Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-05
NO. 236.
FALL WORK ON TIE FARM.

lhe time can never arrive upon farm
when it can be said, There is nothing
more to be done." constant succession
of work ever presents itself to 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 thing that should be done is to
secure comfortable shelter for the live
stock Among them should not be for
gotten the farmer himself and his house,
hold. The Inconvenience and exposures
necessarily incident to the winter, may be
very much ameiorated by judicious prep
arations around the homestead. A closed
shed for fuel is of imperative necessity. A
closed porch around the kitchen door will
be found great comfort TO those whose do
main is bounded thereby. A well house
should not be forgotten, and close board
fence across the yard, to cut off the north
winds from the rear of the house, will be
a grateful addition.
After the homestead, necessarily follow
the stables, COW sheds, pig pens, and
poultry roosts. What are wanted here
are dryness, warmth. cleanliness and ven-
tilation. Each and all are absolutely nec-
essary to the health OF the stock and their
economical keeping. Warmth saves feed
A few boards, closing up spaces in sheds
through which the bitter winds would
blow, and the sun and rain penetrate,
might save ton or more of feed. But
warmth should not be gained at 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
thriftily 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 dark or very light stables as in those
in which there is Il subdued light and a
few cheering, health-giving rays of sun
shine. Disorders of the eve are oiien
caused by bringing horses suddenly out of a
dark stable into the glaring sun when the
ground is covered with snow. The win
dows Of stables should be at the side, 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 wealth
er Preparations for all these necessities
or conveniences will occupy much OF the
the time of the next two months.
But there is also much to do in the field
fUn nhnl Iry In
most important work is the collection of
most valuable of these materials are
hardwood sawdust, for bedding stock;
waste from tanneries, wOo,len mills,
breweries and slaughter houses. Sea-
weed is valuable fertilizer; wood ashes,
waste lime, plaster from old buildings,
leather scraps, bones, and almost every
refuse article add value to the compost
heap, and should be gathered from every
source. Money and labor thus spent is
the most profitable investment that can be
made.
After these matters are satisfactorily at
tended To, every other day should be de-
voted to preparing for spring. The ground
for oats and potatoes should by all means
De pIOuSneu. AN stuDOIe SnOuiu De
ploughed under. But this season is par
ticularly fitted for the work of draining.
Wherever spring breaks out in the field.
or a spot is oyergrown with sedges, horse
tails or tussocks, there should be staked
out line in the nearest direction to the
nearest ditch, drain, creek or plateau.
In the same way, the lines where ditch
es may hereafter be dug for carrying off
the water that accumulales in the spring
may be marked out. Every wet spot up
on the farm should be thus marked. and a
drain therefrom to an established water
course or pond laid out The stone to
fill these drains should be gathered into
piles so that they may be hauled on sleds
during the winter. By such preparations
as these the work of draining may be car
red on long after the surface is frost-bound
and when the farmer is forced 10 suspend
altogether out door labor.
In addition to these we have mentioned,
there are are many other necessary things
to be done which will occur to every farmer
who reads these remarks. and we would
urg ehim to lose no opportunity in prepar-
Ing now for that season when he must o
necessity rest from his outdoor labor.