St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
zJhe Galedonian.
{. Iohn.bury, VI. rhar.aay. Feb Ia, 1885
Farm Hints Tor Februarv.

Farm Hints for February.
Every farmer should have at hand a
little book of suggestions for the work
of the month, and when unable TO car
~ out in any month the work he has
planned, it should be, if possible, plac-
ell first in the list for the coming
him to let it lie over for a season. He
should also keep sharp lookout for
the work that is coming after, that he
may toe ready for it, and even in some
cases make beginning on it, or such
preparations for it as will save him
much time when il is to be begun. He
should keep some memoranda of the
time at which the various farm oper-
ations are performed, that be may note
the results aud be better able to judge
of the best season for doing them.
Where he has noticed loss by the
work being done too early or too late
in the season, he win he the better
to avoid the same mistake in the fu-
ture if he knows just when the work
was done. 1t Is we'll to allow the cat
tie t0 have an opportunity for fresh
air and exercise in the yards whenever
the weather is pleasant. When, how
ever, the yards are icy, or it IS stormy,
or when cold winds prevail, they are
better cared for IN the barn. If any of
the herd have the habit of fighting and
striking the weaker animals, with
their horns they should have a yard by
themselves, or be given their exercise
at another time The strain of such
contentious in the yard, or that of slip
ping upon icy places, and the blows
in the side received from quarrelsOme
companions, are not infrequent causes
of abortion, as well as of other serious
injuries.
If eggs are likely to be wanted for
early Matching they should DO taken
in almost every hour during cold
weather. degree of cold not quite
sufficient to freeze the egg or prevent
ity So that it produces only n feeble
chicken, which scarcely lives to attain
a broiling size, OF if it does live, it
grows so slowly as to be Improbable.
It is like plant from a seed that has
almost lost the power of termination,
or like the feeble shoots that some
times start up after plant has been
cut down by the frost, which are
usually so deficient in strength as not
to equal in prOductiveuess another
plant from seed put in after the frost.
AS the preparation of hotbeds will |
be in the work of next month. look |!
out for a supply of fresh manure to use
in them, and also of forest leaves if |
they can he obtained. They are val !
liable to put in the manure when it is |
placed III the bed. The best ma
nure for hotbeds is fresh from a large !
stable of horses, all gathered within
three or four days, and with little
straw. If older manure is used it will |
heat very unevenly. After shaking |
up once let it heat moderately two or
three days, then turn it on beds d ,
feet thick and allow it to heat again
before putting on the covering of earth !
for the seed-bed. Frames should be !
ready, and if the sashes need new glass
it will be good job to put them in on
some rainy day.
a little ingenuity and patience will !
enable any one who has supply of
good straw to make mattings for Gov
ering the hotbeds when IA very cold
night is threatened. 1t is much better
TO have them ut hand than To have to
press old carpets, quilts and horse
blankets into the service. A straw
mat made like the hOtbed mats is not
a bad thing to have in the bottom of
the wagon or sleigh when driving out
in cold weather. 1t is more convenient
than loose straw, and warmer for the
feet than a carpet. In a carriage
which is nicely carpeted the straw mat
may be used as an addition in very
y
weather. American Cultivator.
All animals should be fed at regular
hours. They will soon Learn to look
for their feed at these times, and will
not he restless at others without it.
The best time to- feed cows is just af-
ter milking. Food then taken will not
affect rhe flavor of the milk. In the
short days of Winter the longest time
between feeding will be from night
until morning, aud the heaviest feed
ing should therefore be the last chore
to be done at night.
There Is no surer way of spelling the
digestion of horse than TO keep him
la the stable without exercise and
feeding him all the good hay he will
eat.
Thunder Causes a Panic in Lon
don.
The nervous tension of the London
public was illustrated last Saturday
evening by u startling natural phe-
nnmenon. a storm of wind and rain
had ragged all day. and at 7:;30 p. IN. it
eliminated in "A terrific peal OF thun
der. The report startled the whole