The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-14
7VO[R[NWF 7 Tl{][E 1W]W6N] II III :


up land could have been continued a
the time. II this respect Southern far
n4ers have a great advantage over their
Northern and Western brethren. There
the land is frozen hard and covered with
snow, and teams are standing idle in the
stables. Whilst 1t is advisable to utilize
all the opportunities given for eXpedltlng
WORK IL the spring. by ploWing and clean
ing up land intended to be cropped, it
should be borne III mind that the labor
o. the farm is never TO be relied on after
the middle of this month, and rarely
takes again to steady work until the mid
ole Of January This means that the care
Of the live stock will largely devolve on
the owner himself for this period. and
i bohooves niIn to see that he has abun
dant supplies of feed of all kinds placed
as conveniently as possible for feeding be
fore the hands quit work. Also that
the wood pile be replcnished. This work
had better take precedence of all other
until completed.
We refer our readers to what we asid
ir our last months issre as to cleaning
up land Do what is done thoroughly,
and make a clean sweep of all stumps,
stones, hriers and trash. They only him
der work III the future, and harbor in
sects and disease spores.
See that fields to be cropped are en-
closed with good straight fences, with
gates hung al convenient points. These
will soon save more than their cost by
protecting the crops from depreciation and
in the saving of time and labor. Where
cld fences are in need of repairs do not
perpetuate the old crooked lines so COM
mon most farms, nor the old worn
fences. Pull down the crooked places
and run the fence straight from point to
point. Where even half the rails are
sound a good. straight fence may lie made
out Of the old worn one by setting posts
the length of the rails apart and using
four rails for each panel: these four rails
20 be fastened 20 the posts by length Of
plain fence wire. running from the bottom
to the top Of the post and stapled to>thc
post. so as to hold the rails at equal
distance apart. This makes a very good
durable fence at little cost and saves
rails.
Haul out manure and top dress wheat.
oats and grass land whenever the land
is cry enough to haul on. The manure
will be doing much more good on the
y
it is not dry enough to haul on the land
see that the manure from the stables
and pens is compactly packed in the yard
where it Will not receive the water from
the roofs of the buildings and where the
teachings viii not escape away from the
heaps. BY mixing the manure from the
different animals as made there will be
no overheatng in the pile, and it will
be kept in good condition until the wealth
er permits of its being hauled out.
Draining and ditctiGg required in the
different fields should be attended to.
Good crops can never be produced on land
that is filled with stagnant water. Be
careful to allow plenty Of fall in the
d1ains and a clear outlet for the water.
Ii is no use putting down drains unless
they arc so laid as TO carry oI the water
from the subsoil 1t is this water which
causes the damage to the crop aud rot
that which falls on the surface. Lay
the drains in the directin Of the fall of
the land, not across it. Lad this Was.
they will draw water from both sides,
Whilst if laid across they Will only draw
from the upper side
Fill the ice house at the first oppor-
tunity. if you miss this you may not
nave another in the South. Use plenty
OF Sadust as packing around the sides OF
,he house. IN the November issue will
be found information as to building an ice
house
It will pay to give the question OF the
rations 10 be fed to the stock careful con-
s.Geraton. Corn is too valuable this year
to be fei in the usual careless Wasteful
manner Better results can be had by
a mixture of feeds ana at less cost, Corn
is in itself an unbalanced feed. 1t is
rich in The carbo hydrates which go
TO make fat and heat but wanting in
protein. which makes muscle, flesh and
growth, and which is an invaluable requl-
site in the production of milk and butter.
Better sell some OF the corn and with
part Of the money buy some cotton seed
neal. Two pounds of cotton seed meal
per lay may profit ably take the place of
four Or five pounds c. corn in feeding
cattle. In tho same way good sweet cat
and wheat straw may be used in the place
Of OF the nay. A variety of food
will produce better results than the con
staat feeding Of corn and corn fodder
alore. even though some of the food
substituted is not III itself richer III the
requirements Of feed ration.
The Dolphin Sails for Porto Rico.