Winter Work

If not already clone, look over the farra buildings, and if you find a board loose, nuil ït on; if there are cracks through which Bnovv and wind have free entrance to horse or cattle stable, or slieep pen either, remove the boards and nail them on again closer together, making a close fitting joint, which is quickly done by the use of ajjack plane. or batten the cracks, and for want of any tning better, use laths, which may be obtained from any lumber dealer, and one bundle will go a long way towarda making a large stable or pen warm and comfortable. Many lariners negieut tuen outuic floors until they are worn so thin that their horses actually break through them, and many a fine animal's leg is badly sprained, bruised, or disabled by this glaring neglect. Elm makes an excellent and durable stable floor, the ftbre of the wood being tough and yielding: however, the plank should always be pinned in position, as they are constantly Hable to warp. Oak also makes a durable floor, but is so hard and unyielding that, during the flrst half year of its use.some horses are Hable to slip and injure themselves in getting ftip. All soft woods make good floors, but are not lasting. Look to the mangers and f eed boxes; see that they are of ampie size, and tree f rom holes, that are of ten a source of considerable waste. There is another thing that should not be tolerated, viz. : allowing fowls free access to the stables; they not only render much of the feed unlït for use, but make the stable fllthy, to say nothing of the liability, danger and trouble from hen lice. It is but a matter of three or four dollars expense, and a couple of days' work, to make a roomy, comfortable hennery, and if possible, have it dteconnected from other buildings, but in a warm, sheltered location, Eggs are now worth thirty-flve cents a dozen, and if you desire plenty of them, for the table or market, during the winter months, a good strain of either white or brown Leghorns, or Rymouth Rocks, provide a warm shelter, with plenty of mixed feed, such as corn, buckwheat, vegetables, and scraps of fresh meat, with a box of dry earth, in which to dust themselves, and you will not have labored in vain. Keep your eye on the wood pile, and see that it is always kept of good size, and of dry, seasoned material for it is the poorest imaginable economy to burn green wood; it tries the patience and ruffles the temper of many a good housewife to be continually stirring the fire, and coaxing it to burn, and many an excellent batch of pastry is utterly ruined for want of a good fire to give a hot oven, ia which to bake it. But one ruffled farmer, whom the shoe fits too closely, speaks up and says: "I know it is quite a bother to burn green wood, but somehow I never get time to cut and haul only a few loads at once." Then I say, take time, for you most certainly are laboring under a delusion, for there are, no doubt, many days and half days during even the winter months, that would only require a little more ambition on your part to work up, or cause it to be done, a sufficient supply of wood to last a year, besides the satisfaction of knowing that, no matter how cold, blustering, and disagreeable the weather, you have a good supply of dry fuel within easy reach, which should stimulate many to renewed effort and exertions in the wood pile line. If you intend building a line of fence, cut the posts, split and haul where wanted, and if you are in want of boards, plank, or other lumber, now is the time to cut and haul the logs to the mili, or haul from a distance the lumber needed duriug the coming year. Tile may be hauled while the sleighlng is good, and piled up at Bome convenient place in the field where to be used; also haul brick and stone, if needed and convenient of access. Usually such articles as are intended for use in the spring or summer may now be purchased at a satisfaclorv discount. Stock of all kinds require water, yet not in as large quantities as during summer; if they are obliged to obtain water at a pond or river, theu select some point where the bank is low, and the water shallow, and cut away the ice from the bank, until the water is reached; by this plan animáis may stand on the earth while drinking; allow but few to frequent the watering place at a time; it saves crowding and hooking, and the weaker ones are not forced upon the ice to fall, or be disabled. Sheep, especially fine wool, to do well, need a warm shelter, and good food, and while they may be allowed the range of the yard or small field, even, on pleasant days, yet they should not be necessitated to each day wade through snow to a watering place; better carry water to them on cold, blustering days, than drive them out, for they will frequently Eorego the use of' water rather than face the storm.