Connecticut western news., 1876-12-01
FARM. GARDEN AsD Ho11sPuoIn
Keep tho Apfmals warn,.

Auo urSb cO1Q DlaSt or W10Q rom the north is a reminder that animals, how ever tough and hardy. need shelter in winter. It will take less food to keen farm stock oyer winter in warm stables than whom exposed to severe cold, Of course, good wood, stone oe brick barns and stables are expensive, and there are many farmers, especially in the recently settfed dlsteacts, who have not the means to build such structures, but Cnere IS no one too poor to furnish some klnd of shelter for their animals. If a man cannot afford to build what he de- slres, let him do the next best thing, and build something which will furnish shelter, even if it is nothing better than . shed. with sod for walls, and roof of brush or cornstalks. All attempts st elegance or extra convenience may be left out of the question where A mans purse Is light; still, it is economy t /, keep all farm stock sheltered from cold, wind and storms in winter, even if the owner does not possess enough of the humane feelings to care for their com fort. a More than one half of all the diseases and parasites which infest farm stock are the direct result of neglectine tc furnish them with proper food or shelter during cold, stormy weather. Cattle of aH kf1ds, when forced to remain in mrddy, wet yards during cold weather, are7liable to various diseases of the feet such as hoofail and foot rot, ami tbe best preventive is dry ground, or yards filtered with straw, or some similar cearse material Standing a long time m filth, whether in the stable or yard. is almost certain to bring on diseases of the fec. All kinds of farm stock are liable to take cold when exposed to storms. Eand from this comes 8 weakened constitution, which invites various kinds of diseases and parasitic insects. Weak ened vitality or vigor in either plants or animals opens the way to hundreds of parasites which areresisted by the healthy 1nd1v1dual, and the farmer should keep hls animals in a condition which will enable them to ward off the attacks of such enemies. He has only to think of h1s own comforts, such as nutritious food and svarm clothing, and consider now the reverse of these conditions would affect, him, to understand how it is with his animals.
 lt'is unnecessary to go into details in regard to the building of sheds, stables or other kinds of structures for shelter ing stock in winter, as every man knows best what materials are at hand or with m reach suitable for such purposes, but the fact should be apparent to all breed CTS of animals that in all cold climates some kind of protection is reouired. Out on the plains and prairies of the West and Southwest it is often asserted that sheep need no protection in winter. and ltls even claimed by some that they do. o.better without it than with it: ybut the frequent heavy losses by cold, star EatioR and diseases plainly show that all ms talk of mildness of climate is an error. Sheep and other farm stock may live through the winter without artifi clal shelter or more food than can be obtained on the range in these favored localities, but they would certainly do better with added comforts every win ter, and occasionally heavy losses might be avoided by making the necessary provision to protect apd feed them when severe storms prevail.
 Questions and Answers,
 What will make simple and inexpen- sive cistern f.ter9
 !. Take strong box, with the bottom 1ull or holes, over these tack piece of stout, coarse flannel then put in three inches of charcoal, next some gravel, aud top all with layer of stones. Ar range so that the spouts from the caves small enter this box, and the water will be perfectly filtered as it runs from if into the cistern.
 Gan smutty wheat be cleaned, if so, howl Strong brine has been recommended, P thn -rtr s-
 CWo. ALSO: for the same purpose, a pound of the bluestone dissolved in two gallons of water. After soaking the smutty wheat in either of these prepara- tions a couple of hours, skim off the uiseased grain and fungus, take out the Wneas, spread 1t on clean floor, and sprinkle over it newly slaked lime.
 g How IS blue grass seed most easily gathered2
 In the blue grass regions of Kentucky the seed IS usually gathered when ripe py ssrlppers," worked by hand or horse power. The hand shippers are simple and inexpensive, costing only S2 or S5, and are said to accomplish from ten to fifteen bushels per day. The horse power shippers cost from $50 to 9Ioo, ana gather from one hundred to one hundred and fifty bushels per day.
 What should be done with the seed after 1t is gathered2
 in curing.
 How much seed should an acre yield ? The yield depends upon the quality : anywhere from ten to twelve or even fifteen bushels,
 How about reserving fields of blue grass for seedg . Old growers say there is no necessity . TOT this, but that it is better to be eaten oown, as the second growth yields more sz Do hens eggs always hatch in twenty one days? Twenty days is the shortest time and SWenty-slx the longest. Much depends upon the freshness of the eggs, the number placed under the hen, the faith 1ulness of the hen and the construction oi the nest. However, twenty-one or tswenty-two days is the usual len tn of time required.
 really good or nota
 :, 1ake some up in the hand and squeeze It well; if of first quality it will separate Ss soon as the pressure is removed if it remains iu ball then it is of inferior quality. Good sand, even when wet, VIII not remain in 8 lump.
 Maize is much cheaper than oats, is it equally good for horses9
 1t is generally conceded that horses become both lazy and fat on maize, In dian corn; while good sound oats and Deans, ln due proportion, when at least year old, are the best food for race or galloplng horse. One food tends to slow action with increase of weight, while the other has just the opposite effect.
 Seeing the Big Show.