DEVOT'ED TO IGRICULTDRE ilND ALL ITS KINDRED A'RTS AND SCIENCES. 



NEW YEAR, 



Old Time, in his rapid, ceaseless revolutions, has 

 brought us to another year, and we must now pre- 

 pare for another fanning Ccimpaign. The intelligent 

 farmer has before him an extensive field fix- improve- 

 ment, and^-arious means to aid him in accomplishing 

 his object. During the winter, he will store his miud 

 with knowledge from, reading, conversation, and rc- 

 kloction, and commence operations in the spring, and 

 design his experiments with more zeal, energy, and 

 confidence, from fresh information, maturcr plans, 

 and more intelligent views. 



To some of our friends, wTio thought that they 

 would give us articles before now, we would saj", 

 that they will be acceptable at any time. We trust 

 that they will not disappoint us. We hope that our 

 readers, generally, who have gathered important facts 

 fcom th«ir cxpci-icnec or observation, will be liberal 

 and communicate them, that otlicrs may profit by 

 them as well as themselves. The liberal diffusion of 

 information is characterisfic of American (farmers, o'ld 

 we hope that no one will make himself an c.vceptio" 

 to this noble comi)limcnt, by withholdia? facts that 

 would be conducive to individual prosperity and tlie 

 public welfiu-e. 



The science and thehest sv^era of practice in agri- 

 culture arc formed from tb^' accumulation and arrange- 

 ment of facts; K-ind ttic most humble and retired 

 iiidividual, who cultivates the soil, or attends to rural 

 pursuits, mar contribute important itt^ns for the pro- 

 motion of improvement. 



If any of our readers would have more matter on 

 any subjects, or have any investigated and discussed 

 it\ our columns, they ■will plrase direct attention to 

 them. In the wide circle of many thousand readers, 

 there arc some w<;Il skilled in almost every depart- 

 ment that can be presented. Inciuiries may call out 

 able articles from those who otherwise might rcnnain 

 silent. And while the incjuircr gains knowledge 

 from those who kindly attcjid to his requests, he that 

 communicates is led, by this exercise of his faculties, 

 to further investigation and experiments, so that m 

 the end he will fiud it " more blessed to give than to 

 receive." 



WINTER M.ANAGEMENT OF FOWLS. 



The great art in the management of hens, in order 

 to render them profitable, is to cause them to lay in 

 winter, as it is this sea.son in which eggs are scarce 

 and high. If a person keeps a tlock of hens in order 

 to supply his family with eggs, or for the purpose of 

 selKng the eggs in market, he must manage so that 

 they will lay iai wintoi, else they will not generally 

 l>aj their expenses. For in the first case, he will be 

 under the necessity of buying eggs when they are 

 Ycrv dear, and if he produces eggs for the market, he 

 has them only when cv^cry body's hens lay, and he 

 must sell them at a low rate. 



To cause hens to lay in Avintcr, furnish them with 

 a warm, dry shelter, in a warm location, where they 

 can be lifee £mm cold winds, and enjoy a good share 

 of sunshine. The hen-house should be kept clean, 

 and all filth from remains of food should be carefully 

 removed. Tlicre should be a good supply of gravel, 

 rthich ought to be renewed occasionally, or dug over 

 so as to furnish a fresh lot often. 



Hens should have a const-ant supply of i)urc water, 

 and pure, v.-holcsorae food. They arc fond of corn, 

 wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, rye, rice, millet, 

 boiled .potatoes, and various other kinds of food. 

 Generally, the cheapest grain maybe used as their 

 jjrincipal food ; but it is better to suj^ply them with 

 several kiiirls. They are veiy fond of corn, and they 

 flourish Avell with tliis as their main food. Boiled 

 potatoes, mashed iqj, while hot, with meal of almost 

 any kind of gr;un, or with wheat bran or shorts, and 

 given warm, arc an excellent food in cold weather, 

 and greatly promotes laying. Changes in food are 

 advantageous. Ilcns p.-efcr variety, as well as non- 

 feathcrcd bipeds. 



In winter, and in summer, when confined to small 

 yards, hens should have a small supply of animal food. 

 Refuse meat or fish may be given, cooked or raw. 

 Scraps arc often obtained, for this purpose, from the 

 tallow dealers ; but this is not so acceptable to hens 

 as fresh meat or fish, which may be obtiincd at a cheap 

 rate, or gratis, from the fish market or butcher. Fresh, 

 unburnt bones, pounded or clio])pcd fine, are excellent, 

 as tliey supply both animal food and lime. 



