITO boards the price OF his crops and
either invests IL bOhds or loans for the
sake Of the interest. Is very poor busi-
ness man. No investment Is so safe or 50
profitable to the farmer as that of i'm
provement of his own tArm.
After these matters are satisfactorily At |
tended 70, every other day should be de.
voted to preparing Tor spring. The ground
for oats and potatoes should by ali means
be ploughed. All stubble should De
ploaghed under. But this season is par
tieulAriy fitted for the work OF draining.
In the limits Of this article We can only |
point out what may be done, leaving the /
methods OF doing it for future occasion.
Wherever = spring breaks out in the field
or spot II overgrovn with sedges, horse
tails or tussOeks. there should be staked /
out line IN the nearest direction 10 the
neA rest ditch, drain, creek. plateau. 1t
vouid be better if furrow could be run
with plough over the course, by which
. more permanent mark would be made,
and one that Is not easily obiterated.
In the same way, the lines where
bitches may hereafter be dug for carrying
off the water that aceumulates in the
'pring may be marked out. Every wet
pot upon the farm should be thus marked
md drain therefrom to an established
Ester-course or pond laid out. The stone
o I'LL these drains should be gathered into
tiles so that they may be hauled on sleds
uring the winter. BY such preparations
$ these work Of draining may be carried
q long after the surface is fOst-bound,
nd when the farmer is forced TO suspend