THE farmer's calendar. 



765 



_ St for this purpose is a small round basket, holding not over one 

 r two pecks, and provided with a hook for hanging it on the 

 imbs or on the round of the ladder. Step ladders °and foldiu'r 

 ladders are much better for this purpose than those which rest 

 against the limbs of the tree, often breaking, bruising, and injui;- 

 ing them. Those on the high limbs which cannot be reached from 

 a ladder, should be picked with a "fruit picker''' attached to n 

 long pole. Tlie pole pruning shears ma}^ be made to answer the 

 purpose b}' attaching a small bag to them. The fruit shoukl be 

 lifted till tlie stem separates from the limb, and not 2)uUed off. 



Assorting and packing fruit, for market, is a matter which re- 

 ceives altogether too little attention from ordinar^^ cultivators. A 

 crop of apples assorted into three different varieties will briii»- 

 nearly twice as much money in market as the same crop without 

 assorting. A very few small or defective apples in an otherwise 

 first class crop will often spoil its sale. 



This month and next are the months for fairs. The farmer's 

 leisure days are not mau^', but he sliould make sure of some, both 

 for himself and his hands to attend the fairs. The recreation is 

 worth a great deal, and one always gets valuable hints and ideas 

 that he would not part with, and be as if he knew them not, for a 

 great deal. Every farm might send something, and it gives a 

 great pleasure to be a contributor, even if no prize be taken. 



OCTOBER WORK. 



Draining. — As fast as hands can be spared from the essential 

 labors of the farm, set them at draining. A few acres should be 

 drained every fall. There are few farms in the country on which 

 this cannot be done with profit, and where needed, no labor pa_\-3 

 half so well. 



Animals. — This is the fattening time of the year. Beeves, pigs 

 and poultry take on flesh well at any other season, but this month 

 and next, especially before the very cold weathei of December 

 comes, they fatten rapidly. All stock should be put in good or- 

 der for winter. Soft corn, nubbins, grown grain, green pumpkins, 

 and such fruits as are liable to decay, ought to be fed out to the 

 cattle to get them in good condition before cold weather comes on. 

 Beeves should have full feeds of scalded corn meal and oil-cake, on 

 corn stalks or chopped hay. Sheep should have their allowance 

 of grain increased, especially those that are fattening,^ though so 

 long as pasturage is fair, they should be kept upon it. Swine mn.< 

 have the small potatoes, boiled and mixed with meal; all then- 

 food ought to be cooked. Oil meal is excellent and economical 

 food used with other things ; so is beef, or even pork scraps Mi.x 

 finely powdered charcoal, and a little wood ashes occasiona ly with 

 the food of hogs, especially if they do not come to the soil ; tlieir 

 fattening and growth is much promoted by it. 



