The Van Buren press., 1897-10-09
FARMER AND PLANTER.
PLANNING FOR WINTER.

| Time to Begin Thinking of What You are
Going to Do in the Winter Months and
| Prepare for It,
The well laid plans for the summers S
work having been for the most part
carried out, the time has arrived when
plans for the coming winters cam
paign on the farm should be thought
upon. Plans for maintaining com
Portable and thrifty condition OF the
live stock should be laid with care, for
therein lies the profit of winter feed
ing. This may involve the erection OF
additional sheds or other buildings, as
well as the repairing and better equip
ping of the old. This work should be
planned, begun and completed whlle
the stock is yet on pasture.
The fuel supply should be considered
and arrangements made Whereby there
will be at hand as needed an abund-
ance of good, dry fuel and also suita-
| bic stoves to burn it in. See that the
fues are examined, repaired where nee
essary and made safe Where coal Is
used it can usually be bought fora less
price than later on, and hauled home
over good roads
An ample and always available sup
ply of good water, both for house and
burn use, should be planned for, and
cellars should be made ready for the
reception and preservation of the win
ter's supply of fruits and vegetables.
The dwelling itself should be over
hauled, If out of repair, and made not
only comfortable, but neat and at
tractlve outside and in. The lack of
neatness is one of the most common
faults of our country homes and their
surroundings. Communities vary
greatly in this respect In some neat
less is the rule, in others the rare eX-
,eption, and in the latter localities we
Yant everyone of our readers to be
among the exceptions; then after
awhile the rule may be reversed.
The mental and moral requirements
of the family on the farm must not be
neglected Innocent amusements,
good books and papers Including if
possible frst-class magazine) should
be provided. While interesting, they
must also be clean and elevating in
tone and include those adapted to
every member of the family. There
are farmers who think they can not
afford to spend the money to secure an
abundance of high-class periodical lit
erature; but as fact they can not
afford to do otherwise. In no other
way can the apparent isolation of farm
life be SO etfectually met and overcome.
We believe our farmer boys and girls |
average up higher and better in this |
good year 1897 than ever before, and it T
Is plain to be seen that they are plan
ming to read much during the approach
ing long evenings. When we realize
that many of the adversary's traps I
for young, unway feet are baited with |
poisoned literature, and otter hidden
under garb of respectabiIity. the
plain duty of parents is to plan wisely T
for the entertainment and instruction
of the young,
Plan to have good schools by taking
an interest in them. Encourage teach
ers and pupils to do their best, and in
A general way WELD all possible ipAu-
ence on the side of education and prog
ress. Keep the young folks in school
every day that it is possible for them
TO be there. Irregular attendance is
fatal to best work. Staying out of
school may seem small matter now,
out the child may live to regret it to
is dying day. Many farmers will keep
heir boys out of school to do fall work
which by little planning might be
completed ere the term begins. There
S grave responsibility resting upon
who know how to plan wisely
md do it not.-Agricultural Econo-
mist.