Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-15
AGislCULTI RAJ.
Eebruary OH the Farm.

u
table, but those who do not have good
shelter, and are not acquainted with the
business, lose, rather than make money
| by having lambs come early. Lambs
that come early need close attention, and
to do well must have good, dry, warm
quarters, and yet extensive enough to
give them q good chance to exercise and
to keep the air as pure as possible. An
carly lamb, to secure the largest profit
possible, must be kept in thriving con-
dition ; to secure this the mother must
| be kept healthy and well fed, that the
lamb may have plenty of milk. The lambs
should have an apartment where they can
60 in and out by themselves and eat meal
whenever they are hungry. February is
the most difficult month to carry early
lambs through, as they require constant
watchfulness, especially during the first
few days after they are dropped, and dur
ing very cold weather until they are two
or three weeks old.
The Poultry Yard-Tbere is no stock
on the farm that will pay better than
poultry when we'll taken care of. Febru-
ary is month which is so changeable,
that to keep the fowl comfortable requires
the constant attention Of some one. When
the weather is pleasant the laying hens
should be permitted to go out in the
warmest part of the day, but if the
ground be covered with snow, long paths
should be dug or ploughcd out, and when
the snow is melted so rs to leave the
, ground bare the hens may be permitted
to run in them. Laying hens should
never be permitted to stand on the snow
or in pools of water, but they should be
kept on ground as dry as possible.
Hens that are properly kept will each
lay four or five eggs in a week during this
month +; but the slightest neglect will
stop them, and when once they cease to
lay i'll cold weather it requires several
weeks Of the best of care to get them to
laying again. 1t is important at this sea-
son OF the year to furnish laying hens
with plenty of gravel, pounded bones
and ground oyster shells also, several
kinds OF good sweet grain, daily ration
of fresh meat and some cabbage leaves,
OF chopped hay rnoistened i'll warm water,
never forgetting to keep them constantly
supplied with pure water.
/ Wagons and Farm Tools-This is a
good month to look over our wagons, have
them thoroughly repaired and well paint
cd, 50 that they may be ready for use
when spring opens. All farm imple-
ments should be carefully examined, and
such rs are worth repairing should be
put in good order. The farmer should
not wait until the hurrying season comes
to do this work, for 10y doing it in his
leisure winter hours he is able to start
right i'll the spring while his less
| thoughtful neighbors are off to the wheel
wright's or blacksmith's to get some i'm
plement repaired, he is in the field doing
his work. getting everything done at the
best season The difference between a
little foresight and neglect in this mat
ter is more than at first appears. If the
implement must be carried to the wheel
wright or blacksmith to be repaired, when
carried in the winter it can be carried and
returned ut the farmers convenience, and
the wheelwright or blacksmith being COM
poratively at leisure can make the repairs
with more care and do it much more thor
ough but ii it be carried in the busy
season the farmer must make a special
trip, perhaps several miles to the repair
shop, only to find the wheelright or black
smith too busy to attend to the repairs
for several days, and when done it is done
go hastily that in all probability it will
break down again perhaps when it is the
most important to have it, The thought
plements are in good repair before spring
opens even then, there will be enough
unforeseen breaks requiring repairs before
summer is over
Plans for the coming season-Durin9
the leisnre hours Of winter the farmer
should carefully consider what crops il
will be best to grow next season, and not
leave this important work to be done after
the busy season opens, and he is SO press
.. ed with work that he cannot give the sub
iect that serious thought which it is neces-
eary to come to correct conclusions. Ii
, he decides in the winter what particular
crops are to he grown, he has time to get
the right kind Of seeds, and also to test
them TO ascertain their terminating quail
dies. When it is decided to set trees OF
; shrubs, there will be time to engage then
before all Of the best ones are sold.
1t is true. sometimes the farmer is com
, PEELED to make his crops coufcrm to the
peculiarly of the season, SO that he may
decide to plant one crop, and when spring
comes have to plant some other but ever
then he may gain by laying out his plan
at his leisure for he can decide what Ii
best t. plant if the spring is early anC
warm, and also whnt to plant if it is lat
and cold.
Care Of the Stock TO feed stock vel
and to the best advantage requires skill
t and Judgment, as well as n knowledge o
G the pecuiaritos OF each animal. This i
Q Work that, as rule, should be closel.
i looked after by the farmer himself, be
t causa hired help, if ever so coed, is liabl
! to be changed 30 often that there is NJ
+ chance 10 learn the particular character
K i,tics cf each animal 20 well as the far
= mer ca4 himself, who continues year afte
l. year to feed his stock, besides stock @
" aninlals 10 better when they are Away
= iel by one man they each become ac
custumod to hit voice, and know just whs
=, to esp ct OF him. and also Just what h
/ sxpoots Of them.
Raise more Heifer Calves.
,Fton the New Enl'and Farner.l
s 4 good many good cows will brlu
i calves this month, and as there is NOR
n leisure nj this season than in warm weatt
ot er ioc taking caro- NJ Young stock, VIII
! not try to raise tho bt st heifers that M
t dropped now, and get them well starte
before II will be time to turn them out
'e grass? We have long been convince
that too many good heller calves are ar
nually sold for veal, particularly on farm
where The milk is chiefly used for butte
), making. Many farmers who spend goo
- deal of time riding over the country !
search of COWS for sale, would fad
n ,alioF thay boI many fin