The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-12-23
HINTS FOR DDC1ERlB WORK.

The days grow shorter and reach
shortest duration, while evenings are
longer and longer. The time is favora-
BILE for looking backward in thought.
FOre-thought are good in their time
but after thoughts though often less
honored are worth a great deal more
for shaping the future.
Live stOck.-As the season advances
the live stock require increases atten-
ton not only are they more directly
dependent upon our care, but they are
subject to discOmfOrts from exposure,
which seriously interfere with the
profit of keeping them. Ofall our do
nestle animals, the pig is the most sem
sitive to exposure to rough weather,
poultry next in this order; fowls,
ducks, geese, and turkeys the last Of
ten doing better when exposed than
if sheltered. Next to fowls, cows
then working-Oxen and young cattle
next horses, which are used, unused
horses, and sheep. Ofthese last the
long wooded breeds are most rensitive
to cold storms and snow but those
close fieeced breeds will stand almost
any amount of cold, if they have
enough TO eat, sheds to 60 under and
shelter from driving storms of rain and
snow.
Mich Cows.-Those ought to be well
fed. and cleaned by care and brush,
daily, if possible, other wise, twice a
week. They should be MIXED up to
within four weeks of calving. 1t is a
great temptation TO dry off q cow, SO a.
10 save the labor of milking, and not
alone will hired men do this, but the
farmers themselves, generally, do it,
and think that they save good deal in
feed and labor, while In reality, with
young cows, they impart habit of go
ing dry early, which will last them rs
they live. The better mich cows are
fed, the better return they give, but feed
|judiciously.
Sheep are peculiarly sensitive to good
treatment. A COON shepherd is always
gentle among his sheep. Ewes which
are to lamb early ought to be by them
selves, and have better care as their
time approaches. Feed q few more tur-
nips, snd give them little more liberal
sprinkling of corn meal and bran, or oil
cake.
Pigs.-Nearly double the feed will be
required to keep pigs from going bacY,
after really cold weather comes On-say
when the ground freezes. 1t is then
best to kill at once. Every farmer
ought to be able to kill and cut up his
own pigs. Butchers are often very
rough and brutal. This is not necessa-
ry. Many farmer who kills his own
pigs does SO because he wants the job
kindly and humanely done. He actual
" thrusts the knife as if he loved the
victim. Feed soaked corn, that is, corn
which is covered with as much boiling
water as it will take up in "a hours.
This is better for either fattening or
store pigs than coarse meal, unless the
latter be thoroughly cooked.
Horses, if fed well. will usually feel
bright and lively in winter, and young
horses are for this very reason, more
easily trained then when the weather
and running at pasture makes them
dull. Whenever horses are used SO as
to warm them up at all. blanket them
as soon as they stand still, if only for
two or three minutes, those two or
three minutes are sometimes enough to
give chill, which may end in pneu-
monia. or other serious troubles.
Grooming saves feed, and also pro-
notes health in horses. and should new
er bs. neglected. 1t will probably pay
even to groom boarding horses, and it
will certainly pay the owners to stipu-
late that their horses should be groom
ed daily. Blankets, except mere ''dust-
ers,- are worse than useless in stables
they make the horse tender, and more
likely to take cold when brought in
hot. Litter very freely If you have the
material: straw, leaves, swamp hay,
etc.
Poultry.-Hcns will lay up to Chcist-
mas: il they have warm quarters. A
manure shed, when mixed manure
throws OF considerable warmth. and
which is closed in. but well ventilated,
is an excellent place for fowls. They
are kept warm and comfortable, their
droppings are all saved, going to enrich
the manure aud thay keep ON laying,
often all winter. At noon feed in open
weather, soft food-that is, boiled pOta-
toes mixed with bran or corn meal, or
something Of the kind at night, gi-s
good fced Of whole grain, throwing
down enough to toll them Oh the roosts
for an carly breakfast, unless thereby
you will be feeding an army of rats all
night. In snowy and frozen weather,
feed three timesa day, and give only
what they win run after at each meal.
The ice crop in every section Of the
country il becoming more and more
important. The season may be - unfa-
vorable for ice Is the last, but that 10
hardly possible. Nevertheless, pru-
dent man will be prepared to lay in mis-
ice as soon - Il shall have attained half
the usual thickness, or even les. The
are that IN enormous guam
lity win be secured this aeason. Ii i
being applied 20 new uses IN the time.
md its consumption in both town and
b greatly % he iDrsase.