Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-03
Hint. for the Work Of the Month.


How Do You STAND Zone cannot lay out his
work 20 advantage, without knowing precisely
how he stands with regard to his business The
beginning OF the year is the appropriate time
for ascertaining 1t. Frequently an account OF
business Is kept for month or two, and then
neglected. II It is only TO encourage habits OF
regularity and perseverance, 1t 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 sys-
tenn In every detail of farm work. and in bust
ness affairs, that foresight and economy which
are everywhere the prime essentials to success.
KEEP A RECORD OF the events OF each Gays
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; purchases ana sales
made, indeed, anything that may be needed for
future difference, or that should be entered in
the account book, which will thus become a
valuable and interesting record OF the farm,
MAKE AN 1NyENTORY.-Put down every thing
you possess, from the farm itself, to the small
tools and untensils, and value each item fairly.
Enter the money on hand, and also every debt
owed. This is the first work in beginning an
account. The property owned, and 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
sc the account or stock.
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 receipt
of money for purchases, sales, OF for wages,
should be entered in the cash book; this should
be done every evening, and before ii is forgot
ten; all these entries are transferred to ledger
TO the proper accounts. The work is very sim
pie and easy, and there are farmers girls who
keep all their fathers accounts in the most ac-
CITRATE manner.
HIRING MEN.-A farmer should try to make
work for hired man, or several If possible. II
he can ind profitable work for them. he is max
ing money for himself. A few months wages
spent in procuring or making manure, draining,
clearing OF stone, getting out StumpS, or other
wise making the farm more productive, will be
well invested.
KEEP THE STABLES CLEAN.-Clear out the
manure every morning, and scrape or card off
all filth from the animals. The stable should
be made so warm that the manure will not
freeze at night; lower temperature Will either
demand larger amount OF food, or the animals
will fall OF In condition.
PILE THE MANURE In square and compact
heaps; and If 1t is not frozen when thrown out
it will heat and ferment in the pile, but If once
frozen it will be likely TO remain 50 during all
the cold weather.
IN THE SOUTHERN STATES the work of making
lpompost heaps, should go on rapidly this month
Time Is needed In making comPostS; raw mix
rails are decomposed A bushel Of lime added
to each load will hasten the decay of the mate
rails OF the compost heap and cotton seed, well
soaked with water. Will soon heat and warm up
large pile of compost.
CUT THE LITTER.-If the litter is cut into
3-1neh lengths, or even smaller. it will hold
HUT mOlStuTe, Will make DetUef ana liner
manure, and will keep the animals cleaner than
long litter. The gain in the quality OF the
manure, In one year, the saving In time in the
handling and increased effectiveness of it will
pay good interest on the cost of a windmill and
fodder cutter, to do the cutting. But IL the
stormy and disagreeable days are chosen to cut
Up straw for this purpose, an abundant supply
Can be made A broad axe can be purchased for
81. so, and with this and block sheaf of straw
may be cut into 3-inch chaf in half a minute
TWO persons, one to hold the Sheaf on the block
NfnT 9TH
soon cut up ton of straw. Where hardwood
Saw-duSt, dry swamp muck, or pine straw can
be procured, these make excellent litter and
manure.
ECONOMY IN FEEDING is very important con-
sideration. In some cases half the feed used is
wasted. Cutting the fodder has proved saving
stock are fed, if the feed of one-third, or one
hall can be saved, 1t is simply large increase
OF the resources of the farm and is Sufficient to
pay the cost OF good cutter and the time ex-
pended in cutting.
WATERING STOCK.-The supply OF water in
winter is source Of trouble. Ice gathers about
the troughs and other drinking places; pipes
other Inconvenience occur. These may be
AVOIDED by methodical management 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. Have no
flowing water in the yards to waste and freeze,
Will reduce the milk from the cows 10 per cent.
or more.
The Mmk-RooA OR SPRING HousE.-Frozen
cream will notmake good butter. To prevent
milk from freezing, have small stove in the
dairy, and In the spring house make a covered
box over the. spring. Where a run from a
spring can be brought in pipes, Cooley cream
cry can be used during the winter with great
advantage; keeping an even temperature
equal to that in the summer when ice Is used
HoRsEs.-When not at work the horses need
but little grain, II sufficient good hay is given.
But as hay is generally dusty, and long hay is
wasted In the eating, we find it economical to
daily Of bran or ground feed. The hay saved
will pay for the meal, and the increased value
OF the manure will pay for the labor. The moist
feed prevents injury to the horses from breath
ing the dust from dry hay.
MARES IN FooD.-A roomy loose box is the
safest and most comfortable place fer brood
mare. colt may be raised Tor the same cost
as COW, and when three years Old may be
worth four COWS. There is brisk demand for
good work horses. and a large export business
Is growing up, so that the keeping OF mares will
become source OF income. But not only must
the right kind be kept, and the right kind of
colts be raised, but the mares must have proper
stable accommodations. When mare is idle
large portion OF the time, exercise is needed and
this she can get in loose box.
GeLTS.-Young colts should be well fed and
cared for the first winter; provide warm stall
Tor them, with plenty OF litter. and give them
good brushing down once every day. quart
of oats daily win be needed. and some bright
clean, SW Get hay. Cut-feed is not suitable for
young colts, whose digestion should not be over
taxed by food packed solidly in the stomach;
feed light and frequently.
WORK OXEE.-OXen that work on frozen roads
although there Is no ice, should be Shod. The
rough bard surface wears down the hoofs very
fast, and causes Inflammation OF the Interior
the trouble may not become apparent until
later, when the mischief Is difficult TO repair.
IL the feet are tender and hot, and slight lame
ness is perceived, examine the hoofs between
the claws, cleanse the feet, and apply remedies
II needed.
CowS.-Milking COWS Will be benefited by mix
ing their feed with warm water IL this can be
done without TOO much trouble. A family COW
may be treated TO a warm mess in the mornings
without difficulty, and it Will increase the milk
perceptibly. Cut the hay and pour pail full
OF hot water over II; mix the mess so that the
hay is all Wetted: and add the meal; mix again,
and feed while warm. In a dairy OF twenty
COWS, the extra milk Will pay for the labor
needed. II the food can be made more dgesti-
bic, and by giving Ii warm, the waste or animal
heat VIII be avoided, and the same effect will
study OF the principles of feeding may be
made a source OF profit by the economy which
may be practiced through 1t. The card and
brush should be in frequent use during the
winter, and II necessary q coarse cloth and
warm water may be used TO preserve clelnli-
ness. II filth Is permitted to gather on the
skin II Is difficult to remove at this season.
YOUNG CALVES viii thrive well il kept in a
shed together and well fed. The shell NAV be
Uttered literally, and need not be cleaned out
until the spring, or until the manure has be-
come foot or more Deep Calves may thus be-
come good manure-makers, but it Will be neces-