Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-03
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
Many Kinds of Spring Work
that Can BE Probably
Done in the Fall.
The Skill Of the Plowman, and the
Desirability of Reviving the
Flowing Match.
Preparing for Spring.

preparing Tor spring.
During the latter part of the fall,
agricultural writer's give farmers q
large amount of advice about making
preparations for the approaching win
ter. They direct them to put not only
their houses but their barns in order.
They recommend them to stop up all
the cracks in all the farm buildings. to
provide litter for bedding their horses,
To haul all the manure from the feeding
yards to the fields, and to obtain Il
supply of fuel and place il under cover.
All this advice is very good, but per-
haps there is no great occasion for
giving 1t year after year. Farmers
generally have sufficient forethought to
make suitable provisions for season
that is Likely to be very stormy and
cold. Those possessed of suitable
means generally have comfortable
houses and very fair shelter for their
stock. If they have cellars. they ordi-
narily store them with potatoes and
garden vegetables. They commonly
slaughter hogs. cattle, and sheep, and
cure their meat before very cold wealth
er occurs. With rare exceptions they
are pretty we'll prepared for winter
before it arrives. They are in condi-
ton To enjoy rest and take comfort at
the close of the Years labors.
If farmers are Negligent in the fall,
1t Is the matter of preparing for the
coming spring and summer. Many of
them do not appear to appreciate the
fact that in this latitude the fall is the
most favorable season for doing most
kinds of work, while the spring is the
least favorable. The weather during
September. October, and the early part
of November is generally fine. The
temperature allows men and teams to
work with comparative little fatigue,
the air is invigorating. and good food
is abundant. There are few insects TO
trouble horses. and they are in con-
dition to work steadily. The ground
In most fields is in an excellent state TO
be worked. Ii Is not full of water. as
it is likely to be in the spring. The
weather in spring Is likely to be treach-
erous. Ra rs very often interfere with
all the calculations Of farmers. In
many cases they can not work in the
fields more than three DAYS in the
week. Rains delay blowing and seed
ing, and the low temperature prevents
the moisture from cooperating. Dur
ing some springs and on farms indif-
fcrently drained it is impossible to do
really good blowing or account of the
cond ton of the soil.
The success of any wears farming
operations very largely depends on the
amount OF work that was done the pre-
vious fall If all the land intended for
field crops was well plowed the previ-
ous fall, the prospect for having the
seeding and planting done at the
proper season will be good. even if the
weather in the spring is quite unfavor-
able. If the ground is prepared in adj
vance. there will be far DAYS enough
TO allow the seed to be sown. Most
land intended for producing small
grain is, IN this latitude. plowed during
the previous fall. MANY farmers also
pillow the land intended for corn at the
same time. If the weather is favora-
bic IN the spring they replow it, and
by so doing insure better pulveriza-
ton Of the sol. If there is much rain.
however. they work the surface soil
with cultvator and plant their corn
without replowng. In many parts of
the west very good corn is raised on
ground that was plowed during the
previous fall If the land was covered
with snow during the winter. the soil
will not be very compact and the cult
vator or harrow will put it in good con-
dition for planting to corn.
There is much work aside from plow- !
inc ordinarily done in the spring that
can be done in the fall to excellent adj |
All the tolerably fine manure
about the farm and in the feeding pens
can be drawn to the fields. where it will |
be wanted. The very coarse manure
can be placed in heaps, where it will /
decompose. The ground between
and berry bushes can be
'paded up and treated to liberal sup
ply of wel-rotted dung. The aspara-
gus and pie-plant beds can aslo be put |
N good condition for spring. The
land devoted to garden purposes can be |
cleansed of rubbish and well MANFRED. |
The drip ngs Of cattle and horses i'm |
pastures can be broken up and scatter
ed over the grass. BY doing this work |
in the fall the manure will be of great
advantage to the pasturage next season.
If the drippings remain in n compact
form they will be of no value to the
grass and may be a positive injury
New fence can be erected to as good F.
advantage in the fall as in the spring. |
If the posts are well set, the frost is .
hot likely TO throw them out of posi- |
ion, and wire offers little resistance TO .
.he high winds.
Plows and Flowing.
The commencement of successful |