The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-01-26
seasonablo Thoughts for Farmers.

Seasonable Thoughts for Farmers.
1t is the first business of a farmer to
know the exact state Of his affairs, because
his property depends upon it. Too many
farmers buy their store goods on long credit
and really do not know how much they owe
until large bill is brought against them
and they are asked for a mortgage to Sc
cure the payment on long time. And so
it goes on year after year until the farm
goes into the storekeepers hands, or the
best cow is sold, or horse, or some other
loss is incurred. "Out of debt is out Of
danger" And this is the very time to
begin. Find out what you owe. Get to
know what is due to you what property
YOU have, and what it is worth. And then
buy nothing you do not want, and pay the
cash for everything you buy. Then look
ing back over what has been done in the
past, we should lay our plans for the future
and try to avoid whatever we find has been
improbable. Get rid of poor stock and
dispose of useless tools and implements,
rubbish and everything that takes up val
liable room, and keep nothing that is not
paying for itself.
There are many things that need to be
DONE Here drain to be dug there a
tree or bush to be grubbed out; fence to
be built; or some other useful work re-
ouired. These should be noted down in a
memorandum book and done in proper
order, one thing at time, and what is be-
gun should be finished before it is left.
This is perhaps the most important part of
it, for anything half done is worse than if
it had never been begun, because the labor
is thrown away upon it.
| Head work saves vast amount Of hard
work One trained mind can direct the
work of million men. And thoughtful,
skillful work pays the greatest profit. The
farm is the basis of a country's prosperity,
and the farmer feeds and clothes the world.
The better and more intelligent the farmer
is, the better he does his share of the
worlds work and we all know that the
better ones work is done, the better it is
paid for. Then as 1884 comes to US with
all its promises for good and all its chances
for disappointment, let us all strive to meet
it with every preparation made, to seize and
hold the good, and turn it to our own adj
vantage in the most effective manner, and
also prepare to ward off whatever danger
and risks it may bring upon us.
The farm animals are the farmers most
valuable tools and machines. He uses
them for profit and not merely for getting
rid of hay and straw and corn or oats, and
IL 20 tbo Than fhar
should be of the very best. No sane man
would keep an axe of which the blade was
capped, and the edge turned and blunt, and
the handle cracked nor would he use a
pillow that had lost share or had but one
handle. But yet there are farmers who
feed animals year after year that do not
pay for their keeping, or which are so badly
kept as to be made useless for profit This
should be thought over and looked to.
1t has been truly said that the greater
part of the food is used up in keeping
animals warm. Then it must be evident
that poor barns, stables, sheds, and pens in
which animals suffer from cold, must cause
great waste of food. The remedy is OBJ
vious and a hint should be sufficient
1t costs good deal to feed horse, a
COW, or an OK, through the long winter.
If there is any way by which food can be
economical so as to make it 60 further, it
is evident that a proportionate saving can
be made and there is such away, Thou
sands of farmers feed their stock upon corn
stalks, hay, or straw, thrown to them in the
stables or the yards. A large portion of
feed so used is wasted, trampled under foot
and soiled, and made into manure, At
least one-third of the food so used is often
lost, and in some cases one half of it is,
If it is cut up by fodder cutter and fed
with some meal, the whole is used, and
there is no waste Consider the advantage
of this A farmer who keeps ten cows on
the wasteful plan, can feed thirteen on
the better plan If ten cows pay him $500
in the year, he will have $3.50 to 500 for
the thirteen or fourteen fed on the same
food and he will have four loads of manure
\ in place of three. This is an important
/ gain.
Ice water may be very agreeable in July
or August, however questionable its whole
someness may be; but it is very bad for
! the stock in the winter. \ COW will drink
from six to ten gallons of water in day in
cold dry weather. To warm up so much
ice cold water in her stomach, will be a Sc
rious loss of animal heat, and will some
times cause trouble. Often the cow will
not drink enough to satisfy thirst, and she
will suffer. 1t is the same as regards
horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry Some
way should be found 70 avoid this. Well
water is the best. and the trough should be
emptied when used, and kept covered from
the snow, or turned over to protect it.
Every farmer should make use of his
eyes. Let him 90 around just to look at
things, and how much he will find that
needs attention Ten minutes thus spent
every day after the work is done up will be
worth, and will save hundreds of dollars in
year, and make all the difference between
poverty and wealth.