FARM CALENDAR 



By 0. D. CENTER, Superintendent of Illinois State Farmers' Institute, Springfield, 111. 



[Editor's Note: The changing seasons and the activities dependent 

 upon them constitute a large factor in determining the nature-study 

 course. This farm calendar will be suggestive to all readers and particu- 

 larly to those in the rural schools as indicative of the timeliness of 

 agricultural topics throughout the year.] 



JANUARY 1-15 



Although there is always a tendency to keep to the house 

 during cold weather, much can be done of value to the coming 

 season's work and much that will mean dollars later on, even at 

 this season of the year. 



It is well to keep in mind that the pigs, cattle, horses and 

 sheep all appreciate a good, deep, dry, soft bed of straw. Keep 

 them well supplied. The stable should be carefully cleaned each 

 day and the accumulated manure put directly upon the fields 

 rather than piled up alongside of the stable. Meadows, pas- 

 tures, stubble fields and corn fields will all be the better off for 

 a dressing of manure. When the manure is hauled directly to the 

 field, the plant food contained therein is leached directly into 

 the soil rather than fermented and wasted. 



If the season's supply of meat has not yet been provided, 

 the butchering should not longer be delayed. 



JANUARY 15-31 



Provide litter generously for the poultry as well as for all 

 other stock. If the hens are kept busy scratching rather than 

 sitting on the roost and accumulating fat, they will prove of 

 greater service. Corn fed in large quantities to the hens is not 

 conducive to heavy egg production. Wheat and oats or dry 

 bran mash mixed with cracked soy beans will be appreciated 

 by the fowls and heavier egg production be the result. 



Provide warmed drinking water for all the stock. Do not 

 force the cattle, horses, sheep, hogs or poultry to drink water 

 colder than you would wish to drink yourself. 



Provide plenty of forage for the animals in a sheltered 

 place. It is as cruel to force your stock to go to the stalk field 

 and pick their living as it would be to force your children to se- 

 cure their victuals in a comparable way. 



Do not longer put off providing some sort of a seed tester, 

 since the testing of your seed grain ought to begin very soon. 



