The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-10
FARMERS COLUMN.
Fnrm work for JnnuaxY.

Farm Work for Jnnuasy.
From the American Agriculturia Jan, l. 1880.
Hon. do you stand R-One cannot lay out
his work to advantage, without knowing
precisely how he stands with regard to his
business. The beginning Of the year is the
appropriate time for ascertaining it, FIRE.
quently an account Of business is kept for a
month or two, and then neglected. If it is
only 10 encourage habits of regularity and
perseverance it will be time well spent to
keep an account, not only of money affairs,
but record of events for every day.. This
tends to beget promptness and system in
every detail of farm work, and in business
affairs, that foresight and economy which
are everywhere the prime essentials to sue
cess.
Keep record of the events Of each days
work, and farm-life. One of the boys or
girls should do this. A book will be needed
ruled with plain lines, on which TO make
the entries; put down the condition of the
weather, the work done, and by whom; pur-
chases and sales made, indeed, anything that
may be needed for future reference. or that
should be needed in the account book, which
will thus become q valuable and interesting
record of the farm.
Makean inUentoyy down everything
you possess, from the farm itself, to the small
tools and utensils, and value each item fair
ly. Enter the money on hand, and also
every debt owed. This is the first work in
beginning an account. The property owned,
and the money on hand, will be on one side
of the account, and the debts on the other.
The balance will show Just how the farmer
stands. This account will be the Accouat of
Stack.
Purchases and sales, are entered in the
daily record, and from that into purchase
and sale book except the cash transactions,
which go into the cash book.
The cash book.-Every payment and re-
ceipt of money for purchases, sales, and for
wages, should be entered in the cash book
this should be done every evening, and be-
fore it is forgotten; all these entries are
transferred to a ledger to the proper accounts.
The work is very simple and easy,and there
are farmers girls who keep all their ia
theirs accounts in the most accurate manner.
Fuller directions for keeping farm accounts
were given in the American AgriculturiSt
for January and February, 1879.
Hiring mcn.-A farmer should try to
make work for hired man, or several, i'll
possible. If he can find profitable work for
them, he is making money for himself. A
few months wages spent in procuring or
making manure, draining, clearing Off stone,
getting out stumps, or otherwise making the I
farm more productive, will be well invested.
Keep tie stables clean clear out the man.
ure every morning, and scrape or clear off
all filth from the animals. The stable |
should be made SO warm, that the manure
will not freeze at night; a lower tempera-
ture will either demand a larger amount of
food or the animal will fall off in condition.
Cut the Mter.-If the litter is cut into g.
inch lengths, or even smaller, it will hold |
more moisture, will make better and finer
manure, and will keep the animal cleaner
than long litter. The gain in the quality |
of the manure, in one year, the saving in |
time in the handling, and increased effect
iveness of it, will pay good interest on the
cost of windmill, and fodder cutter to do |
the cutting. But if the stormy and disagree
able days are chosen to cut up straw for this |
purpose, an abundant supply can be made.
A broad axe can be purchased for $3.50, and
with this and block, sheaf of straw may
be cut into 3-inch chaf in half minute.
Two persons, one to hold the sheaf on the
block or plank, and the other to ouse the axe,
would soon cut up a ton of straw. Where
hardwood saw dust, dry swamp muck, or
pine straw can be procured, these make ex-
celleut litter and manure.
Economy in feeding is very important
consideration. In some cases half the feed
ing used is wasted. Cutting the fodder has
proved q saving of one-third to one-halt.
Where but ten head of stock are fed, if the
feed of one third or one-half can be saved it
is simply large increase of the resources of
the farm, and is sufiicient.t to pay the cost of
q good cutter and the time expended in cut
ting
Watering stock.-The supply of water in
winter is source of trouble. Ice gathers
about the troughs and other drinking places;
pipes freeze and burst, or become choked,
and many other inconveniences occur.
These may be avoided by methodcal man
agement. Have regular watering periods,
twice day. Fill the troughs from the
pumps or cisterns, and drive the cattle to
them and see that they drink. When all
are supplied, empty the troughs, and either
cover them or turn them over. HaYe no
flowing water in the yard to waste and
freeze, or become ice-cold for drinking. A
cold drink will reduce the milk from the
cows 10 per cent or more.