DEVOTED TO AGKICULTUilE AND ITS KINDKED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



VOL. X. 



BOSTON, MARCH, 1858. 



NO. 3. 



.TOEI/ NOURSB, Proprietoe. 

 Office. ..13 Commercial St. 



SIMON BROWN, EDITOR. 



FRED'K HOLBROOK, ) Associate 

 HENRY F. FRENCH, \ Editors. 



CALENDAR FOR MARCH. 



"The seasons alter: hoary headed frosts 



Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose ; 



* * * * the Spring, the Summer, 



The chilling Autumn, angry Winter, change 



Their wonted liveries ; and the amazed world. 



By their increase, now know not ■nhich is which." 



ARCH. — Spring has 

 now come, at least 

 in name. Around 

 the word Sjmng 

 cluster a thousand 

 pleasant associa- 

 tions. It is sug- 

 --^-^ ' ^ gestive of soft airs 

 ''^ and gentle breez- 

 es, and the sing- 

 nids, and opening 

 iloweis and green leaves. — 

 But in our northern clime we 

 must wait patiently for its 

 actual advent, for 



"Winter often lingers in the lap of 

 Spring," 



and chills all her ardors, and we 

 not unusually have occasion to re- 

 peat, day after day, the invocation : 

 "Come, gentle Spring, ethereal mildness, come." 

 In more southern latitudes and more genial 

 climes, March is a pleasant, sunny month. In our 

 southern States the gardens are often planted in 

 March. The ground is prepared for corn and 

 cotton, and much of the seed put in. But March 

 is by no means to be an idle month with us north- 

 ern farmers. The wood is to be cut and split and 

 piled up. The posts and rails to be got ready for 

 use. The walls thrown by frost or cattle, to be 

 repaired or new portions laid. If the frost is out 

 of the ground, posts maybe set, and all the fences 

 put in order. Farm implements should be looked 

 to, and every one of them put in complete repair. 

 If a new point is wanting to a plow, do not wait 

 till it is time to begin plowing, but procure one 



now, so that when team and men are ready there 

 shall be no delay. Get all the chains mended, 

 and overhaul the harnesses, and if you find any 

 weak parts, either mend them yourself or take 

 them to the harness-maker. It will be vexatious 

 to have a buckle draw out or a strap break while 

 you are plowing or hauling a heavy load of ma- 

 nure, and have to turn out the team and lose half 

 a day in getting it mended. See, also, that the 

 harnesses are well oiled, and that collars and 

 hames and yokes all fit well, so that when you 

 come to put them in motion, the work shall go 

 on rapidly and pleasantly to both man and beast- 

 The noble horse that exerts his strength in our 

 service, is entitled to all the relief that can be de- 

 rived from a well fitting harness. An easy, well- 

 adjusted yoke for the oxen will contribute much, 

 to their comfort. "We saw some yokes at the Ag- 

 ricultural Exhibition in Boston, last October, that 

 might almost tempt the patient ox to desire "to 

 pass under the yoke." With good harnessesand 

 yokes and plows suited to the work to be done, 

 and constructed ixpon scientific principles, it is 

 surprising with how much moi-e ease to the beast, 

 and pleasure and satisfaction to the plowman, 

 the work can be done. 



All kinds of stock should be well cared for this 

 month. The oxen should be so fed that they may 

 be in good heart for the season of hard labor that 

 is before them. The cows must by no means be 

 neglected. If cows are reduced in flesh in the 

 spring, it takes half the summer for them to re- 

 cruit, and of course the profits fi-om them is 

 small. 



Sheep require special attention this month. A 

 pint of oats a day, or a few turnips cut fine, to 

 each of your ewes, will be amply repaid by more 

 vigorous lambs and the better health of the sheep. 

 See that their pens and yards are kept dry, lest 

 you find the foot-rot among them, before you 

 suspect it. March is considered a trying month 

 for all kinds of stock. They have been so long 

 without green food, that they begin to suffer for 



