8 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



prevent waste ; and make a shelter over the heaps. 

 ]Jut with a good share of earth, united with it, there 

 will be far less waste when exposed out doors. 



Some farmers put under the floor a few feet of 

 earth, to receive all that runs thi-ough ; others place 

 the earth, and use it as a bed for the cattle, and dis- 

 pense with the floor, and as the earth becomes wet, 

 it is thrown out, mixed with the more solid manure. 



There are so many convenient modes of saving all 

 the manure, that there is no excuse for allowing one 

 half to go to waste. In the fall, the manure should 

 be removed from the barn-yard, and a liberal layer 

 of earth supplied to absorb the liquid manure, and 

 by admixture save the solid from waste. Any earth is 

 useful, but it is better to use that of a different tex- 

 ture from the soil to which it is to be applied. This 

 mode not only saves from waste in the yard, but it 

 forms a compost which prevents waste after the 

 manure is applied. 



WORK FOR THE SEASON. 



Stern December, with his scowls and frowns, his 

 pelting storms, freezing blasts, and fits of sunshine, 

 is a busy month, in which tlie farmer finds no time 

 to visit his friends, or sit by the cheerful fire, and 

 enjoy the fruits of his summer's labor, excepting the 

 long evenings afford a pleasant leisure-season for 

 social improvement. 



The manure being all taken care of, and provis- 

 ion made to save it in future, ploughing may be 

 attended to in suitable weather. Late fall and early 

 winter ploughing improves a hard soil, destroys 

 witch gi-ass, and forwards spring work. Large 

 stones, to bo hauled in winter, should be placed on 

 Rmall ones, to prevent freezing to the ground. 



Every anunal should be made comfortable by a 

 warm, dry shelter. This is not only excellent econ- 

 omy as to the condition of the animal, and the pro- 

 duction of milch cows, but in the saving of food ; for 

 in cold weather, particularly with animals exposed, 

 a large quantity of food is consumed in supplying 

 carbon or fuel for the lungs, by which the heat of the 

 animal is sustained. Every farmer knows very well 

 that animals eat much more in cold than in warm 

 weather. The difference is plainly perceived as the 

 weather changes. 



Prepare fuel for one year. More can be done in 

 one day early in winter, than in two days when the 

 snow is deep. Economy in the use of fuel is an 

 important subject. A large fire in an old-fashioned 

 iireplaco is pleasant and healthful, owing to excel- 

 lent ventilation, but too expensive, as nine tentlis 

 of the heat are wasted. 



I Provide comfortable, convenient, and wcU-venti- 

 lated school-houses. Our school-rooms, in these 

 respects, are generally far inferior to our churches 

 and private dwellings. Why ? Children are 

 crammed together in close rooms, regardless of their 

 health and progress in education. 



Secure roots, cabbages, pumpkins, squashes, and 

 fruit. Protect fruit trees from cattle ; they prune 

 too closely and indiscriminately ; save your grain 

 from rats and mice ; make drains to protect tillage 



lands from washing. Prune grape vines, if not 

 already done. Do not allow the sun to shine on 

 bee-hives during winter, as it invites them out- 

 Secure all farming implements from the weather. 

 There is great economy in chopping straw, hay, 

 cornstalks, &c., and as farmers are learning its 

 utility, the practice is extending. 



By all means, prepare to settle all accounts by 

 New Year, and not only sec how your accoiint 

 stands with others, but adjust your account with 

 yourself also. See whether you are industrious, 

 economical, and thrifty, or becoming rather indolent 

 or extravagant. These evils are ajst to creep on im- 

 perceptibly, if Ave do not keep a strict account 

 with ourselves, and settle often. Continue to make 

 progress in useful knowledge ; never rest satisfied 

 Avith present attainments, lest your example influ- 

 ence the rising generation. Let your motto ever be, 

 " OuAvard ! " 



BOOK KNOWLEDGE OF FARMERS: 



DERIDED BY WHOM ? 



With a man of any reflection and honest care for 

 progress in all the arts and emiDloyments of useful 

 industry, there are few things more trying to his 

 patience than to hear men, sometimes CA^en gentle- 

 men, AA'ho haA-e some pretensions to education, and 

 Avho therefore ought to knoAV better, denouncing 

 book knoAvlcdge, as affording any guide in practical 

 husbandry. Now, to all such, and especially to 

 practical men who succeed Avell in their business, and 

 Avho have ahvays something useful to impart, as the 

 result of their OAvn personal experience, does it not 

 suffice to say, " I am obliged to you for what you 

 haA'c told me ; your integrity assures me that it is 

 true, and your success couA'inccs me that yours is 

 the right rotation, and j-ours the proper process, since 

 I see that Avhilc you gather heavy crops, yo\ii- land is 

 steadily improving ; but now, my friend, let me ask 

 you one question further. What you have imparted 

 is calculated to benefit me personally, and unless 

 communicated again by me to others, Avith me its 

 benefits Avill rest. Noav, suppose, instead of the 

 sloAV and unsocial process of Availing to be interrogat- 

 ed, and making it knoAvn, to one by one, as accident 

 may present opportunities, you allow me to have 

 recourse to the magical ])oicc)- of types, Avhich Avill 

 spread the knoAvleclge of your profitable experience, 

 gained by much thought and labor, far and Avide 

 throughout the land, that thousands may enjoy the 

 advantages Avhich othcrAvise I only shall reap from 

 your kind and useful communication. Will not that 

 be more beneficial to society, and is it not a bencA'o- 

 Icnt and a Christian duty not to hide our lights 

 under a bushel?" Doubtless such a man, if not a 

 misanthropic churl or fool, Avould say, Yes. Yet the 

 moment, by means of types, such knowledge is com- 

 milted to paper, it becomes (by fools only derided) 

 book k)ioicled(je. — Plough, Loom, and Anvil. 



FRUIT CONVENTIONS. 



Wc shall, in future numbers, give the doings of 

 the great pomological couA^entions at Buffalo and 

 NcAV York, so far as relates to their decisions on the 

 merits of fruit. The doings of these large bodies of 

 intelligent men, from different and distant parts of 

 an extensive country, are both interesting and im- 

 portant. 



