Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-11-01
How to Get Ready for Winter.


A cold, uncertain summer, the early
frosts, nipping winds and premature
snow-storms all tend to show that a
long, cold whites is near at hand, and
health, comfort and pocket-book de-
mand that common sense be set to work
to protect all three. How shall it be
done? That is the question; and the
answers must be as various as the
homes and circumstances of the people
to be answered. A few general direc-
tons may be given, but the object of
this article is more to call attention to
the fact that our general welfare de-
mands attention to many, many little
things. rather than to dictate any
Well let us see. Is the underpinning
of the house close and good, insuring
that no draughts of cold air will come
up through or over the floor? If so all
right, but if not see that the evil is rene
died at once. During the winter time
the floor is the playground for the
smaller children of the household and
as cold air is alw avs heavier than warm
air person who is standing or walking
about in the room, particularly if the
ceiling is low, may feel even an OPP
pressive degree of warmth while the
child on the floor may suffer from cold
Many little one has sickened aud died
from just this cause, the fond parent
little dreaming that the temperatures
in different parts of the room were so
unlike. Many grown person has suf-
fered from cold feet seriously endanger-
ing health all the while. wondering why,
and little thinking of the real cause A
little attention to banking securely
around the dwelling will not only save
things in the cellar from suffering but
will also be a soCrce of health and com
fort to the occupant of the house. Bank
up around barns, pens and sheds, ami
mails enjoy warmth as much as men,
and few hours of well directed effort
will save them many an hour of suffer
ing, and the farmer many bushe of
feed. Don't leave loft door open, a
window out or board off under the inn
preston that it will inure the horses or
cattle to the cold The hardening"
process is always killing rs well as
costly one. Build u good comfortable
hen-house if you keep chickens and pay
Yourself for the outlay with the extra
eggs that win be produced. The man
can hardly lay claim to being "merci-
full" who lets his fowls ''rooSt' in the
trees or ON some pole in an open shed
when the thermometer is twenty below
zero, nor will the term economical APP
ply to him justly.
Wrap up. lay down, or in some way
protect the tender ornamental shrubs
and lowering plants from the severe
cold. Frost has no mercy for such
things. and few cold nights on the II
risk it, plan may prove disastrous to
many plants tenderly cared for through
the summer, and destroy the labor of
days. and the hopes of the housewife
who has so fondly looked forward to the
time when they would be "things of
beauty" BY all means don't forget to
prune, lay down and protect your
grape-vines. 1t is only sometimes that
"they will do just as well up and it is
only the man who cares for his vines
every fall that has grapes every sum
mer. There is money as well as pleas
IRE in good grape crop, and laying
down is but n short task If the vlne-
yard is large very much of the work
can be done with a pillow and team.
Finally, gather up your farm tools, ma
chinery, etc, and put them under cover
if you have not already done so. True,
these wont eat anything if left ont nor
will they suffer from cold, but weather
will rust. rot, and otherwise eat them.
Many farmer has lost two days during
harvest time in fixing his machines
when if he had put them away just as
soon as he was done with them the year
before, there would have been no warp
ing and consequent breaking of bolts,
rods and bars in the time of need. A