The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-09

liar anu stateu periOus; hafe clean, Well ven |
ilsted stables and quarters, and be allowed |
Iuitable exercise without being allowed over
he roads and fields. When l speak of farm
took include cattle horses, sheep, pigs and
owls, all of which should have attention
suited to its kind. Good care only gives a
profit in winter keep of all stock
In connection with most farms is wood
lot, from which fuel, lumber and fencing ma
terial are procured. Winter is the time to
haul this material home, while there is snow
and shedding 1t is easier loaded and unoaGed
from sled than cart, and also easier for the
team. Now is the time to prepare the years
stock of firewood. When cut during the win
ter piled and allowed to season until early
spring, and then piled under suitable shed
to finish the seasoning. and kept from the
rains, 1t is worth very much more, and in all
respects better than if left out to be subject
to the weather OF late spring and summer. IF
any one doubts this let him try it once the
women will give you better dinners, on time,
if you thus prepare the wood and pile it con-
.enient to the Kitchen, where it will always
bedry.
Time may also be probably spent during
the winter in social intercourse with brother
farmers, attending farmers institutes and
clubs. Wecan compare our plans and modes
OF working and results, making notes where
results differ; we can examine each others
stocks, noting any difference in special care,
and results therefrom. We may discuss the
state OF the markets; their probable state for
the next few months question OF no small
moment to the farmer in deciding upon plans
for the coming season The social cultivation
from such intercourse is not to be overlooked
During the long evenings of winter how much
time may be found for studying our profess
sion, by reading and digesting books and pa
pers devoted to agriculture and kindred sub
jects.-Count,y Gentleman.
WHEN TO SELL.-Without assuming to
know more than others when the farmer should
get rid of his crops and whether it is better
to hold on to them, awaiting a rise to what
they are at one time selling at our idea is to
sell US soon as the crops are ready for market
for the best price that can be obtained for
them. We think it even strange that there
should be any doubt about this, or that any
one who is asked for advice would hesitate
moment what answer to make, for there is no
doubt in the world that, as general rule, the
man who turns his money around the quickest
makes money the fastest in the long run, and
this is as true in farming as in any other pur-
suit. Once in while one makes more money
BY holding on, and in theory il seems best to
bold on. There are always a large number
who must sell as soon as the crops are ready
They have to sell for any price they can get in
order to meet ACCOUNTS long since due The
rushing in OF crops has tendency, or ought
TO have. in making low prices But this is
only theoretical. 1t is found by experience
that, in commercial phrase, these anticpations
are always discounted" Experience shows
that there is very rarely any greater stock in
the grain trade that finds Its way into
market than is about in fair demand The only
chance to make much money by holding on is
when one has the means at hand to control
large lots, and thus in a measure be able to
control mis- own prices but this happens SO
rarely that 1t is a consideration the average
farmer has nothing to do with. Germaaatoaon
Telegraph
SHRINKAGE OF WHEAT IN THE GRANARY.-
Prof. 3. NJ. Shelton, of the Kansas Agricultu-
raj College, says: '.In the fall of 1879 | pre-
pared long sack, which was filled with ex-
actly two hundred pounds of wheat, and sunk
it deeply into bin containing $50 bushels of
winter wheat. Here the sack remained ex-
Rctly six months, when it was taken up and
again weighed, this second weighing showing
. slight fraction over 200a pounds as the
weight of the sack of grain This seemed to
show that wheat does not shrink in the bin
have just now finished repetition of this
experiment, giving almost precisely the same
results IS those detailed above. On Novem-
Der Is, 1880, similar long sack was sunk in a
bin OF grain, where it was allowed to remain
until June IA last, or exactly seven months
and day, when it was taken up and again
weighed, this second weighing showing full
2O1 pounds of grain. l am not going to offer
an explanation of this increased weight of a
halfpound in one case, and one pound in the
other. This fact becomes all the more re-
markable when we consider that our Kansas
winters are among the dryest seasons found
anywhere, These experiments do not seem to
show that wheat does not shrink from evapo-
ration in the BIN when put up perfectly dry.
louu nf
Of which have heard farmers complain, must
then, in justice, be charged up to the rats and
mice, or the leaky condition of the granary."
FACTS FOR FARMERs.-There is more money
in growing wool at even 90 cents per pound,
than in loaning money at 10 per cent. in
terest. ~
Keep sheep dry under foot. This is even
more necessary than roofing them Never let
sheep stand or lie In mud Or water
lady correspondent OF the Country Gen.
ae1nan claims that by dipping the joint or
ffeehy ends of turkey, geese or chicken wings
into a strong solution of copperas they are
made moth proof, as well as more durable
than when they are treated in the ordinary
way.
Reports from the West state that last sum-
mer's yield of timothy seed was above the
average, and the indications are that prices
will rule lower than in former years From
last years crop there is an estimated surplus
Of 100000 bags on hand, which will assist to
swell the present years supply.
Stockmen who have raised the hornless
Angus cattle on the western plains say that
they can be reared and marketed there for
from 10 to copper cent less cost than horned
beasts. Add to this the greater economy in
transportation and the high price for the
beef in the English market, and the breeder
has some pretty strong motives for prefer
ring them above the pugnacious horned cat
tlo.
Coal on FOR CATTLE LICE-Cattle in per
feet health are rarely troubled with these
pests; when they are, it is usually from ex-
posure with lousy stock, or being confined
where lousy animals have been previously
kept. The usual mercurial preparations used
for their destruction are not only destructive
TO the parasites, but often endanger the lite of
the affected animal as we'll We have long