14 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Jaw. 



Hints for January. 



This month is an important epoch in Time ; 

 but whether this old beldame, Earth, first begun 

 to buzz round on this first day, sacred to the 

 heathen god Janarius ; or vvhetlier Adam on 

 this day was first created and given power over 

 all the beasts of the field, and the birds of the 

 air, or whether it is entirely an assumption of 

 our progenitors, we plead ignoramus. But our 

 belief is that it is entirely arbitrary, and confess 

 to a dread and dislike of the coldblasts of win- 

 ter ; that death and nonentity of all things beau- 

 tiful and fair — that period of monotony — of 

 snows, of frosts, of wind, and mud ; the absence 

 of leaf and life, of song, and the blessed invigo- 

 rating rays of the glorious luminary of day. 

 Had we, in the fulness of our human ignorance, 

 the power of commencing time, of beginning 

 our solar year, it would have been at a period 

 when all things are as verdant as our precious 

 selves — when nature in the redundant luxury of 

 fruition makes this glorious world a paradise, a 

 paragon of beauty and life. " But it is as.it is, 

 and can't be no 'tiser." So we must be content, 

 and grub along with the best grace we may, on 

 spare-rib and Jonny cake, leafless trees and cold 

 toes. So let us turn over a new leaf; that is, all 

 of us who are not so perfect as to be beyond 

 amendment — for many of our old leaves are blot- 

 ted and dirty, by bad acts, dogs-ears, and sins of 

 omission and commission — and start de novo upon 

 the improved knowledge and principles of a 

 forever past year's experience. 



Look over your books, and see how you stand 

 with the world, in the Debit and Credit scale. 

 Pay thy creditor while thou art in his way, lest 

 he send the sherifl', and he send thee to prison ; 

 verily thou shall not depart until thou hast paid 

 the utmost farthing. But, thanks to our liberal 

 legislators, who go about the world like roaring 

 lions, doing good, we are out of that scrape — we 

 can't be imprisoned for civil debt ; but neverthe- 

 less, dear reader, if you can pay all of your indebt- 

 edness when you lay your head upon pour pillow, 

 an independent man, Santa Glaus will fill your 

 stocking and your store — nightmare and indi- 

 gestion will vanish — your wife will be kind, 

 your children obedient, and all mankind be 

 brethren and friends. 



Don't smoke, drink cider, and dream away 

 long evenings. Life is short enough, and 

 lime flies fast enough, without the adventitious aid 

 of provocatives. Settle accounts— make calcu- 

 Is^tions and estimates for future use — read and 

 digest good and profitable books— overhaul the 

 children's progress in school, and see that they 

 make good use of that invaluable institution, the 

 School Library — encourage social singing in the 

 family, of sacred music and moral and patriotic 

 sonnets, which is a much better recreation for 

 young and old than the chequer-board, cards, &c. 



Remember in laying down pork, that a little 

 too much salt is just enough — that lean meat 

 is a loss, and every ounce of bone decidedly in- 

 jures the flavor of the meat. Rattle up the 

 wood, and see that the wood house is supplied, 

 for it is enough to make a horse break his bridle 

 to see a woman out in the snow hacking wood, 

 she does it so awkwardly. 



Litter your stables and sheds freely, and if 

 you have straw in plenty, cover the whole yard. 

 Feed chaff" in tubs or half barrels, or troughs; 

 it saves half. If the milch cows fall off" in milk 

 with good feed, it is a sign they want salt — a gill 

 every other day is none too much ; but above all 

 things, see that they get plenty of water, handily 

 and when they want it. Look well and often to 

 sheep ; see that they keep up ; a few oats or 

 small quantity of corn are wonderful assistants. 



The first good sleighing, get your plaster 

 home. Take good care of all the house ashes, 

 for one bushel on most land, is worth two of 

 plaster — except perhaps for clover. House and 

 paint the wagons, sleighs, plows, harrows, &c. 

 One gallon of boiled oil, and six pounds of Vene- 

 tian red, will save twenty-five dollars a year. 



Make farm gates, and make fence with the 

 bars. Get out your rails and stakes. Look to 

 your potatoes — do your duty to God and man. 

 So doing, kind reader, we wish you a Happy 

 New Year. * 



Butter. — Experiments, &c. 



Butter is one of the staple productions of our 

 State, and every hint that serves to improve its 

 quality or increase its quantity must be useful. 

 According to the returns of the late census in 

 1845, the amount of butter made the same year 

 was 79,501,733 lbs., which, at 12h cts. per lb., 

 and which is a fair average price, yields $9,937,- 

 716— only $2,114,877 less than the produce of 

 the wheat crop of that year. This amount might 

 be greatly increased, if more attention was paid 

 to the manufacture, and a better article sent to 

 market. As it now comes, not more than one 

 half of the quantity is fit for the table, and some 

 of it entirely unfit for any culinary purpose what- 

 ever. This should not be. 



There are various methods of making butter, 

 and there is certainly a vast difference in its 

 quality. One cause of this difference may be 

 ascribed to the herbage or food upon which the 

 cows are fed, the breed of cows, or the season ; 

 but more generally in the management. Every 

 one imagines their method best, and are too wise 

 to learn. 



Being veiy fond of good bujter ourselves, 

 many experiments were tried while residing on 

 the farm, and tlie following rules were finally 

 settled on : 



First : Cleanliness must be strictly observed 

 in every thing appertaining thereto, from the 



