274 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



warm days and should the covering be blown from the 

 strawberry bed it may be replaced. If this is done just 

 before a snow or rain storm it will lie in place better 

 than if put on in fair weather. 



Tools. Every tool large and small on the place 

 should be looked over and repaired and put into order 

 for work. To prevent the iron and steel parts from 

 rusting, wipe over with kerosene and linseed oil and 

 paint the woodwork with linseed-oil paint. If a special 

 color is selected, one's tools may be readily recognized 

 when borrowed by neighbors who fail to return them. 

 By this care tools may be made to last a lifetime 



Fertilizers. Study the bulletins of the fertilizer in- 

 spectors of the experiment stations, to decide what are 

 the best, and order such as are needed that they may be 

 ready on the ground when spring work begins. 



Seeds. Nurserymen's and seedsmen's catalogues 

 should be coming along about this time and should be 

 looked over to see what new things are 'offered. Novel- 

 ties should be tested only in a small way, as nine-tenths 

 of these have not proved more valuable than the old 

 standard sorts. 



Poultry. Keep the poultry warm but give plenty of 

 air. Dryness, an abundance and variety of feed not 

 too much with exercise, is the secret of the production 

 of eggs in winter. 



Bees. Look at the bees occasionally to see that the 

 opening into the hives is not stopped up by ice and 

 snow. Bees are often smothered after an ice or sleet 

 storm. A packing of building paper around three sides 

 of the hive or a box set over it will help keep them 

 warm and save their supply of honey for use later in 

 the winter, when it may be more needed. Hives and 

 material for sections, etc., should be looked over and 

 put in order for next summer. 



