The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-02-02
Agricultural.
a=
Januar y Hints.

Inc new year Is upon us, and at this sea-
son OF new beginnings. we as farmers should
exercise our power to learn wherein new
methods of practice can be profitably ap-
plied to our own cases. I his is the proper
season of rest from active labor in the fields,
ont " should be the season of activity ior
the mind. Nov is the time to learn what
Investigator, Ia agriculture have been doing
Tue past year, to consider carefully their ex
periments and conclusions. to at DIV the
conditions Of the calling among the trades
and professions and to take means for ad
vancing its position; to take a general view
of the agricultural feld and the fruits of
ttis study and observation should be in well
laid plans for the work of the coming YEAR
The farmers club should be most flourish
ing, aud all its members prompt and active.
The books and papers concerning the farm
are many and it takes iudge to select the
wheat from the chalf. But careful perusal
OF the best will be found of great value in
enlarged ideas, higher respect for the cal
ling from yourself and others, aud in in
creased profit from the land. Though it is
season of comparative inactivity outdoors
vet there is much to do about the build.
ings.
M1ny Htile things demand attention. The
greatest of the little things is constant care
of the cattle proper food, variety, and
plenty of it, warm quarters, regularity in
feeding and watering, few hours airing on
sunny days, frequent currying and brushing
to keep them clean and healthy, with plen-
ty of bedding and absorbents,-are essen
tials to success.
Care of the ~atcr supply, to ensure its
holding out, and not freezing up, is an ur-
gent necessity. And it's good time now
to think over the points wherein the water
supply may be improved, and plans matur-
ed for carrying out when possible In many
cases we are quite sure it will be found to
pay to introduce water directly into the
barns and stables. --. --.
Sorting Of the apples, potatoes, etc, in the
cellar, removing those decayed, aud separa-
ting the small and imperfect ones to feed
the pigs and cattle, Is an important work,
and the pickings will be relished by pigs,
poultry, cattle and horses, especially if the
root crop is short, which we hope is not the
case with any.
Stormy day ,rorh may be found in all of
the above, aSso in cutting up the coarse iod-
der for the stock; weeks supply often
comes handy during sunny weather when
all the time is wanted outdoors. The wood
pile, though in many cases superseded by
the coal-bin, still demands the attention of
the mass OF our farmers at this season. In
summer we place the farm house. possessing
a wood shed we'll filled with fre-wood, as
| the property of an energetic, successful far
| ner; but the farm yard litterd with chi
and sticks, and occupied by sprawling
wood-pile, from which the kitchen fire is
supplied Gom day to day, is generally the
property thalf covered with mortgages) of
one always crying "hard times" and poor
crops. Fill up the wood-shed, friends. The
wood drawn from the forest ON fair days,
furnishes the best employment for stormy
days.
The tool room, which of course all our
readers possess, if they do not they ought
to, is an essential to every we'll managed
farm. Hammers, auger-, bits, planes, saws,
draw-knite, square, compass, rule, cold.
chisei. wrench, files, pincers, soldering.iron
and solder, few pots of paints and brushes,
a can of linseed oil, varnsh, putty, glass and
glazier's tools, harness oil, pieces of leather,
avis and harness thread, supply of well
seasoned lumber, as few pine and oak
boards and plank, etc, nails of assorted si-
zes' screws, bolts, rivets, lis an outfit
which may be put into new unoccupied
room, with bench which has wooden
wise at one end and an iron wise at the other
and small anvil at one side even without
forge, and with small stove for warming
it,-at a low cost, and to considerable pre-
| fit. Here, and at this season, the tools
| should all be overhauled, cleaned and re-
paired, and in many cases painted the har-
ness oiled and mended, and missing parts
| replaced. In this overhauled, note should
| be taken what is wanted to replace worn
out implements, and of those required to
carry ont any new plan adopted for the
coming season. Though some must go to
the carpenter or blacksmith, yet we know
from experience that many dollars will be
saved by such an outlay and ingenuity thus
| put to work in the odd hours. Here, too,
| many nicknack and ornament for the
house will be fashioned, tending to make
the home life more pleasant. In the busy
season it also Twill save many an hour and
dollar, in having the eonTeniences at hand
| to repair broken machine or cart. And
mark the words, It v,R equipped tool room
to ercife the boys ingenuity riK be soeer-
eigR means of keeping than at home.-Sciym-
| Hfc Farmer.