Connecticut western news., 1881-01-05
FARM AND GARDEN.
WINTER FARM WORK,

It is not an easy matter to arrange for profitable employment upon the farm during winter beyond the immediate care of stock. The chief object will be to get everything out of the way, which will take up time and interfere with the active labors when spring opens. To do this everything should be put in readiness for immediate use.
 If muck is wanted or other absorbent, it is just as easy to dig it in winter. A great part of the business of draining is also as we'll done while but partially freezing. If there be timber to get out if trees have fallen which should be saved for fuel; if fencing material should be moved; if tools have to be repaired and painted; if a supply of fuel IS to be gotten up; if any portion of the build ings needs repairs if there is manure to haul, then the farmer knows at once the advantage of having these tasks forwarded.
 In some instances swamps may be drained as readily in winter, and if @ sand bank be at hand, the clayey soils may receive a coating. If there is no ice-house there should be one made and filled. But to search for new or outside employment upon the farm during the winter months, and of character that the farmer may be supposed to be con- versant with the pursuit, is quite another thing.
 In earlier times the farmer got up and prepared huge wood pile. He sawed, split and shaved shingles. He prepared considerable quantity of flax fiber, and the wife spun and wove it. He made his boots and shoes. He pared and dried apples and pumpkins. He made apple sauce. But nearly all of these employments are gone.
 If there be COWS and supply of foods for dairy purposes, the most profitable season for butter and milk is in the winter; also if he have food and can obtain sheep for fattening them, there is profit in so doing. The winter should be the time of care of stock and marketing of crops already secured, and of recreation and recuperation, and repreparation for the active times of spring and summer.
 The farm is but factory for pro- ducing 8 certain kind and quantity oi | produce, and the calculation, and the preparation of tools, and the procuring of fertilizers are largely winter labor. THE ORcHARD.-Little work can now be done in the orchard. All trees should be protected from intruders of every kind. Horses and cattle should be kept from old trees, as they often do much injury by browsing the twigs. Young trees are not only to be guarded against the larger animals, but from mice and rabbits. Hence, when there is fall ot snow, it should be trampled firmly around the trees to keep off the mice. Rabbits are kept away by smearing the trunks with blood or bloody meat The eggs of the tent caterpillar are easily seen and removed in winter Manure may be drawn out and spread in the orchard at any time.
 Now is the proper time to thinI about orchard planting. If fruit trees are to be set out next spring, two lead ing points should be considered: tn, thorough preparation of the ground and the selecting of the varieties of fruit l |, prepared, will be poor investment Another important point is that it cost no more to grow tree of good variet, than poor one. It is difficult to giv a list of varieties of apples, pears, etc. that will suit every one in every locality
 In purchasing fruit trees, 1t is of tn first importance that they shall be tru to name and second, that the trees b healthful and we'll grown. We plac accuracy first; a poor tree by car may be grown to make good one, bu if one who intended to set an orchar of Northern Spy or Newtown Pippin finds after waiting six or eight year that he has only Early Harvest c
 Pumpkin Sweets, he has no remedy. . good share off his life, so far as orchar
 culture goes, has been wasted. Henc our frequent advice not to buy of tre
 peddlers, but to always deal directl
 with nursery of known reputation One cannot afford to plant doubtfr trees if they are given to him.-Agricu , tu1'ist