Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-01-19
"GaTdGn,Farn and Field.
Winter Farming.
By JOHN ]. GILL.

after providing for the wants of his
family, is mainly directed to tax
ing care Of his stock and hauling
his surplus to market.
STOCK.
For stock there should be provid-
edat least sheds facing the south and
sufficiently tight IN the north, east
and west to keep off wind from those
quarters and over head to protect
cattle from both rain and snow. Il
would undoubtedly be better to close
up the south side also, but that is
not always absolutely necessary.
The sheds should be divided into
stalls with managers in which the
cattle may be kept by halters o
suitable bars or gates. In addi-
ton to sheltering stock from the
weather these sheds assist in the
accumulation of manure, without
which, except in recently opened
lands there cam be no marked agricul-
tural success. Many farmers prefer
to feed roughness on the ground and
grain in movable troughs. In this
way it must be acknowledged the
anu that falls from the cattle
and the roughness uneaten by them
help to enrich the part of the farm
on which they are fed. Another ad-
vantage thereby secured is that
when their surroundings become
muddy the position of these troughs
may be changed. This may answer
a good purpose when cattle are fed
where manure is most needed but
such is seldom the case. For the
most part cattle r thus fed in
woodland and other pastures where
sodinterferes with the highest bene-
fetal effect of manure. 1t is a bet
ter system of feeding and conserves
manure to erect such sheds as have
been described and haul both grain
and roughness to them. A great
deal may be done to keep their
surroundings clear of mud by judi
cious selection of sites and free use
of bedding. The manure made can
be thrown into heaps, undergo fer
mentation and be hauled during the
winter and spring to where it is
needed and thus be made to con-
duce to the highest possible results.
Usually it will be best to apply it to
corn and potatoes but not unfre-
quently it is kept for wheat.
ROADS.
The transportation of farm sur
plus to market naturally brings up
the question of roads. How seldom
does the farmer regard bad roads as
the heaviest and most unnecessary
expense he has To encounter? 1t
is during the freezing and thawing
of winter and spring that bad roads
are most annoying; it is then they
become the greatest of drawbacks.
During summer and fall the usual
farm wagon and team will transport
from 40 to so bushels of grain to
market. In winter and spring hall
that quantity is a heavier load. AS
good roads economic labor and
provide for the rapid delivery of
what is in demand, they tend also
to enhance the value of farms hav-
ing easy access to them. In view
of all this one would expect that far
mers cursed with bad roads would
demand their improvement. No other
class of society would be so supine
as to rest under the disadvantage
that bad roads bring to farmers.
Nevertheless, heretofore little effort
has been made in this direction. 1t
is to be hoped that the present Leg
islature will give attention to this
iml ortant matter and authorize
townships to improve them.
THE GARDEN.
As distinguished from the truck
patch the vegetable garden ought to
be planned from the start for the
cultivation of a succession of crops.
Less than half the benefit capable
of being derived from a garden
is obtained where this is neglected.
FIRST CROPS.
Spinach, lettuce, peas, radishes,
onions, with early potatoes, corn,
cabbage, beets and turnips consti-
tute an excellent first crop.
SECOND CROPS.
For second crop there may be
planted beans, beets, radishes, car
rots, parsnips, satisfy, leeks, herbs,
cymblings, tomatoes, okra, celery,
cucumbers, melons and squashes,
late potatoes, corr and cabbage.
PERMANENT BEDS.
There should be permanent beds
of asparagus, pie plant, winter
onions, horse radish, &C., in every
garden.
SMALL FRUITS.
The garden ought, also, to en-