The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-04
Jnnre and farm.
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.


about the out-buildiDgs.
Roots in cellars should be overhauled oc
casionallY; and decayed ones removed.
The clearing of swamps may be done better
a little later; tussocks cut eaiser when FRO
zen.
Warmth saves feed, helps fattening, and
often prevents sickness il not the total loss
of an animal.
Potatoes that are suspected of rot, may
sometimes be saved by sprin king dry Stacked
lime over them.
Swamp mack for use as an absorbent may
be dug now, and left to freeze dry ready for
use in few weeks.
The ice house should be cleaned out and
prepared for ice, and a stock of sawdust
be procured for packing.
At the close of the year make an inventory,
and If no accounts have been kept heretofore,
1t will pay to begin then.
Cellar windows should be made secure
against frost, either by double sash, or out
side protection of shutters.
Flowing of heavy soils may be done to ad-
vantage until the ground freezes Ii is well
to pillow under stable manure on such land.
Light soils are quite az well il plowed IN
spring.
Wheat and rye fields should be freed from
surface water. and open drains cleared OF
leaves and rubbish. Top-dressing with fer
tilIzers or manure, where necessary, should be
done without delay.
Live stock require constant watchfullness.
To keep them comfortable is as important as
to feed them well. No animal will thrive
and fatten, If unclean and cold hence I'M
comfortable and fretful.
Roots yet unharvl sted, should be taken up
at once, before the frozen ground prevents.
Pits not fully protected, should now be made
safe by an extra coating OF straw and earth.
with foot of straw, three inches of earth
will be sufficient.
A run on the stubbles is healthful exercise
for sheep. A small plot Of rape for green
feed is ways acceptable to the sheep, until
the snow is too deep for them to reach it.
See that they have plenty Of pure, fresh wa
ter, az least twice day.
Fattening animals should be pushed on as
rapidly SIS possible. No fresh food should be
given until the fuse Of the previous feeding
is eaned ron the troughs. When the appe-
tite fails from any cause, change of food
will often restore 1t.
Young steers less than a year old may be
broken to the yoke by any patient boy. At
first they should be yOked and tied up until
they have become used to the yoke. when
they may be led around and taught to drive.
This is interesting play-work for farmers
boy in winter.
To keep the animals in good condition, or
increasing in weight, should be the object OF
every farmer during the winter season. To
premit a loss of weight after the summers
IeeiIng, is TO waste the feed both winter and
summer. 1t costs more TO get an animal fat
than to keep it fat.
Young animals require particular care
this is the making of the edult animal. To
over feed is as unwise as to stint food. Cos
tiveness is perhaps the most to be guarded
against at this season: linseed oIl-cake meal
is a GOOD and cheap preventive. One pint to
one quart daily may be given.
Horses at regular work should be kept in
good condition. Two quarts Of corn aud oat
neal, added to a bushel of cut straw, will
make II equal to SO much hay. This will
make a sufficient ration for an idle horse; for
a working horse, add three quarts of this
meal, or three quarts of oats at each feed.
There are many fields still dotted with
shocks OF fodder. This season it ripened very
thoroughly aud needed but little drying 10
cure It, II may be safely stacked or stored
in barracks this year with less precsution
than usual, but to preventfurther waste, the
slower should be taken care OF as soon as pos
Sibe
Turnips may he fed to milking cows, with.
out danger of fiavoring the milk dIssgreeably
by giving them immediately after milkinE.
A root cutter, or some other method of re-.
duclng the roots too thin slices or pulp, Is
worth the cost as preventive of choking, il
for nothing else A few cut turnlps or car
rots occasionally are beneficial TO horses.
Working oxen are often more useful than
horses and o! late have been too much neg
lected II should not be forgotten that oxen
REQUIRE more time to feed than horses, AMI
ample opportunity for summation should be
given. During winter, oxen that work upon
the road ought to be sbod. The cost will be
saved in he extra work dore, and freedom
from injury by slipping.
Economy andseffectiyeness, are the main
points 10 observe. The best food fed in the
best way 20 the best stock. must be the most
profitable. and to reach this conclusion is
more a matter OF care and skill than of mon
ey. Money can procure food, stock, good
buildings. and labor; but good management
always depends on the intelligent application
OF known facts TO practice.
Cabbsges are coming into common use as
fodder. They may be saved by pittlng them
in heaps of two or three wagon loads, with
sheayes OF straw intermingled, and covering
with straw and earth, as for roots; or by
placing them, roots upturned, upon the
ground, in a dry place, and throwing few
inches OF earth over the heads. We find that
cabbsgss make excellent food for milking
cows.
Cows will begin to fail in milk as the
weather becomes cold. unless the food Is OF
the best kind. Msngles or sugar beets,
pulped and mixed with cut hay, corn stalks,
or even straw, aud left for "a hours to fer
ment, are productive Of milk; and two quarts
of corn meal, ADDED to a bushel of this, will
greatly help the yiele OF cream. Brewers
grains in small quantities, are good TODD for
milk production.
The Hog Farmers Wants.
Hog breeders are not supposed to be any
more scrupulOus than cattle breeders" said
Dr. Stetson In an address on the "Polsnd
China Pig delivered before the Illinois
Swine Breeders Association, land there is