THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



89 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



The first month of the year, and the last of the 

 winter quarter, is generally stormy and cold, dry 

 frosts and snows, and not so changeable as the 

 two preceding months in rains and alternate tem- 

 peratures. During fresh weather plough grass 

 leys to be sown with Lent grain crops, and last 

 year's stubble grounds to be fallowed for root crops; 

 all lands are the better for being early ploughed, 

 heavy soils are pulverized by the vicissitudes 

 of atmospheric action, and hght lands acquire a 

 consolidation from lying in a certain condition. 

 In the case of light lands this firmness has been 

 found to be of very great importance. 



During frosty and stormy weather carry dung 

 from the cattle yards to the heaps in the fields that 

 are to be planted with green crops. Form the 

 heaps with sloping ends, that the carts may pass 

 over them and deposit the load, when the strawy 

 contents are evenly spread over the space : the 

 treading prevents fermentation until the heap is 

 turned over for use. Carry stones to drains for 

 walling, and earths to the compost heap and to the 

 liquid manure pit, where earths are used for the 

 purpose of absorption. Deliver grains to the mer- 

 chant ; carry fuels, and collect all kinds of manures. 



In fresh weather cut hedges, underwoods, and 

 copses ; plant young trees ; dig drains in the half- 

 depth, to be afterwards deepened and finished in 

 summer ; clear water-courses ; clean the sides of 

 roads, and carry the earths to the compost heap ; 

 sow wheat on fallows omitted in autumn, and on 

 strong lands after turnips and other roots. 



Remove Swedish turnips from the field, cut away 

 roots and tops, and place the bulbs in longitudinal 

 heaps at the homestead, six feet wide at the bottom 

 four feet in centre height, with the sides sloping, 

 and thatched with straw. Choose a cool situation ; 

 lay in store, in provision against a lasting storm, a 

 quantity of common turnips sufficient for a month's 

 consumption : keeping beyond that time produces a 

 mouldy distaste. 



In every kind of weather never omit to collect 

 manure : reckon a compost heap a most indispen- 

 sible requisite on any farm, to which refuse materials 

 of every kind are to be carried, and in sheds, under 

 cover, prepare the artificial manures for the drop- 

 drill. Float water-meadows, and lay dry occa- 

 sionally. 



Thrash frequently, that the animals may get 

 fresh straw for constant use, for provender in the 

 yards, and for being cut into chaff. Move often 

 the standings of the cribs of straw in the yards, 

 that the dung underneath may become of an uni- 

 form quality, and litter often the whole area of the 



yards thinly and evenly. Bestow the most minute 

 attention on every detail of practice. 



Give turnips and other roots to the fattening and 

 store cattle in the yards by break of day, in such 

 quantities as are consumed by night, in order to 

 prevent accidents by choking when darkness pre- 

 vents the observation. Wooden cribs with latticed 

 bottoms are best for holding turnips, as the water 

 and muddy filth find a ready escape down- 

 wards. A few young pigs are very useful to run 

 loose in the yards, to pick up the shells and scraps 

 of turnips that fall from the cattle. 



Attend most carefully to the state of the milch 

 cows, which will now begin to drop calf. The 

 secretion of milk must be promoted by the use of 

 juicy food, and for this purpose the cows must 

 have at least one feed daily of roots mixed with 

 chaff, and prepared by steaming, and given about 

 mid-day. Suckle all calves, either for weaning or 

 for veal. No substance yet found is better than 

 nature's milk from the mother. Feed the calves 

 thrice a-day. 



The sheep in the fields will require very regular 

 attention in feeding and tending. Give the turnips 

 in a fresh state daily, pulled from the fields if possi- 

 ble. Early ewes will begin to drop lambs, and 

 must have ample feeding with juicy food, and suffi- 

 cient shelter in covered sheds. 



Feed bacon hogs twice a-day with steamed roots, 

 as potatoes mixed with meal and bran. The food 

 of brood sows may be thinner and more washy. 

 Store-pigs may have the roots in a raw state, and 

 one feed of cooked food daily. Bacon hogs must 

 be finished for the market by a month's feeding 

 with hard corn, as oats and beans. This is neces- 

 sary in order to produce firmness and whiteness to 

 the flesh. 



The poultry must not be neglected. Feed with 

 light grains, and with steamed potatoes mixed with 

 meal and placed in troughs under a shelter-shed. 

 Poultry-houses should be heated underneath by 

 means of pipes containing hot-water from the 

 cooking boiler. By this means the hatching of 

 chickens may go on during winter. 



The foremost fattening bullocks and the early 

 bacon hogs will come in for sale during this month, 

 and will command a ready market at this early 

 season, for such articles being scarce a better price 

 is obtained. This circumstance should stimulate 

 the farmer to have things in advance as much as 

 possible: 



Work horses are much benefited by one feed 

 daily of steamed potatoes or other roots given in 

 ' the evening, when they return from work. 



CALENDAR OF GARDENING. 



Kitchen Garden. 

 Protection, not forcing, can be done during 

 the very uncertain weather of this period of 



the year, and frames and lights must be 

 used to produce early salads, lettuces, and ra- 

 dishes. The time admits suggestions, but hardly 



