Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-02-19
5ara anO tonssbolO


month for the farmer, hut whether II Is 50
or not depends upon the farmer himself.
If he is wide awake he will find plenty TO
do. but if he lacks energy, even June may
prove dull month. Il wish them potatoes
were hoed." said lazy farmer as he SAT
smoking is pipe. after dinner one beautiful
June day wishing will never hoe pota-
toes WHY don't YOU up and at them
said his more energetic wife. For man
who is up and at it, there is always plenty
Of work. whether the month he June or Feb
ruary.
The first thing demanding attention this
month is to secure a crop Of ice, If ii has
not been already secured. The ice crop
has been Of slow growth this winter. and
comparatively little has been harvested.
Ice eight or ten inches thick is better than
none at all. and though il requires more
labor to load j; upon wagons than upon
sleighs. still il i not safe 10 defer harvest
ing.
a'tbN A. Asiat l'o+ A'N'4A 4th"' "+N''
Young demand careful attention this month.
The food should he adapted to the condition
of ma,urnity. Hay of course will cons,i-
tute the staple food. but some roots should
also be fed. These are Of antiscptic nature
and counteract the tendency TO fever which
i ALWAYS more or less apparent al parturi-
ton. MANY feed corn meal at this season.
thinking to strengthen their animals for the
labor which !. before them, but meal in
creases the febrle tendencies and should be
fed sparingly, if at all. If meal is fed there
is all the more occasion for feeding roots.
These serve not only TO keep the preg-
nsnt stock in good health. but aid in de
veloping the frtus and stimulating the lac
teal glands. A the time of parturation APP
proaches. give the cows box stall and plen-
" Of bedding. If an animal ever wants
room and comfort it is when heavy with
Young, and giving birth, and to confne a
COW in stanC HONS at this season is both
cruel and angerous. She should be placed
in box stall some DAYS before parturition.
so to get accustomed 10 her new situation
A lttle flax seed or cotton seed meal fed at
this season will serve TO oil the passages
and make the labor more easy After par
turation, feed lightly with bran mash. hay
and roots till all danger Of puerpural fever !,
past
February is critical month for the shep-
herd who raises early lambs. These arr
the kind tina; pay. but, like every other
good thing, they can be secured only a, the
price Of constant vigilance Winter does
not resign his reign without some howlings.
and as Young lambs are delicate little things
they need tender nursing when dropped in
this boisterous month. The ewes cote
should be separate from that Of the we,hers
and bucks. and too large numbers should
not be kept in one cote. Sheep are gregar-
ious, but still no animal suffers more
when crowded in large focks The breed
ing ewes want room, quiet and warmth. and
their lying in hospital must be well VENT
lated or thew will not do well. The same
rules about feeding which We have suggest
ed for breeding cows are applicable 10 ewes
il similar condition. Roots are better for
them than grain, and If any Of the latter i,
fed II should be oats rather than corn. No
man Is fit for shepherd who is not a gentle
tnuS stand l..
bat sheep were never designed for ANYTHING
but gentle treatment, and al no time do the,
need such gentle handling as when bearing
and sucking their Young. If master of
flock finds that his sheep fear him, he had
better sell out and go into other business.
Now 1t Is time to make preparation for
spring work. April the opening month.
VIII be here in quick time EVERYTHING
should be ready for her coming. Tools Of
all kinds should be examined. and If neoes-
sary be repaired and painted Paint is a
great preserver and il will wear much long
er put on now and allowed TO harden
some weeks before the tool is used. Seeds
should also be secured now, and no, when
seed time is at hand with all its cares. Too
great care cannot be exercised in the selec-
ton Of seeds. The success of the crop. de-
ponds as much upon this as does the sue
cess OF the herd upon the sires and dams.
The recent revelations respecting spurious
seeds should lead every farmer TO vigilance.
Fortunately We have some honest and capa-
bic seedmen who We have learned from
long experience can be trusted. Such
should be patronized, even though their
prices may be above those of the itinerant
peddlers.
Nor is the selection Of roots for propaga-
ton much less important than the selection
OF seeds. Whoever plants small, knotty.
ill-shapen potatoes, and expects to dig large
smooth ones. will be disappointed. A good
soil and thorough cultivation will do some
thing to remedy his mistake, but the ten
deney is for like to produce like and if this
poor policy is pursued for course of years.
this tendency will show itself in spite of the
best soil and cultivation.
The coming season promises to be sue
cessful one for the farmer and he should Law
out large plans and Systematically and per
seyeringiy carry them out. Now is the time
to map out the farm, and systematize things,
so that it may make satisfactory returns. r.
Mass. Pio1ghman.