286 



Stables. — The Farmer's Song. 



Vol. VI. 



son ; if repeated after the potatoe is formed, 

 it will cause younsf shoots to springs up, which 

 retards the g^rowtfi of the potatoe and dimin- 

 ishes its size. If weeds spring up at any 

 time, they should be kept down by the hand 

 or hoe, which can be done without disturbing 

 the growing stalk. 



" My manner of hne'in^ or hilling, is not 

 to haul in the earth from the spaces between 

 the hills or rows, but to bring on fresh earth 

 Bufficient to raise the hill around the plant 

 1^ or 2 inches. In a wet season the lesser 

 quantity will not be sufficient; in a dry one, 

 the larger quantity will not be found too 

 much. The substance for this purpose may 

 consist of the scrapings of ditches or filthy 

 streets, the earth from a barn-yard that re- 

 quires levelling; where convenient, it may 

 be taken from swamps, marshes, the beds and 

 banks of rivers, or small sluggish streams at 

 low water. If planted on a clay soil, fresh 

 loam taken at any depth from the surface, 

 even if it partakes largely of fine sand, will 

 be found an excellent top-dressing. If plant- 

 ed on a loamy soil, the earth taken from clay 

 pits, clay or slaty soil, will answer a valuable 

 purpose. In fact, there are but few farms in 

 the country but what may be furnished with 

 some suitable substance for top-dressing if 

 sought for. The hoeing and hilling may be 

 performed with facility by the aid of a horse 

 and cart, the horse travelling in the centre 

 of a space between the drills, the cart-wheels 

 occupying the two adjoining ones, thereby 

 avoiding any disturbance or injury to the 

 growing plants. The time for collecting the 

 top-dressing may be regulated by the farm- 

 er's own convenience; the earlier the better. 

 Deposited in large piles in or near the potatoe 

 field, is the most suitable place for distribu- 

 tion." 



Stables* 



Nothing conduces more to the health of a 

 horse than a good and wholesome stable. It 

 should be built upon a high, airy, and firm 

 situation, that the horse, in bad weather, may 

 come in and go out clean. No animal de- 

 lights more in cleanliness than the horse, or 

 to whom bad smells are more disagreeable 

 and pernicious. Great attention should be 

 paid to the removal of all offensive and putrid 

 matter, to prevent the farcy and other trou- 

 blesome and distressing diseases, which fre- 

 quently proceed from such neglect. A log 

 stable is preferable to any other, on account 

 of its admitting a free circulation of air in 

 summer; and by the use of slabs or straw in 

 winter, can be made warm and comfortable. 

 Opposite to each stall there should be a lat- 

 tice or window, with a shutter; by which 

 means you can, at pleasure, either welcome 

 the cheering breeze, or bar out the threaten- 



ing storm. The rack should be smooth, high, 

 and firmly fastened to the wall, which will 

 prevent a horse injuring his eyes, skinning 

 his face, and doing himself other injury when 

 feeding. The upright pieces in a rack should 

 be four, or four and a half inches apart, to 

 prevent long food from being unnecessarily 

 wasted. The i)alter should never be tied to 

 the rack, (several fine horses having been 

 ruined by such carelessness,) but should be 

 fastened to a ring in the manger, and confined 

 by a log or smooth piece of wood, weigh- 

 ing about a pound. With a halter of this de- 

 scription, there is no danger of a horse's hang- 

 ing, alurniing, or injuring himself. A stall 

 should be four and a half or five feet wide, 

 wiiich will allow him to lie down with com- 

 fort. The stable floor should be planked, to 

 make the coat of hair show to advantage, but 

 a dirt floor is far preferable, when a horse is 

 wanted for service; there is a moisture re- 

 ceived by the hoof from the earth, which is 

 absolutely necessary to make it tough and 

 serviceable. Either kind of stable floors should 

 be a little raised towards the manger, to turn 

 the urine from the stall, which produces an 

 unpleasant smell, and (when permitted to 

 stand a length of time) very unwholesome 

 vapours. When the size of the stable is cal- 

 culated for several horses, the partitions be- 

 tween the stalls should be neatly and smooth- 

 ly planked, low enough to the floor to prevent 

 the horse, when lying down, from getting his 

 legs through, and high enough at top to pre- 

 vent them from smelling, biting, and molest- 

 ing each other. A plentiful bed of clean, dry 

 straw, affi)rds to a fatigued or travelling horse, 

 as great a welcome as his food, and is as ne- 

 cessary in the stable as the pitch-fork, curry- 

 comb, and brush. — Mason's Farrier. 



From the Colonial Farmer. 

 The Farmer's Song;. 



In gwpet healthy air with a farm of his owii, 



Secluded from tumult and strife. 

 The fnruier, more blent than the king on his throne, 



Enjojs all llie comforts of life. 

 When the sweet smiling spring sheds its perfume 

 around. 



And mu.sjc enchants every tree, 

 With his clitterinp ploughshare he furrows his ground. 



With mind independent and free. 

 When Sununer to fruit the sweet lilossoms transforms. 



And his harvest fields wave with the hreeze, 

 Sweet anticipation unfolds all her charms. 



And points to contentment and ease. 

 When bountiful autumn her treasure bestows, 



And her fruits are all gathered and stored; 

 His heart to the Giver with gratitude glows. 



And plenty presides at his Ixjard. 

 When Winter howls dismally over the earth, 



And want tells her tale at his door. 

 Serenely he sits by his clean bla/.ing hearth, 



And dispenses relief to the poor. 

 Then let idle ambition her baubles pursue, 



While wisdom looks down with disdain ; 

 The home of the farmer hath charms ever new. 



Where health, peace, and compt-lence reign. 



A. W. 



