Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1879 — FARM NOTES. [ARTICLE]

FARM NOTES.

Hint* About Winter Farm Work[From the American Agriculturist for December.] The close of the year is usually an interesting period to the farmer, but the end of the present one is especially so. For some years past, there has not been much to encourage farmers in their work, except, perhaps, the general feeling, that “bad times” could not last forever, and at length a change must come. After many seasons of patient waiting, the looked-for change has arrived, and as we go through our barns and granaries, and consult our accounts, we may find that our work this present year has repaid ns for many past poor ones. There are exceptions here, as in all other business. Until recently, dairying was discouraging indeed, but, with the advance in prices to more than donble the rates current only three months ago, cheerfulness has succeeded to despondency. The promise for the next year is very encouraging; a greatly increased breadth of wheat has been sown, and the weather has been f&vorable for its growth. Indeed, in some cases, the wheat and rye are too vigorous, and if warm weather occurs with rains this month the growth may be too luxuriant. Fodder Stacks. —As a precaution against rain and melting snow, the tops of fodder-stacks may be covered with a few sheaves of long straw, tightly bound about the top of the stack, or to a stake thrust down into its center for a few feet.

Top Dressing.— If manure is needed for winter grain now is the time to apply it. It may be used fresh and coarse without losing much in value. Every straw spread over the wheat is of great tenefit. Mulching is a protection against extremes of both heat and cold, and preserves the orop during sudden and severe changes of the weather. Pasturing Fall Grain. —If the fall grain is in danger of jointing it should be pastured without delay. It is often a great help to the wheat or rye to let sheep or calves upon it. They eat down luxurious growth and tread the soil firmly about the roots. If no other stock are available for this purpose cows may be let into the winter grain fields. Potatoes and Hoots. —Pits and cellars should be examined as to the condition of the contents. If too warm, ample ventilation must be given at once. A freezing temperature will not injure roots or potatoes if they are exposed to it but a short time. If they are found too warm in the cellar, the heaps should be turned over and well aired. Tho best temperature is one just above the freeziug point. The Leisure of Winter.— While there is always something to do about a farm, the winter sQason offers considerable leisure for the farmer. For the best use of this time nothing can be more profitable than to procure and use a small select library of books of an instructive kind. To read for amusement only is not recommended, because information of a valuable kind can be procured in such a form as to be interesting and agreeable. Surface Drains.—ll not already made, ample drains should be provided to free the fields from surface water. Drains that have been plowed out may need clearing in places with spade or hoe, that the water may pass off readily. In laying out open drains the slopes should be so made that the water will no flow off too rapidly—with a gentle inclination only; in this case much of the water will soak into the soil, and will not wash away either the soil or any manure that is on the slopes. Swamp Muck. —Where there is a supply of swamp muck, as much of it as convenient may be usefully spread over the yards, pens and stables as an absorbent. If swamp muck contains 2 per cent, of nitrogen—some has been found to contain even more —a ton is worth $lO for this ingredient alone at its market price. No ordinary stable manure is so rich in nitrogen as that. A muck bed may well be said to be invaluable, for one acre, three feet deep, furnishes 2,500 tons, lmviDg a value, at the above figures, equal to $25,000. Management of Manure The barnyard is the field for winter work. Much may be done here by skillful management. Manure, so long as it is frozen, remains unchanged, and the preparation of the manure in the best manner for use in the spring makes no progress. Make a central heap in the yard, and by means of a few planks and a wheelbarrow move the manure from the stable each day to this heap. If the heap is built up square and made four feet high it will keep warm in the coldest weather, and while warm it will ferment and rot.

Turnin g Manure. - A large heap may be turned by beginning at each end and throwing off the manure to a distance of about three feet; gradually move it from each end, until there gre two heaps. After the manure has remained in this way for a few weeks, replace the two heaps, making one heap again, thus turning the manure very thoroughly twice. In turning, the manure should be shaken thoroughly apart, and all the lumps broken. Two loads of manure so treated do as much immediate good as will three of coarse, lumpy stuff. The Granary and Cribs. —A large quantity of grain is stored, awaiting higher prices. This may be wise or otherwise. One thing to be considered is the loss by shrinkage and wastes in the granary and crib. Wheat in the granary is subject to injury by the weevil and the grain moth. This damage may be prevented to some extent by shifting the grain and running it through the fanning-mill. Corn cribs are almost always infested by rats and mice. A vermin-proof crib may be made by covering the posts and lower comers with tin or sheetiron, which may be painted for preservation. The loss by these causes will average 18 per cent., and often more, of the value of the grain, but it may be in part or wholly avoided by care and precaution. Ice Ponds. —Every house and dairy, however small the latter may be, should' have a supply of ice. If there is no pond, a small stream may be dammed and the water backed up, to make a pond. A considerable supply may be procured by making of boards a large box a foot deep, similar to a mortar bed, and claying the joints. If this is filled with water, in cold weather, an exposure of two or three days will be safficient to make a cake of ice, which may be put up in this shape with little trouble. A large block of iee has been made in the house itself, by making a frame of boards in the center, and gradually filling it up, so that the water freezes solidly each night. Additions in height are made to the frame as required, and the sawdust is packed around it. In this way a solid block of ice, ten feet each way, weighing over thirty tons, has been made duiing tbe winter by means of adiose from a pump. Such a block of ice wastes very little in the summer.