Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-30
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUAEMOLD.
A Retrospective View.

And now that the harvest 10 ended and
the year Is ut q close, II il well that we
calmly review the years operations.
Let each farmer closely examine and
criticise his plans and policy Of the year
in the light Of the results attained
and while memory is clear lot him begin
to mark out wise course for next year,
Let him settle up his debts in full II pos
sible, wind up the years work and begin
the new year right
Let him map out his years pro-
graInme, mark the dangerous places,
avoid them, hew out new and shorter
roads, steer wide Of the pitfall of debt,
correct his blind wanderings OF the
past.
In this connection ] advise farmers to
adopt some simple system Of keeping &C.
counts with the farm. How can just
and true balance be struck If there be
kept 10 accounts of the incomes and out
goes OF the farm?
How would merchant, doing q large
business, selling on credit, come out at
the end Of the year if he kept no books =?
How could he succeed without an invoice
showing the cost price Of his wares F? The
farmer supplies his fields Of corn, cotton,
oats and wheat with horse power, manual
labor, fertilizers, seeds, use OF wagons
and Implements, machinery, interest on
Investments, wear and tear, and last,
though not least, with brain labor. He
should price NIL these supplies at cost
and charge them up regularly against
each field. When the harvest opens,
give credit for every item of produce ut
the market price, and then strike bal.
nnce sheet-see which side the balance is
on. In this way alone may the farmer
know what he is doing-whether he is
making cotton Mt cost of fifteen cents
and selling it for nine, or corn at sew
enty-flve when his little ont crop cost
only twenty-five-in word, he may
know whether he is making or breaking
and if making he will know on what
orop-by what plan. He will know
where to cut down expenses, where to
invest more labor, which crop to in
crease, which to diminish or leave off,
He will perhaps see that it will not do to
buy bacon at seventeen cents when it
can be produced ut cost of ten or
twelve.
Questions md Answers.
In sowing wheat how much seed is re-
quired to the acre
Winter wheat when sown broadcast re-
quires from ono and one-quarter to two
bushels, and drilled from one to one and
one-half bushels to the acre; spring
wheat, broadcast, two to two and one
half, and drilled one and one-half to two
bushels to tho acre.
What feed makes the richest manure
1t is estimated that cotton seed cake
produces tho richest manure of any
food. Linseed oil cake, peas, beans,
malt dust and bran nre counted among
the most valuable foods, coarse bran MS
one of the most profitable foods to pur-
chase, and clover hay stands high in the
list.
Is there any difference in the richness
If the nights and mornings milk
Careful investigation shows that if the
milking is done at intervals Of twelve
hours regularly the difference In the
milk is hardly perceptible.
How insure fowls laying in winter MS
hey do in summer?
BY feeding them what approaches the
diet as nearly us possible.
Meat in one form or another assists.
How much water does n mich COW re-
luire per day p?
A healthy COW in full how OF milk
needs from twenty to thirty quarts of
water each day. Milk is fluid made up
Of eighty-tive per cent water, therefore
the need of a plentiful supply. A thirst
for water is one of the indications of
deep mixer; cows which give large
yield always drink more than small
In regions where there is
lack Of good water from brooks, springs,
ETC., it should be literally provided from
wells or cisterns, and drawn fresh every
lay.
Winter Feeding.
A member of the American Farmers
,lub said that there is large economy in
aying up liberal store of roots for
winter feeding Of cows. Carrots and
offer many advantages for this
purpose. The first is nutritious and
,asiy grown on lands adapted to them.
They are good from autumn to spring,
producing a large yield of milk and rich,
hick cream. Mangolds keep late and
re best during the winter and spring,
IS if used earlier they are liable to pro-
luce securing. With proper manage
nent and a fair season, the equivalent
II six or eight tons of hay can be grown
N an acre. When much rough or coarse
odder is to be used, roots are indispens-
bile, and they are of great assistance
ven with good hay Turnips give more
r less flavor to milk, but they may be
ed with prsfit to COWS not in milk. :