332 Calendar of Forming Opcratiojis. 



as well on sparred boards over a V pit, whence the fumes of their 

 droppings continually rise, as they would kept equally dry without 

 exposui'e to the ammoniacal effluvia, which makes your head ache as 

 you walk through to inspect them. Witness the health and com- 

 plexion of grooms. To scatter gypsum on the boards avails little, 

 as is found at Prince Albert's Model Farm. Have sink-traps on all 

 your drains. Once or twice a week dash down your stable floor 

 with water : the sweetness of their abode your live stock will soon 

 show by their improved condition and sleek coats. Ewes are be- 

 ginning to lamb. Have a dry straw-yard ready with plenty of 

 cabbages or mangold wurtzel in store. It answers well to dig up 

 annually the site of your lambing-yard, and take off it a crop of 

 potatoes for the house. Have rock salt always about in troughs for 

 the sheep ; in the manger of your cows and horses. Salt, with a 

 few handfuls, your pig's food ; it contributes to its general health, 

 and is preventive of skin disease. Salt on their roots will save cows 

 from being " hoven." Should a cow be hoven, the besti'emedy is to 

 dose her with 2 drachms of powdered chloride of lime dissolved in 

 2 quarts of water : this precipitates the gas and allows her stomach 

 to open — the trochar gives immediate relief, but she will fill again 

 unless dosed — the knife is ever to be condemned, as the contents of 

 the stomach bursting out after it are apt to get between the stomach 

 and the skin, aiid produce disease or mortification. Curry tied up 

 beasts ; it will well repay the labour. Take advantage of frost to 

 haul out manure on the land ; the hardness of the surface saves the 

 horses, while it prevents the land being cut up. Form compost 

 heaps — old hedge banks, pond mud, road scrapings, ditch cleanings, 

 any carrion available, cart together, and add a bushel of lime or salt 

 to each cubic j^ard. Fetch home artificial manures. All corn 

 stubbles and clover lea not ploughed (as they should have been) get 

 finished off at once. On dry s'jils sow vetches, peas, oats, barlc}'. 

 You will have heavier crops, and less 'seed will suffice for the sowing. 

 Sow salt over wheat, six bushels the acre : on a moist morning it 

 will destroy the worms and slugs, while it tends to shorten and 

 brighten the straw, increasing the yield of corn. On clay lands it is 

 said to render the soil too moist and gives an tmhealthy look to the 

 young plant. On light soils it answers admirably. Clear water 

 courses and mouths of drains. Cut away underwood and briars, 

 Eemove superfluous fences, mix bones and ashes, occasionally soak- 

 ing the heap with liqiiid manure. Horse labour must be confined 

 to road work — the carting of tiles, stones, lime, grain, artificial 

 manures — unless diiring frost, when manure may be hauled on 

 the land. Plough up grass lands. Tlirash : frost improves the 

 sample. Clear the pastures of stock which would otherwise poach 

 them. Evaporation has now nearly ceased, so that spread manures 

 do not suffer as much as many suppose. Keep water flowing on 

 catch-meadows till a scum appears on the grass. Green spots mark 

 the springs on wet land. Pear calves. Get subsoiling done in 

 fallows and pastures, but do not flatter yourself that it will do away 



