The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-08

| The Woodchnck tarmer ls the name
| given by a leading specialist TO q great
mass OF farmers whose crops and other
farm arrangements are such that they are
| compelled TO rush things during the
summer, and are popularity supposed to
spend the entire winter in idleness. This
critic sees in their methods the ways of
the woodchuck, and SO names them. 1t
/, is very easy to criticise even when there
is no foundation for criticism. There is
| just a little too much Of a tendency among
other classes to crticise our ways in a
Wholesale manner. Yet no one sees the
needs OF improvement more than the
writer, and tries to preach and practice
better methods ali the time, but it is un-
necessary to hunt up matters for unjusti-
fable criticism
In very many sections Of our country
there is no longer heavy winter work like
J clearing, rail-splittins, etc, and We are
glad that this is true, but the fact that our
farmers are not slsshing through the mud,
rain and snow all winter long does not
prove that the time is unimproved. The
summers work is always hard. Crops re-
! quire more cultivation than formerly,
and, with smaller profits, the average
farmer does more than fai. days work
each summer day. Continuous labor Of
the kind he 10 engaged in for ten years,
with no rest except on the Sabbath, would
make nine men out of every ten old We
push our work when it needs pushing.
From early spring until late fall this
strain is undergone Then now about
the winter? Seven days in the week the
stock are fed, watered and otherwise
cared for. II is the season OF repairs.
Tools are overhauled and repaired. Har-
ness is mended and creased. On many
farms especial care is given to COWS and
poultry, from which q nice income is re-
ceived. Scores OF little things are done
that makes little public show, but are aids
10 future success. When the weather
permits outdoor work is done-a swamp
is drained. fences are built, or shed
added to the present buildings.
The man who does all these things,
! feeding wisely, making and saving and APP
plying all the manure possible and pre-
pairing for another seasons rush is not in
| the "woodchuck" line. Ii is true that he
has some leisure, but he has earned and
needs II, and the time need not be lost.
We must have time for reading and social
intercourse. The business man reads his
| paper in the morning and thinks he is
very busy, aud so he may be- the farmer
Is In the field from morning until night
and usually is too tired TO read word in
the evening. No winter day Is lost that
affords change from manual labor, il il
is improved as many can and do improve
II. When spring opens We want to be
ready for good work. Now is the time to
prepare for it. With everything in order.
| including a body aud mind rested from
the routine of field work, we can perform
in its season al the hard, manual labor
anyone should have TO do within the year.
Some of us are just a little tired of the
criticism of the farmers winter vacation
when the critics do not know of ali the
winters duties and the severity of the
| summers work.
Observers Notes, No. 4.
The value OF corn fodder is becoming
better understood every year. Some of
our large farmers do not think that il paws
them to cut the corn and leave the fodder.
but on small farms / am very sure that
the practice does pay well. / visited one
farmer who had large basement barn
and kept the usual number of horses end
COWS for tiled farm of 80 acres. His
horses were very fat and everything indi-
Gated thrift. In front OF the house stood
n horsepower and just within the barn
was a cutting-box. The fodder was run
through this and fell through trip into
the basement below.
Here was tight box in which the fod-
der was dampened and mixed with ground
grain. The grain ration was not heavy
one, but when fed with bulky fodder it did
more good probably than 90 per cent.
greater amount fed alone. But what
struck me most forcibly was this: THE
mows were full OF choice hay that was be-
ing held for the market, the fodder was
keeping the stock through the winter and
the hay would be converted into cash.
While not advocating the selling of hay
under all circumstances, it surely was bet
ter to feed the fodder and sell the hay than
TO let the fodder waste. as 1t is often done
and feed the hay"
The surface OF this farm was uneven
and liable to wash, and yet il was titled ia
a considerable extent. The Outlying was
prevented by deep blowing, and q wise
rotation OF crops that kept the soil full Of
plant roots. The deep blowing increased
the absorbing capacity of the soil. so much
that less water ran oil the surface. Eight
inches of loose earth can absorb twice as
| InuCH nhtCE 90 iOht AhNhCSf uhn So AZ
found that deep, blowing was a safeguard
A sod was turned for plowed crop. anC
this was followed by small grain and
grass.
This farmer was successful, and when
looked for the cause | found that it was
greatly due to saving. The crops were
carefully saved, the stock warmly housed
the manure returned to the fields, the fer
tiitY of the fields jealousy guarded, anC
there were no leaks. He had naturally
rich soil and is near a good market, two
advantages some of US do not possess, and
il does not follow that all could succeed
Just in this line. i mention this instance
as typical of O certain class OF successful
farmers. So far as is practical, We will do
well to copy his methods,
Farmers Institutes.
In all new undertakings some improve
ments in the management can be sug
gested after a fair trial, and our institutes
are probably no exception. A present
fault is that these schools are not reaching
the ones who need the most help. The
progressive, wide-awake farmers who
read and stand at the front in their occu.
patton attend. while the ones who do not
believe in hook farming" remain al
home These men should be reached
and their interest excited. They know
things that others need to know, and they