834 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Df.cembeh, 
ted and allowed to stand a few hours with a 
sprinkling of salt, or oil-meal mixed in, it will be 
eaten with great relish. When hay is high and 
corn scarce, it is a pity to have any of it wasted. 
Farmers' Clubs. -He who neglects opportunities 
to meet and talk over agricultural matters with his 
brother farmers loses much. See to it if possible 
that there is some regular neighborhood meeting 
of farmers, and their wives and adult children, to 
secure improvement in farming and kindred things. 
Fence. Timber.— As fence mending and setting is 
one of the first duties after the frost is out of the 
ground, so a standing job for the Winter is the 
getting out of a good supply of posts, rails, and 
stakes. Let it not be forgotten. 
1-Wding-Rnrks and Trouylis should be substantial, 
sheltered, under roof if possible, always kept clean. 
Grain. — Few fanners can afford to risk the hold- 
ing of grain for higher prices. If possible, make 
sales by showing perfectly fair samples, and ar- 
range to deliver it when there is good sleighing. 
Grain loses in weight by drying, anil proportionate- 
ly increases in value, but rats, mice, and weevils 
cause ii to lose weight also, and this is a dead loss, 
besides risk of bad roads, broken harnesses, etc. 
Grain-fields.— The wandering of cattle over the 
grain and grass fields, particularly when covered 
with snow, and in thawing weather, is to be avoid- 
ed. Snow-drift dams should be cleared away, and 
standing water drawn off. 
Horses, — All horses, young and old, should have 
warm, comfortable shelter, be cleaned daily, and, 
if used, blanketed, both in the stable and out of it — 
the stable blanket being the lighter, and not cov- 
ering the neck. Colts and horses from which no 
labor is required, need no blankets in moderate 
weather, or in a warm stable. All horses should 
be well shod, and the calks kept sharp in Winter. 
Tee. — The experience of last year will lead to the 
securing of the first crop of ice. This is well, for it 
is ordinarily the best. If snow falls upon clear 
"black" ice, it will ordinarily pay for family use to 
sweep off the snow front a sufficient surface to fill 
I lie ice-house, so that in ease of a rain and subse- 
quent freezing, Ihe upper stratum of ice will not 
he soft snow-ice, and that the cold may penetrate 
more readily. See article on iee-honses, page 362. 
Manures. — It is best to keep manure under cover 
and enclosed, so that a slow fermentation will be 
constantly going on. Too active fermentation is 
very injurious ; it may be checked by packing it 
very close by the treading of animals, spreading 
level and keeping hogs upon it, or working it over. 
The latter secures an evenness of fermentation 
while it prevents burning or fire-fang. 
Muck from Ihe Swamp.— 'The present month ordi- 
narily affords a very favorable opportunity to get 
out muck. Leaving it in heaps during the Winter, it 
becomes acted upon by the frost, and is much bet- 
ter for use in the Spring, or to be carted to th'e 
stables during (he Summer for use next Winter. 
If needed for use at once in the stable, haul it as 
soon as it is dry enough, and keep it under cover, 
or it will be of little service as an absorbent. 
Wallows. — It is very poor policy to let cattle 
browse the meadows in Winter, or even wander 
over t liein. When not covered with snow in 
thawing weather, they injure the roots; and the 
places of cattle paths through the snow arc often 
traced by dead grass and bare spots in Spring. 
ftmUr}/. — To secure a supply of eggs keep hens 
in a light, warm, airy room, feed plentifully, giving 
regularly some animal food — oyster-shells pounded 
line, or some other form of lime. A little pulver- 
ized white arsenic in the whitewash will destroy 
lice effectually. Fowls choose the highest part of 
the house to roost iu, and if there be not good 
ventilation, they will sometimes suffocate. 
Sheep. — Nature protects sheep well against the 
cold, but they suffer from soaking rains. They are 
healthier if they have open dry sheds to stand or 
lie under in wet weather, and a good dry vard. 
Sheep are seldom diseased if they are thus treated, 
have access to salt, and have enough good feed. 
Swine. — In the course of this month the peris 
will be for the most part cleared of fat hogs, and 
only breeders and store hogs left. Let these have 
dry, warm quarters, with rye or wheat straw for 
bedding; feed generously, so as to keep them iu 
good growing order. Regular feeds of roots, with 
a little grain daily will show well next Spring. 
3W».— Winter is the time of all others to look 
over and put tools in order for Spring and Sum- 
mer work. And at no time are good implements 
so much injured by exposure as now, when it is 
wel and freezing, or warm and dry alternately. 
Wood. — Now the swamps are, or soon will be 
frozen, and we must 6ecure a full supply of firewood, 
and wood for other purposes also, cut ready to be 
drawn to the house at the first good sleighing. 
4>i'4'li;tril sttul aVlMPSevy. 
If the Fall work has been performed in its season, 
there is little to be done now. Sales and planting 
are over, and the nursen man can now arrange his 
plans, and prepare for the Spring's business, which 
promises to be very active. During a mild spell, 
ground may lie plowed and prepared for planting, 
and at. these times draining, often so necessary 
in an orchard, may be successfully prosecuted. 
Trees which were temporarily heeled in for the fill- 
ing of orders, should be looked to, and if the work 
was not thoroughly done, the roots shoul 1 be earth- 
ed over so as to prevent freezing. 
Cions may be cut on any mild day, and preserved 
iu slightly moist earth or sand, in a cool cellar. In 
cutting, select vigorous well ripened wood of the 
past seasou's growth. Tie up and label each 
sort carefully, and to guard against the loss of the 
label it is well to cut a number on one of the 
largest cions in the bundle which should corres- 
pond with a number on a memorandum list. In 
procuring grafts for setting, take only varieties 
you have proved yourself, or those having snch a 
reputation that there can be no risk of getting a 
worthless sort. Many persons seem to think that 
it is only necessary to graft a tree to secure good 
fruit, and do not reflect that it is as necessary to be 
careful about the character of their cions as it 
would be if they were purchasing trees. 
Fndt either in the fruit-room or cellar should 
be kept at as low and uniform a temperature as 
practicable without freezing. 
Manure may be applied to trees, and compost 
carted to places where it is to be used in the spring 
planting. Surface manuring as described on page 
370, has many advantages ; the coating of manure 
prevents injury from sudden alternations of tem- 
perature, while the soluble parts are diffused 
through the soil, enriching it without injuring the 
roots of the tree by actual contact with the manure. 
Mice and Babbits do much injury to newly plant- 
ed trees, especially when there is snow upon the 
ground. Various protections have been suggested 
from time to time iu these columns. After snow 
has fallen, tramp it down firmly around the trunks 
of the trees so that the mice cannot work through 
it. Rabbits should be trapped. Shields of tin and 
drain tiles are sometimes used. 
Nursery Rows not plowed, may be worked when- 
ever the ground is open. Throw the earth against 
the rows, leaving the furrows as surface drains. 
See that stakes in the. nursery arc legible and 
firmly fixed iu the ground. While no careful nur- 
seryman will rely upon stakes alone for the identi- 
ty of his trees, it is always a great convenience to 
have them. New stakes and labels can be prepared 
to meet next season's demands. 
Root grafting can be done in the house on rainy 
days, the grafted stocks being carefully put away iu 
boxes of sand, and each sort unmistakably labeled. 
Winter pruning is not to be recommended where 
large, limbs are to be removed. Small ones left at. 
the summer pruning may be removed by the knife. 
Kitclicii <*;irtl<m. 
If the weather is severe or the ground is covered 
with snow, there is but little to be done here. 
But if the mouth should be mild, some of the 
neglected November work may be attended to 
now. Clearing up, which is generally postponed 
until Spring, should lie done, and all rubbish put out 
of sight. The garden will not only look neater 
during Winter if this is done now, but valuable 
time will not be consumed next Spring in clearing 
up after last season's crops. Whenever the state of 
the soil will admit, it. maybe thrown up into ridges 
with 1 he plow, or spaded as directed on page 370. 
But few special directions can be given, and these 
arc all comprised in the general one to do every- 
thing possible to facilitate operations in Spring. 
Asparagus.— II the beds have not been covered 
with manure, they should receive a thick coating. 
Bean poles, stakes, and all brush needed in the 
garden can be cut and stored for next season. 
Celery. — If any still remains out, store it as di- 
rected in the fuller Calendar for October. 
Cold Frames. — Give plenty of air whenever there 
is no danger of freezing, removing the sash alto- 
gether on mild days. As severe cold weather 
comes on, bank up around the frames with stable 
manure, and cover the sash with mats or shutters. 
Compost and Manures. — Much of next season's 
success will depend upon the care given to acceu- 
mnlating these during the Winter. Every fertiliz- 
ing material should be saved. Have a good supply 
of muck on hand to throw into privies, hog pens, 
and the barnyard. If muck eaunot be procured, 
use some other absorbent ; forest leaves answer to 
increase the stock of manure, and black earth is 
better than no absorbent for the liquid portion*. 
If manure is carted to the garden, cover the heap 
with earth to keep it from washing by the rain*. 
Hot Beds.— Repair frames, glaze, and paint sash, 
and make all in readiness. If new ones are needed , 
have them made. Collect manure and leaves. 
Parsnips and Salsify. — When the ground is open, 
take to the cellar a good supply for use in freezing 
weather, and cover with sand to prevent wilting. 
Rhubarb. — Cover the bed with stable manure. 
Seeds : clean and carefully put away any not al- 
ready cared for. Keep no rubbish in the seed bag. 
such as old seeds, or those of which the identity is 
not positive. Exchange choice sorts with neighbors. 
Tools. — Rainy days can be profitably employed in 
repairing and painting. Many an implement goes 
among the old iron, which a small expense for 
blaeksmithing would make as good as new. The 
character of a gardener can be pretty accurately 
judged by a look into his tool house. 
Fruit Garden. 
New grounds may be prepared if the weather is 
suitable. Give the borders a good mulch of ma- 
nure. Prune currants and gooseberries, and save 
the cuttings in the cellar for Spring setting. Prune 
grape vines and lay down the vines, giving the tin 
dcr sorts a covering of earth. Bend raspberries 
down and cover with earth. Strawberry beds should 
have their winter mulching, taking care not tocori r 
too deep ; only an inch or two over the,erowns. 1 1 is 
the earth rather than the plants, that needs covering. 
Flower Gnrdeii :m«l Liitwti. 
The directions of last month apply in general lo 
this. But few things can be done, except to pro- 
tect those shrubs and plants which arc still unean .1 
for — according to the hiuts given iu November. 
If the month is favorable, new walks and borders 
can be prepared. If new improvements are pro- 
posed, first accurately measure the land and make 
a plan upon an exact scale, on paper. When the 
plan is done, let it be submitted to the criticism of 
judicious friends, who may be able to see faults 
and suggest improvements which did not before 
manifest themselves. Inlaying out new grounds, 
or extending those we already have, there are two 
