1867 .] 
AMKHIC AN AOHIC U I.T U MI ST. 
431 
Btraw. Tbc r».M>t8 have cost quUo too much labor 
to bo ruined by frost A well protected cellar 
makes the whole house warmer and saves fuel. Pro¬ 
tect water pipes and pumps, and If tho pipes 
chance to get froBcn, wrap them In flannel and pour 
hot water upon them to thaw them out Save 
plumbers’ bills by timely attention. 
/odder.—This has cost money to raise and should 
be c-.irefully used. Feed rci^larly, and only so 
much as an animal eats np clean. There is waste 
in Irregailar, or over-feeding. If you fodder In tbo 
yard let it bo under a shed, w’lth racks to put the hay 
in. Stocks should bo brought to tlic barn and fo<l- 
dcred there. It is wasteful to scatter hay upon 
the ground. Much of it is trampled and lost 
Uvt Stock of all kinilt should have the owners’ 
dally supervision. If others do tho work, his ejes 
should sec that it Is well done. Few hired men can 
be trusted to do tilings constantly according to di¬ 
rections. In the very cold weather there is a con¬ 
stant temptation to consult his own ease rather 
than the comfort of the animals entrusted to his 
care. Feed and water regularly, and shelter all cat¬ 
tle in bams or sheds. Pine boards are cheaper than 
h.ay and grain. Keep 8;ilt within reach of horses, 
cattle, and sheep. A large lump of rock salt is best 
for this purpose. If they can lick when they 
plecise, they will not take it in excess. Attend to 
ventilation in bams and stables, and give the ani¬ 
mals the beneflt of the sun for a while on clear 
days. Keep all animals in a thriving condition. 
ColU and Steer *,—Improve the leisure of tho sea¬ 
son to break them in to work. The smooth snow 
path makes light loads, and their strength should 
not be much taxed at first 
HorttK —The horse above all animals wants care¬ 
ful handling. See that the shoe* are well put on, 
and the caulks sharpened as icy weather approach¬ 
es. Warm blankets save fodder and promote 
health. If the young folks go on a sleigh ride, in¬ 
sist upon the horse bLinkct to keep company with 
the robes for Tom and his sweetheart There will 
be bills enough to settle without a sick horse in the 
stable to be doctored. 
WorkxTig Oxen should be kept shod and caulked, 
If used. Keep np the flesh by generous feeding. A 
lean working ox is poor property. 
Com. _Keep the stables clean and well bedded at 
night Sprinkle plaster or dried peat ujmn the 
fleers when cleaned out, to save the ammonia and 
to avoid injury to the eyes of tho cows. Ventilate 
thoroughly, and from the top of the bam if possi¬ 
ble. Give them an opportunity to exercise an hour 
or two in the warmest part of the day. Keep the 
horns ornamented with balls, if they arc Inclined 
to be quarrelsome. Plan to have one or more far¬ 
row, or new milch cows for winter. There is no 
substitute for a plenty of good milk in the family. 
Hog* ought to be well fattened by Christmas. 
Pork la made much more economically in warm 
than in freezing weather. Pay great attention to 
the quarters of the animals. Good sties with plen¬ 
ty of straw are cheaper than meal to keep up the 
animal hcak The pig is cieanly in his habits, and 
wili keep himself clean if you give him a dry lodg¬ 
ing place and straw. Com meal is high this year, 
and the root crop is short, and pork will probably 
cost the Eastern farmer about all it comes to. 
Cooked food pays best 
BnUtrtj is one of the most attractive features of 
the* bara-yard, and when well cared for nothing 
pays better. In fattening geese and ducks, give 
them a pen for two wedts before killing. Hens and 
turkeys we have thought fattened quite as well at 
large. But they should be fed frequently with a xor 
riety of food, and have all they can cat Arrange 
to have eggs in winter. A room on the south side 
of a hill, with plenty of glass, is almost indispen¬ 
sable. The birds must have animal food In some 
form, broken shells, and dust to roll in. Eggs in 
winter always bring a high price in city markets. 
Select for layers the early pullets of hut spring. 
For plans of poultry houses see back numbers. 
Jfaaarr.—Attend to its manufacture early and 
late. In summer and winter. Your success in hus¬ 
bandry dei'onds mainly upon this article. It pays 
even upon good lands by making them better, and 
Bccurlng larger and more cconoralc.al crops. Bo 
avaricious of fertilizers. It Is often convenient to 
draw muck and peat from tho banks of ditches that 
have been dug in tho summer. Wc have found It 
quite practicable to dig muck in winter after tlio 
surface is frozen hard enough to bear teams. Borne 
swamps are accessible at this time that cannot be 
approached in summer. A farmer can never have 
too much muck on luind, if he has an acre of 
meadow that docs not produce three tous of hay. 
Wood nilting atid Lumber.—'So\f is tho time to lay 
in a stock of wood for the year. Well-seasoned 
wood saves fuel, time, money, and tho temper of 
the housewife. Much of the comfort of a family 
depends upon the kitchen fire. Ralls have also to 
be provided upon many farms. Posts arc wanted, 
and joists, planks, and boards. 8aw-mill logs are 
much more easily carried upon sleds than upon 
carts. Improve the first good snow to move them. 
The Tee Harvest .—Secure this as soon as the ice is 
six inches thick. This sometimes comes in Decem¬ 
ber, and docs not come again. If an ice-honso is 
wanting, build one. See plans of inexpensive ice¬ 
houses, in back volumes. Ice is at once a luxury' 
and a necessary in summer. The dairy is better 
managed with It, and many perishable articles can 
be preserved that would otherwise be lost. 
Tool *.—Now that the season is ended, overhaul 
all implements and vehicles. Repair damages, and 
if new tools are wanted, secure them, to be ready 
for next year’s operations. If these have no abid¬ 
ing place, build a tool-house without delay, and il¬ 
lustrate that motto: “ A place for every thing, and 
every thing In its place.” 
Seed*.—Qti a complete assortment for next year. 
Much of the success of farming depends upon this 
item. For com select sound cars, and those grow¬ 
ing two ears upon a st.alk. Keep tho ears in a dry, 
warm room, until thoroughly cured. Much poor 
seed com is planted every year, and people wonder 
why it does not come up. Early seed potatoes 
should bo secured now. It often makes a difference 
of half Inprice whether a crop is marketed in July or 
October. Bum up the old garden seeds and get a 
new stock from some reliable seedsman. Our pres¬ 
ent postage law brings a seed store to every man’s 
door, and he has no excuse for planting seed that 
arc most too good to throw away, but not quite 
good enough to come up. Doubtful seeds will not 
pay when good ones can had for love or money. 
Vi orlx In llse Ilortlcnltnral l>opnrt- 
nsrnt. 
Now that cold weather lias well-nigh put a stop 
to out-of-door work, it is well to take a look ahead 
and, before tho present year has expired, give 
thought to the labors of the one that la so soon to 
open? It is a pleasant thing about horticulture 
that it is alw.ays progressive, and that perfection ia 
never attained in any department. That which we 
now consider the perfect frolt or flower will, in 
ten years, bo looked upon as unworthy of cultiva¬ 
tion. It is this succession of novelties, this striv¬ 
ing after improvement, that lends such a charm to 
horticultural pursuits. Each year’s experience 
teaches better ways of cultivation, and gives us 
new knowledge of the things wc cultivate. For¬ 
tunate is ho who makes use of each year’s teach¬ 
ings, and still more fortunate if he lias tbe means 
and the will to add to them the experience of oth¬ 
ers. Now at this season, when one can be a student 
without feeling that he is neglecting other matters, 
it is well to gather up the scattered hints that are 
hidden in papers that were laid aside in tho busy 
season, and to look at the recent books that have 
been written in his particular department It is 
not possible that men like Warder, Thomas, Ful¬ 
ler, Henderson, and others, can write a book upon 
matters to which their lives have been devoted, 
without giving some information that may be turn¬ 
ed to practical account Commending the hortl- 
cultnrlst to his books and journals, we give the few 
items of out-door work that belong to the mouth. 
Orchard and I\iir«ery, 
In tho Southern States, and in favorable seasons 
at the North, much of the work of plowing and 
subsoiling, and making ready for spring planting, 
may be done. Every favorable opportunity of this 
kind should bo sclxed upon. Planting an orchard 
implies a proniUo to take care of It; trees set last 
fall should be occasionally looked to, to see that 
they are safe from domestic animals. 
Fences must bo in a condition to keep out horses, 
cattle, and sheep, os well as those thoughtless 
people who, when snow covers the ground, strike 
a straight line for their destination without regard 
to the dam.agc they may do. 
ItahblU arc oflen destructive to young orchards, 
and various preventives have been from time to 
time pro^Kwed. The simplest of these, and tho 
one largely followed at tho West, is to sprinkle tho 
trunks of the trees with blood, or, what answers the 
same purpose, rub them with a piece of fresh liver. 
Jflrt* like to work under cover, and if dead weeds 
or other litter lie close to tlie trees, they will bo 
very apt to bark them. Clear away all rubbish, and 
alter a snow fiill, go around and press the snow 
flrmly around the trunks. Surrounding the base 
of tlio trunk with a cylinder of tin or sheet Iron may 
be practised where there arc not many trees. A 
solid, smooth mound of earth, about a foot high, 
will protect them; but when snow covers this, tho 
mice will work under it if It Is not trampled liard. 
Standing ^Vater In tho orchard mnst be prevented 
by opening snrfaco drains where they are needed. 
Cions may be cut any time, provided the twigs 
be not frozen. Choose good, well ripened shoots, 
of last season’s growth; tie In bundles and label 
with tho greatest care. To Insure against tho loss 
of tho tag. It Is well to mark one of the cions In 
each bundle olso. Whittle a flat jdacc at the largo 
end of the twig, and then cut a number In Roman 
numerals, which sliall servo as a reference to a 
memorandum. Saw-dust Is better than sand for 
preserving the cions; keep In a cool place. 
Catalogues should be consulted, and U»c list of 
trees for spring planting mode out. Our advice is 
to always buy of the nearest reliable nurseryman. 
Manure may be applied to the orchard—not a lit¬ 
tle near tlio tree, but over tho whole surface. 
Fbntit In store is to bo kept at as low and even a 
temperature as practicable, without freezing. 
Choice pears tliat Imve been well kept bring a good 
price, especially as tho holidays approach. 
Xuraery stock can now be propagated by 
grafting. This work Is done In-doors, In unplensOTT 
weather; while tho mild days are employed In 
heading back and shaping tbc last season’s growth 
of young trees. Look to trees that were 
Heeled in for tho winter, and see that no water 
stands around them and that tho banking of earth 
is not washed away by heavy rains. 
Fruit Garden. 
Tho general directions for the orchard are for the 
most part applicable here. 
Protection of those plants that need it is usually 
done too soon; when the ground becomes crusted 
is time enough. Tender raspberries may be bent 
down and covered with earth, and a mulch put over 
tho strawberry beds, as noted on page -kiO. 
Snow, if It accumulates In tho heads of dwarf 
trees, should be shaken out while it Is yet light. 
Grape Tines, if yet unpruned, may be attended to 
on mild days. Even the hardiest do all the better 
If laid down and covered with earth. Make cut¬ 
tings and bury them, or callus them by tho process 
recommended last month on page 409. 
Phming of dwarf trees may bo done, provided no 
large wounds arc made. 
Kitchen Gurdeii. 
Wherever the condition of the ground will allow 
of the use of the plow and spade, a great deal may 
bo done to save valuable time in the spring. To 
