Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-12-11
Hints for December work.

IcdCH tnttT SuOEt&6t OuFHtIOU,
while the ev' nings are longer and
longer. The time Is favorable for
looking backward in thought.
Forethoughts are good in their
time, but after thought, though
often less honored, are worth d
great deal more for shaping the
future.
LIVE STOCK. AS The season adj
vances the live stock require in
creased attention; not only are
they more directly depended upon
our care, but they are subject to
discomforts from exposure, which
seriously interfere with the profit
of keeping them. OF all our do
mestic animals the pig Is the
most sensitive to exposure to
rough weather, poultry next, in
this order; fowls, ducks, geese,
and turkeys. the last often doing
better when exposed than If shell.
tered. Next to fowls, cows, then
working oxen and young cattle;
next horses, which are used, un-
used horses and sheep. OF these
last the long-wool breeds are most
sensitive to cold storms and snow,
but close-heeced breeds will stand
almost any amount of cold if they
have enough to eat, sheds to go
under, aud shelter from driving
storms of rain and snow.
Horses, If we'll fed, usually fesl
bright and lively in winter. and
young horses are, for this very
reason, more easily trained than
when the weather and running at
pasture makes them dull. When
ever horses are used so as to warm
them up at all, blanket them as
soon as they stand still, if only for
two or tire minutes, those two or
three minutes are enough TO give
a chill, which may end In pneu-
monia, or other serious troubles.
Grooming saves feed, and also
promotes health in horses, and
should never be neglected 1t will
probable pay even to groom
boarding horses, and it will GER
tainly pay the owne rs to stipulate
that their horses should be groom
ed daily. Blankets, except mere
"dusters,' are worse than useless
in stables; they make the horse
tender, and more likely to take
cold when brought in hot. Litter
very freely ifyou have the mate
rial; straw, leaves, swamp hay.
etc.
Mich COws.-These ought to
be well fed, and cleaned by a card
and brush, daily, if possible. other
wise twice week. They should
be MIXED up to within four weaks
of calving. 1t is great tempta-
ton to dry off COW 80 az to save
the labor of milking. and not
alone will hired men do this, but
the farmers themselves. generally,
do it, and think they save good
deal in feed and labor, while in
reality, with young cows, they
impart habit of going dry early,
which will last them as long as
they live. The better mich cows
are fed, The better return they give,
ode AOSN JoaiSAOhoiys
Sheep are peculiarly sensitive to
good treatment. A good shep-
herd is always gentle among his
sheep. Ewes which are to lamb
early ought 20 be by themselves
and have better care as their time
approaches. Feed a few more
turnips and give them a 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 back, after realty 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 Rpigs. Butchers are often
very rough and brutal. This is
not necessary. Many a farmer
who kills his own pigs does so be-
cause he wants the job kindly and
humanely done. He actually
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 twenty-four hours. This is
better for either fattening or stock
pigs than course meal, unless the
latter be thoroughly cooked.
PoULTRY.-Hens will lay up to
Christmas, If they have warm
quarters. A manure shed, where
mixed manure throws off consid-
cradle warmth and which is clos
ed in, but we'll ventilated, is an
excellent place for fowls. They
are kept warm and comfortable,
their droppings are all saved. 60
ing to enrich the manure, and
they keep on laying, often all win
ter. At noon feed, in open wealth