46 



NEW ENGLAND FAR:MER. 



Jan. 



gether, with less smell than is to be found in 

 any ordinary fowl house capable of aceommo- 

 dating a dozen chicki ns, ia very conrlusive as 

 to it;; efficacy. In the building of the National 

 Company, -where this fact has been ascertained, 

 seven or eight fowls are kept in each compart- 

 ment, twelve feet by three, and yet there is no 

 smell or trace of moisture. Mr. Greyelin in- 

 forms us that if a much larger number are put 

 into each run, the ground becomes moist, 

 ceases to deodorize, and the birds at once be- 

 come unhealthy. It should be stated that the 

 droppings that fall from the perches during 

 the night are removed from the runs each 

 morning, and the dry earth only receives the 

 manure that falls during the day ; this has its 

 moisture absorbed so speedily by the earth 

 that it at once became pulverized, mixed with 

 the soil, and ceases to smell. So powerful 

 is the deodorizing effect of the e.iith that it 

 does not require to be renewed in the runs for 

 many weeks together. — London Field. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PBEPAEB FOK ■WINTER! 



Winter is close upon us ! The air is filled 

 with snowflakes, the last flock of will geese 

 have left us for the great savannahs of the 

 Missi-sippi; the small rivers and creeks have 

 frozen over and thawed out the requisite num- 

 ber of times. Now the ice grows thicker ev- 

 ery day, and soon the deep snow will blot out 

 all the landmarks, and we can only trace the 

 windings of the brook by its hedge of alders 

 and hazels. Are we ready for it ? That is the 

 question each farmer should ask himself. If 

 you are not, begin to-day to prepare for the 

 winter winds. Nail on every loose board in 

 barn, stable, and cow-stalls, remembering the 

 old proverb that "a stitch in time saves nine." 



Protect the young apple, pear, peach, and 

 cherry trees against the ravages of mice. 

 Scatter sulphur and copperas mixed in equal 

 parts, all round the roots of the trees. This 

 mixture is abhorrent to all vermin and they 

 ■will keep their distance. Earth heaped up a 

 foot around the trunks of young trees, and 

 pressed firmly down will also prevent the at- 

 tacks of the mice. 



Lay down all the raspberry bushes, and 

 grape vines, and cover with hemlock boughs ; 

 if these cannot be procured, straw can be 

 scattered over them, or leaves, and secured 

 ■with boards. The care you now take will be 

 returnt.d to you in full measure by the great 

 increa-^e of fruit in the ensuing summer. Pre- 

 pare warm stables and sheds for horses, cattle 

 and swine ; it will take much less fodder if they 

 are protected from the intense severity of our 

 winters. A farmer who built a barn as tightly 

 ehingled and clap-boarded as his house, as- 

 sure <1 us that the outlay was soon restored to 

 him in the well-being of his stock, and the 

 decrease of the food con-umed. It would 

 eeem as if all our farmers knew this fact, yet 



the wretched huts called barns, which are 

 scattered throughout New England, show that 

 they have not \et learned the needed lesron. 

 Sheep are better able to withstand the cold, 

 but they need a dry fold well sheltered from 

 the wintry storms ; and then are forced to hud- 

 dle close together to keep each other warm. 



The hens must have their house attend* d to, 

 or they will not permit your income to exceed 

 your outlay. There is great economy in all 

 these matters, yet how many of us are '■penny 

 wise and pound foolish.'''' 



There is yet time to draw in loads of dry 

 muck to be used for litter, and to fill up the wet 

 places in the barnyard. All this work will give 

 you ample returns at the next harvest. Is 

 your wood all undpr cover, and nicely chopped 

 and sawed, ready for the housewife? If not, 

 lose not a day, in storing, it if you desire your 

 breakfast, dinner and supper on time. It is 

 said that "wet wood makes the house too hot 

 for men folks," and we endorse the sa3ing. 



As you gaze upon your well stocked barns, 

 your fine cattle, hogs, &c., and your cellars, 

 filled with the fruits of the harvest, remember 

 the parable of the '-rich man," who said to 

 his soul, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid sip 

 for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, 

 and be merry." But God said unto him, 

 "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be re- 

 quired of thee ; then whose shall those things 

 be which thou hast provided ?" — and share of 

 thy abundance with those who have not been 

 so blest. Among your invef^tments he sure 

 to take a little stock in the "Kingdom of 

 Heaven," whose notes are always above par. 



Bath, N n., Nov , 18G9. s. o. j. 



Hovi^ TO Build a Cistern. — I see that a 

 subscriber wishes to know the best waj to 

 build a cistern. I have had the care of build- 

 ing quite a number, and would say to him, 

 build two instead of one so large ; dig the 

 holes and put on two good coats of cement on 

 the bank, and arch with good hard brick. 

 One of my neighbors has one that I built 

 for him sixteen years ago, in this way, and it 

 has been in use ever since. I had one built 

 for myself, six years ago ; the mason put biick 

 all round ; the brick settled and it, leaked. I 

 had another built two years ago, which was 

 eight feet across in the clear afer finished, 

 nine feet deep. This was plastered on the 

 bank and arched with brick and has been full 

 of water ever since, and has not leaked a drop 

 that I know of. I could mention more made 

 in this way but this is enough. I would not 

 have brick or stone in the sides of a cistern if 

 they were put in for nothing ; they are .-imply 

 thrown a A'ay. — Mentor, in Country Gentleman. 



—It is predicted that Florida will become one of 

 the largest sugar-producing localities on this con- 

 tinent. Thfi character and soil .ire admirably 

 adapted to its culture, and the crop is a sure one. 



