1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
3 
In preparation for winter. There may be some that 
can yet be done should we have a short thaw. 
The Cellar should be thoroughly ventilated when¬ 
ever the temperature outside is above the freezing 
point. This is absolutely necessary for the health 
of the family. The fruit and vegetables will also 
keep better. It is very convenient to have a ther¬ 
mometer hanging in the cellar, and whenever the 
temperature rises above 45’, a door or window, or 
both, may be opened, even on the coldest days, for 
a few minutes, provided the stream of cold air does 
not fall directly on anything easily affected by frost. 
How low you may safely reduce the temperature in 
the cellar depends on its construction. If it is “ a 
warm cellar,” it will do no harm to keep the door 
and windows open until the temperature of the 
cellar is down to within a few degrees of freezing; 
but if the cellar is at all liable to freeze in cold 
weather, it will not be safe to reduce the tempera¬ 
ture so low, because if a very cold, windy night 
should follow the potatoes might be frozen. Should 
there be danger of this, a kcttleful or two of boil¬ 
ing water sprinkled about the cellar floor before 
going to bed will do much to prevent frost. Water 
in freezing gives out heat. And we have had our 
cistern in the cellar freeze over an inch thick, while 
potatoes in the same cellar were not injured. 
Apples should be examined, and those commenc¬ 
ing to decay removed from the shelves or barrels, 
and placed by themselves, for immediate use. It 
should not be forgotten that a decaying apple that 
touches another apple will soon rot it; but, more 
than this, the presence of decaying fruit in a cellar 
has a tendency to induce decay even in fruit that is 
not in direct contact with it. Remove all affected 
fruit from the cellar as soon as possible. 
Ammafcmust receive regular, and irregular, atten¬ 
tion. They can not help themselves. Their daily 
wants must be supplied—and these vary somewhat 
according to the weather. It is here that the in¬ 
telligence, promptness, and experience of the far¬ 
mer manifest themselves. Where there is much 
stock to attend to, and only say two persons to do 
the work, it is important to know what to do first. 
This will vary according to circumstances. In our 
own case, commencing say at half-past five in the 
morning, the horses are first attended to, the stable 
cleaned out, and the horses fed and watered. Then 
feed and milk the cows. Then breakfast. The 
first thing after breakfast, or about sunrise, feed 
the sheep their grain, clean out the racks, and give 
fresh straw or hay. Then feed the pigs, attending 
to the youngest first; and then feed the poultry a 
little grain. After this, clean horses, pump water 
for the sheep, clean out the cow-stables, and water 
the cows, clean out pig-pens, and do whatever is 
necessary to make them comfortable. Cook food 
for pigs, slice turnips for the sheep and mangels 
for the cows and pigs, and get everything ready 
for next morning’s feeding. This is a great point. 
Much work can be done before breakfast, provided 
everything is ready to your hand. 
Horses .—If possible, find something for your 
teams to do. Avoid exposing them to severe 
storms. Use the brush freely, and feed more or 
less grain. It is cheaper than hay. A common 
mistake is to keep horses in the stable for days or 
weeks, and then perhaps take a load of grain or 
wood eight or ten miles to market, and when there 
let them 6tand out in the cold. The horses are 
weak from want of exercise and nutritious food, 
and when they get home they are in an exhausted 
condition. Grain is perhaps then given them—and 
the cud is indigestion, colic, and death. A warm 
bran-masli might have saved them. But steady 
work and liberal feeding are the true preventives. 
Cows .—There are an unusual number of farrow 
cows in the country. If they are giving milk, and 
are good cows, feed liberally, and continue to miik 
them. If served now, they would calve next fall, 
and new milch-cows at that time often bring good 
prices. Farrow cows, when well fed, give very rich 
milk. Cows expected to come in early in spring 
are usually allowed to go dry this month. This is 
the practice of the writer. Some of our associates 
advocate high feeding and milking to within a few 
weeks of calving. It depends much on the breed 
and the mode of feeding. Breeding and feeding 
for milk, and milk alone, for generation after gene¬ 
ration, is one cause of abortion. Our own aim is 
to get the cows in good, strong, healthy condition 
during the winter, and we feed grain enough to 
keep them about lialf-fat—say two or three quarts 
of corn-meal per day mixed with cut feed. 
Young Stock should always be fed liberally, and 
provided with comfortable quarters. 
Keep the Cows Clean by the free use of the card or 
currycomb and brush. If you do not “ believe in 
it,” try it on a few cows, and let the others go dirty. 
You will soon he satisfied that it pays to make the 
cows cleau and comfortable. 
Swine .—Sell all that are fat, and turn your atten¬ 
tion to the young and breeding stock. We shall 
probably have better prices for pork next year, 
and shall get pay for good breeding and good 
feeding. Last fall’s pigs should have the best of 
food, and warm, dry, well-ventilated pens. Keep 
them clean, and give a supply of fresh water. Let 
them have access to a mixture of ashes, salt, char¬ 
coal, and sulphur, and, better still, superphosphate 
made by mixing ten pounds of burnt bones with 
ten pounds of water, and then stirring in ten pounds 
of sulphuric acid. Mix this with the ashes, etc., 
and let the pigs have all they will cat. It is espe¬ 
cially good for pigs troubled with tumors caused 
by eating too much corn. Breeding -sows should 
have plenty of exercise, and food enough to keep 
them in a good, healthy, thrifty condition. 
Sheep .—Keep them dry, giving breeding ewes as 
much exercise as possible, but avoid exposure to 
storms, especially of rain. Keep the weak sheep 
in separate pens from the strong, and the lambs 
separate from the old sheep, and feed them better. 
See “Hints” for last month. 
Crain is Cheap. —Half-a-pound of grain per day 
to each 100 lbs. live-weight will not hurt either 
horses, cows, or sheep, but, on the contrary, will 
do them a great deal of good, and pay far better 
than feeding hay or straw alone. Fattening animals 
may have one pound of grain per day for each 100 
lbs. live-weight. This is the average, but it is well 
to give a little less at first, and increase gradually 
as the animals get used to it. In very cold weather 
they may have a little more. 
Work in the Horticultural Departments. 
The wintry weather of December does not hold 
forth much promise of pleasant days for out-door 
work in January. There now is time for makiug 
up reports, for future reference, upon the different 
crops, their quality, productiveness, etc. One trial 
of a new fruit or flower is seldom enough to deter¬ 
mine its value ; different soils and exposures have 
much to do with results, and affect quality as well 
as quantity. The commercial gardener does not 
experiment much with new sorts; this is mainly 
left to the amateur cultivator. Information upon 
new varieties is given in the horticultural depart¬ 
ment of the Agriculturist, and their comparative 
value stated. Every gardener and fruit-raiser 
should be provided with at least one standard 
work upon such departments as he is engaged in, 
and more if possible. Books are the means of 
elevating the gardener as well as the literary and 
scientific man, and no one can really afford to be 
without them, however well-informed he may be in 
regard to his calling. If the practice of keeping a 
record of the different crops, their yield, etc., has 
never been attempted, commence at once, and in 
the end it will be found a very valuable return for 
the time spent. By keeping such a record, one in 
a few years acquires a stock of information which 
he can get in no other way, and a knowledge which 
increases in value year by year. The weekly 
gathering at the neighborhood Farmers’ Club will 
not be neglected; it tends to promote friendly 
feelings between those engaged in similar branches 
of horticulture, and plans are often suggested and 
hints given which prove of great value. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
Mild days often occur during this month, and ad- 
vantage must be taken of such to forward the work 
of the coming spring. 
Manure— Cart or sled out all the manure needed ; 
it will prevent considerable injury to the ground. 
In spring, the surface is so soft as to render it diffi¬ 
cult to carry a heavy load into the orchard, so that 
every day’s work of this kind done now lessens the 
labor of early spring. The manure should be 
placed in piles of moderate size, and afterwards be 
spread evenly over the surface. Do not place 
directly around the trunks; it only affords a harbor 
for vermin, and is of no use. 
Animals .—Should light snows fall, tramp firmly 
around each tree to prevent the mice gaining access 
to the bark. All gates and bars should be closed, 
to exclude stray cattle, which do damage by break¬ 
ing down young trees or treading upon seed-beds. 
Insects .—It is not too early to look after insects. 
The eggs of the Tent-Caterpillar can readily be seen 
now upon the twigs and small branches, and are 
more easily destroyed than when they arc hatched in 
the spring. Canker-worms will also appear during 
warm days, and means must be taken to prevent 
their ascending the trees. Use bands of paper 
Emeared with tar or printer’s-ink, which should be 
renewed as soon as the surface sets hard. 
Pruning may be done when there is time, and the 
weather is not too freezing. Cover the wounds 
with paint, shellac varnish, or melted grafting- 
wax, to prevent the moisture from the fresh 
wound; otherwise there is danger of decay. 
Digging Holes for trees to be set next spring is 
good work for warm days. The frost acts upon the 
soil, making it finer, and, besides, the time saved is 
considerable, provided large trees are to be planted. 
Fruit Garden. 
A fruit garden is better if made separate from 
the vegetable garden, but to many this will seem a 
needless waste of room. The majority of farmers 
and gardeners take advantage of every available 
space between the rows of trees and small fruits. 
More thorough and careful culture can be given 
the trees and small fruits if the ground is not oc¬ 
cupied with vegetables. A fruit garden should be 
situated in a well-sheltered spot, and where the 
soil is easily drained, either naturally or artificially. 
In selecting varieties, due regard should be had to 
both early and late sorts, so that the crops will 
cover as long a season as possible. If farmers 
would have their sons remain upon tne farm, 
they should pay more attention to the cultiva¬ 
tion of choice fruit and vegetables, and try to 
create in them an interest for horticulture as well 
as farming. Very little can be done now except to 
make plans to be executed in the spring, and occa¬ 
sionally, when a mild day comes, to prune the 
grape-vines, gooseberries, and such small fruits and 
trees as require it. 
Kitchen Garden. 
The most that can be done at the North this 
month is to attend to the cold-frames, and prepare 
materials for hot-beds or for forcing vegetables. 
At the South, many things can be planted as soon 
as the soil is dry enough ; beets, carrots, cabbages, 
etc., will stand considerable cold, and may be 
sown as soon as the frost is out of the ground. 
Manure .—Turn over the piles of manure before 
they have a chance to burn. Cart out that intended 
for crops, and place where it will be needed. 
Hot-Beds .—Prepare the sashes for use by giving 
them a coat of paint or petroleum, and replace all 
broken glass. They will not he needed for use at the 
North for a month or two yet. As a general rule, 
six weeks before the plants are to be set in the 
open ground is the proper time to start the liot-bed. 
Straw Mats should be provided for covering the 
sashes during cold nights and freezing weather. 
Directions for making have often been given. 
Cold-Frames .—Give air every mild day, so as to 
