764: HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY 



creasing the labor of digging them. When planted in drills, they 

 are readily thrown out by the plow. Only every other row should 

 be plowed out the first time, and after these are picked up, plow 

 the intervening rows. Of course, two horses should be used, 

 walking one on each side the rows. Some simple machine for 

 this jjurpose is very much needed. 



Threshing. — The grain threshing should be done as early after 

 harvest as may be practicable, in order that advantage may be 

 taken of the market, to sell when it is likely to bring the best 

 price. Let special care be taken to guard against the many dan- 

 gerous accidents which frequently occur in threshing. Let the 

 platform for the driver be made perfectly secure, and see that the 

 feeder runs in no danger of having his hands mangled l)y the teeth 

 of the machine. The master's eye should give this work the 

 closest inspection. 



Animals. — Do not leave horses iu the field by day to be tor- 

 mented by flies and covered with bott's eggs, but put in cool 

 stables. Cows that come iu this fall should be kept on good pas- 

 turage, but not allowed to get too fat. It is a good plan to let 

 them have rock salt in the pasture ; if not, salt regularly f)nce a 

 week. 



Swine. — Feed soft corn, or that which is broken down, or old 

 corn if on hand, ground and cooked ; feed regularly, giving a few 

 nandfuls of fine charcoal as a regulator, about twice a week. A 

 good supply of grass for breeding hogs is of great value. The}' 

 should be put on pasture two or three weeks before breeding time, 

 as it increases the milk greatly. Breeders, on a good supply' of 

 grass, with some corn, will not onl}^ retain their flesh, but grow 

 continuall_7, and be easily fattened in the fall or winter, while tlie 

 pigs will be large and health}', and their growth will not be 

 checked during the winter. 



Poultry ought to have the range of stubble and grass fields, to 

 feed upon the m^'riads of insects which abound at tlijs season. 

 The more quiet kinds, Brahmas, Cochins, and Dorkings, as well as 

 turkeys, may be driven off to the fields after laying time, like a 

 flock of sheep. They will thus be carried rapidly through moulting, 

 and soon begin to lay freely. Chickens weighing three or four 

 pounds will usually sell, if sent to market alive, at higher prices 

 than they will bring fatted, killed and dressed at Thanksgiving or 

 Christmas time. If confined, feed fowls with animal fuod. They 

 require it to form their new plumage, and before the hens have 

 moulted they will not lay. 



The Orchard is now yielding its harvest, and all fruit should 

 be carefully picked and honestly packed. Apples intended for 

 cider may be shaken from the tree, but when intended for keep- 

 ing; or for market, never. All such fruit should be carefully 

 pi 3ked by hand and carefully laid, not thrown, into a basket. The 



