News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-01-21
FARM AND GARDEN.
January on the Farm, and What TO Do.
[From the American Agriculturist.l

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with snow. As a rule, its benefcent
effects are best seen when it lies for
months upon the ground. "The poor
mans manure" it has been called, for
it holds the ammonia of the atmosphere,
and the exhalations of the ground,
until it melts, when it imparts them to
the soil. Besides, it protects the grass
and grain, preventing the heaving action
of the frost, the washing away of the
fine soils by many rains or thaws, and
the blowing away of the same by the
prevalent high winds. When the snow
is temporarily gone, and this is not sell
dom in some sections, the frost is some
times entirely out of the ground, and
plowlng may be done with profit it
there is no more important work to do.
Every furrow turned, is just so much
gained with spring work, which will be
sure to press. On level ground, not
subject to washing, manure may profit
ably be hauled out upon land to be
plowed in spring, and either spread, or
left in large or small heaps, according
to whether it is well rotted or not
Laid up in large heaps, fermentation
will recommenCe very soon, and by
April it will have become fine, and easy
to spread evenly. This, of course, in
wolves double csrting. but if the second
carting is to be done by the manure
spreader, and the field is considerable
way from the stables, labor is greatly
facilitated. Fine manure, spread thinly
and evenly upon moving and pasture
lands, even upon the snow, will have
an excellent effect. Coarse manure is
best when thoroughly composted, with
either peat or swamp muck, or even
with soil, as it becomes almost entirely
homogeneous by the first of May.
LIVE Stock NOTES. January is q
critical month with all kinds of live
| stock They should be kept comfort
able and gaining. If they begin to
fall off in condition, they viii be almost
sure to lose rapidly, and will require
more food and better care to keep them
up, than if well housed, and continually
well fed. Be systematic and regular,
! then they will not stand and worry for
food or water, and will take time to
feed, to ruminate, and to rest. Look
after sheds and stables, to keep them
clean and warm. Water ought not to
freeze in COW or horse stables, on the
coolest nights, and at the same time the
ventilation should be such, that the air
is always sweet. Pigs suffer greatly
with the cold, and should have dry,
welI-littered nests always. Litter them
with straw or swamp hay, enough so
that they can cover themselves out of
sight in 1t. Sheep should have dry
sheds; they bear great deal of cold,
but should not have wet or dirty straw
to lie in. Where much straw is to be
thrown into their sheds, provide few
movable platforms, like old barn doors,
for them to stand upon They will be
q great comfort to them, and they are
easily turned over when fresh straw is
to be thrown in, or they get dirty.
Fowls will lay if they have warm
houses, are well fed, and have q chance
to exercise. If debarred from these,
they must have sheltered runs and bare
but not allowed to get too fat if they
are to begin laying early. Too much
corn is always bad, except for fattening
poultry, as it produces internal fat,
stops laying and makes the fowls lazy.
No exercise, no eggs.
ORCHARD, NURSERY AND FRUIT GAR
DEN.-In northern localities, the work
for the winter months is much the same
in each. Caring for the stock one has,
and making preparationg that will
facilitate doing spring work, when the
season shall open, keep one occupied.
Stray, furnishing cattle, will soon ruin
young orchard; have the fences and
gates in good order.
Make surface drains to carry off the
water of sudden thaws.
Damage to young trees by rabbits is
often very serious. To trap or shoot,
and eat them, will turn nuisance into
luxury, and is much better than to poi
son them with strychnine-- SInearin9
the trees with blood, or bloody meat,
will keep them off. Some place few
shocks of unhusked corn in the orchard,
thinking if they have corn to eat, they
will not modest the trees.
Mice work under cover, hence the adj
vice to tread down the snow around the
trunks of young trees, after each fall. j
If gratis have not been cut, do it at
once in mild weather, and pack in saw
dust in cool cellar, carefully labelling
them.
Nurserymen will provide packing ma
terials, and make ready for the spring
trade; root-grafting will be done this
month /
Manuring the orchard wherever there
Is lack of vigor, will pay. Give a
good top-dressing, not near the trees
only, but over the whole surface.
Young trees may be pruned to form
well-shaped heads, covering the larger
wounds with shellac varnish or paint.
Those intending to purchase trees and
other nursery stock, should make their
selections, and order the trees, ETC.,
early. In establishing an orchard for
marketing the fruit, plant but few va
rleties, and only such as are known to
succeed well in the locality If near a
city, early pears will pay better than
winter kinds.
KITCHEN AND MARKET GARDEN
The farmers table should not only
have an abundance of vegetables, but
these should be the best of their kinds.
The farmers wife can do much in select
ing the seeds to be ordered, and it ia
none too early to begin as soon as the
seed catalogues are ready, which is
usually next month. Send to one or more
seed houses of good reputation for their
catalogues, study them carefully and
order early, selecting well tested va
rletles. If 'noveltiesn are ordered.
let it be by way of trial, bnt not for the
main crop.
If roots stored in trenches did not
have sufficient protection, add more lit
ter, and more loose earth.
Manure is the key that opens the door
to success in the market garden, and is :
equally SO in the farm and kitchen gar !
den. In these winter months the ma !
nure heap -shopllaa-7ggrow. In villages !
ana cities, stable manure car often be :
bought very low, and the teams may be
sfottably employed in hauling it. !
stable manure, slaughter house refuse,
hight soil, muck, lime, soda, ETC., all
help to make up a rich compost.
Those who winter cabbages and other :
plants in cold frames, must keep them
dormant. If the temperature rises to /
thirty degrees lift the sashes. When
he plants are frozen, snow may be left !:
lpon the sashes; but if they are not !
frozen, the snow should be cleared off. |
Overhaul the implements, and have :
Ill in working order !
Provide boxes for starting seeds in I
he kitchen windows, and flats for use 1
n hot-beds. Collect bean poles and
Make ready labels and a
takes for marking crops in the open a
ground. Make markers of different .
widths, procure good garden line and I
eel, and provide whatever else will be
leeded when work begins in spring
CreddifOrd's Retreat. /