MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 669 



porlant idea of constantly replenishing the soil with the plant ele- 

 ments which crops have extracted from it. The coarse products 

 are consumed on the farm, and more food for stock, or special fer- 

 tilizers, are bought to replace the fertility carried awa}' in the 

 animals and cereals that are sold. We said there are few farmers 

 of this class, few that have matured and practice a system of farm- 

 ing by which the maximum of products may be produced from the 

 soil, and 3'et maintain it as fertile and productive for a century. 



But we have not 3'et arrived to the condition where American 

 farmers will work for the future. The American farmer is not 

 permanent enough in his location; the abundance of land in pro- 

 portion to the population, the fertility of tlie soil, the rai)id ad- 

 vance in prices, stimulate the restless element in his nature, and ren- 

 der him too migratory to become a scientific agriculturist. It 

 needs nn ordinary lifetime to develop, with legitimate means, sci- 

 entific agriculture on American farms; and not uh.'l the young 

 farmer shall come to look upon his domain ns his future home cat 

 we hope for this attainment. 



We commend the above view of three systems of farming to our 

 readers. The latter will be found full}- illustrated in previous 

 pages of this volume. 



' Winter Work on the Farm. — Everybody knows what work to 

 do on the farm during the summer. The difiTerent crops in their 

 order require the farmer's attention, and in this way work pro- 

 vides itself; but in the winter there seems to be little to be done, 

 but tlireshing grain and cutting wood. But to a farmer who is 

 desirous of obtaining the greatest income there will ever be plenty 

 to do in winter. 



Threshing especially, in the ^Middle and Eastern States, is 

 generally done during the winter season. It should be so arranged 

 that it can be done on stormy days, and fair days devoted to out 

 door work, unless the rise or fall in prices of the grain should 

 render it expedient to do otherwise. 



To those farmers who have had a crop of flax, and pulled it, the 

 cold dry dnys of the season Avill be the proper ones to work it 

 out. During a cold dry day the " shives" separate more readily 

 from the lint than at other times. A farmer who has little to do 

 will fiind working out a crop of flax straw a profitable job, espe- 

 cially at the present high prices. Cutting a stock of firewood sutii- 

 cient for at least a year to come should now be attended to. 

 Secure a good supply of wood, and work it up for the stove, 

 either by hand or horse povor, and pile it up in a drj' place. 

 Any one who has tried both plans ol' getting firewood, namely, 

 getting enough prepared in winter for a year, or cutting a few 

 sticks every day through the summer, and that often green, will 

 not need much argument on this subject. 



Material for fencing, if anj' be needed, should be procured and 

 prepared for use Posts should be dressed and holed, raUs split, 



