The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-15
Work for the Month-Jauuary.

W0Ik 10I the M0nCn-Jauuary.
The farmer has now the advantage Of
another year to refer to and past experien-
ces to guide him. A look backward may
prepare the way for obtaining future sue.
cesses or avoiding past errors. The season
OF out-of-door leisure is especially sulta-
Bile time for settling upon some fixed plans
for work. The daptation Of means possess
ed to the end sought is not the least ele-
ment towards achieving satisfactory re-
suits. Overcropping, overworking. are mis-
takes which tell nowhere more certainly
than on the farm. Gauge yourself, yonr
means, your working stock, and begin sys-
tenn which you can measurably and fairly
expect to carry out to its full end. At this
season one thing which no farmer ought to
neglect to do Is to
BEGIN to keep an account Of your expen-
ditures and receipts, and as preparatory to
this make an inventory Of your stock, i'm
PIGMENTS, machinery, products Of farm re-
naming unsold, and all other assets, includ-
ing money on haEd. Accurate account OF
you will thus be enabled to compare your
liabilities with your assets and ascertain
just how you stand, A book prepared for
this purpose will serve also for q memoran-
du m Of operations, the dates at which GER
tain work is doEe, &c., and thus often
afford great satisfaction In future referen-
ces.
MANUREs AND CoMPOsTs. -Many favor
able opportunities occur for collecting ma
terials for compost piles, and at no season
is team and hand more likely to be availa-
BILE. Mixing decaying vegetable matters,
layer and layer about, with good strong ma
nure, will largely increase your supplies Of
planr-food, breaking down the texture and
making available the crude material Of the
rough matters used.
DRAINs.-Do not overlook the water
burrows in your grain fields, but see that
nothing interferes with free passage OF wa
ter during rains and thaws.
WAGONS, CARTS and implements ought to
be overhauled and put in order, and stored
away under cover.
LIVE STooK.-"We Judge of quality and
quantity entirely by comparison" For in
stance we may have favorite horse that
is good traveller we may use It every day
on the road alone. and at last decide that
We have fast horse; must be fast, as no one
Of the neighbors has one as good al least
cannot pass us. After time, becoming go
well convinced Of the speed Of our horse,
that we 90 out among the fast ones, how
very soon we come home forever satisfied
that our horse is gerry slow. Now in the
breeding and raising Of all of our domestic
animals, how important that the breeder
should be familiar with the same class Of
stock that his will be thrown among when
they are finally judged, for the last, but not
least, important.question to be decided, viz:
the money value. II horses are to be raised,
first decide what purpose we had best aim
to suit ours for, and then aim high in
qnality, for it is much more the quality
that pays than quantity; frequently our
first-class draft horse will sell sooner and
bring more ready money than pair Of I'M
der sized scrubs, that will nearly cost their
cash value in livery bills before they can
be sold even at small price. It Is not
worth while for US to tell the numerous
readers of the american Farmer that the
world is advancing; that they we'll know
for themselves. But we fear many forget
that the buyers of our domestic animals
Especially those raised as food for men) are
gaining knowledge little faster than the
breeders. Each year there is greater dis.
elimination shown 10 all our leading mar
kets. The dealers are fast learning that
an inferior animal has never been bought
lop enough. The steer that will make the
greatest per cent. Of first-quality beef, such
as suits the tastes of the wealthy, is the one
to raise. At the same time, the less values
able parts will be Of much better quality too,
thereby giving the poor laboring man bet
ter roast for bis money than he possibly can
get out second or thirh-class steer. What
we want is each and every one Of our read
ers, during the lorg winter, when, out
door labor is not SO. pressing, to look around
and see what steps we can take to have q
better class Of males provided by the time
the breeding season arrives. Aim high ev-
cry time, and don't stop till we have pro.
duced such an article as will command the
best price. We do not wish to start all to
raising ''pedigreed stock, - for such course
would, by no means, be advisable; but we
do say to all, use nothing but Thoroughbred
male of the breed that best suits your sur
oundings.-American Farmer.