166 
AMERICAN AaRICULTURIST. 
[May, 
Contents for May, 1875. 
Bean and Pea Weevils Illustrated . . 186 
Bee-hive, Voices from the 176 
Begonias, Tuberous-Uooted lUustra/ed.A^ 
Blacksmitli-Shop, Farm 3 lUuslralions.A19 
Boys and Girls' Columns— Aunt Sue's Chats— Value 
of Metals— Doctor's Talks— Curious Bible Notes- 
Aunt Sue's Puzzle-Box— May, and May-Day— Kind 
of Lead in Pencils— True Dog Story— Some Strange 
Insects- Long Saturday Afternoou- Easter. . ..15 
lUustratiom 189-192 
Butter, Warming Milk for...: lUustrated . Am 
California Nutmeg lUusiraled. . 184 
Calves, Pens for 4 lltmtrattom.. 182 
Catalogues Received IJ)" 
Clamp, Useful Illustrated. .181 
Colts, Way of Breaking 2 lllustratiom . .183 
Corn, Thinning ITJ 
Dairy, Pennsylvania 4 Illustrations. .173 
Flower-Gardeu and Lawn for May 167 
Fruit Garden for May 167 
Garden Helps, Little i Illustrations.. IS'} 
Greenhouse and Window Garden for May 168 
Harness, Mending lUusiraled. .183 
Hickoi7, Budding the 187 
Hitching-Strap for a Horse Illustrated .182 
House, Convenient 6 Illustrations.. ^^2 
Household Department — Home Topics — Shirt Bosoms 
and Collars — Stoves— Rat Trap — Don't Touch the 
Children 3 Illustrations. 187-189 
Kitchen Garden for May 167 
Lambs, Care of lUusiraled . .ISi 
Liquid Manure Cart Illustrated.. 1S2 
Lobelia, New Double Illustrated..!^ 
Market Report for M.iy 168 
Ogden Farm Papers, No. 63— Sheep Raising in Fla. 
—Churns— Milk 174 
Orchard and Nursery for May 167 
Pigeon, Baldhead Illustrated.. ITi 
Science Applied to Farming 175 
Sheep-Raising in Virginia 183 
Shoes for Plows 2 Illustrations. . 180 
Soup Bunch Illustrated. . 186 
Stallion "Nightshade" : Illustrated . .Wo 
Stock Fai-m, Westera Illustrated . . 177 
Straw Mats Illustrated. . 186 
Swine Trade at the West 176 
Walks and Talks Correspondence 198 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. 137~Clover— 
Barley— Lambs— Raising Pigs 178, 179 
Wood, Sawing by Horse-Power 3 Illustrations. . 181 
Work, Hints About 166 
INDEX TO "basket," OR SHOIITER ARTICLES. 
Apple Pomace 169 
Ayrshiresand Alderneys, 
Color of. 170 
BogardusMill 169 
Book on the Horse 169 
Calves. Four at a Birth. .199 
Canal, Suez. ..'. 199 
Cart, Tnmbler 197 
Cattle, Stray 170 
Cheese, Adulteration of. .170 
Chicken Lice in a Stable. 171j 
Colorado Horticulturist. . 169, 
Corn, Fertilizers for 171 
Farm Accounts 197| 
Fence Posts, Preserving. 171] 
Flax, How to Grow 169j 
Green Clover, Saving 171] 
Hen Manure, How to use. 199 
High Priced Sticks 169, 
Hints About Work 169, 
Hogs vs. Dogs 197 
Humbugs, Sundry 170 
Jacks and Mules 171 
Jerseys for Cheese 170 
Keys, Many in One 199 
Milk, Effects of Food on. 169 
Moss and House Plants.. 1119 
Oats, Hullesa 169 
Once More 171 
Paint for Tools 170 
Plan for Barn 171 
PondMuck 199 
Potash for Potatoes 199 
Poultry Diseases 170 
Poultry, Trouble with. ..199 
Profit from Cowand hensl97 
Ptunp for Stock Farm 171 
Rain, An Inch of 199 
Rain, Where does it come 
From 199 
Salicylic Acid 199 
Salt or Plaster 170 
Salt Pork for Cows 199 
iShaving Horse 197 
Sparrows 199 
Stables, Ventilation of. .170 
Subsoiling. Effects of. . . .171 
.Suburban Homes. N. T. .169 
Tar for Shingle Roofs. . .170 
" Thovoughbred " and 
"Full Blood" 169 
[Timber Lands, Value of.l70 
jTrustworthy 169 
iTule and the "Chinee ".199 
Village and Country 
Houses 169 
Warts, To Remove 171 
Windmills... 170 
Subsoiling.— " H. W. B.," Chicago. There 
are lands that would be injured by subsoiling. It is only 
those with compact clay or gravel subsoils, that need this 
process. Many sandy or light loam soils, with open sub- 
soils, are suflQcrently loose, and need compacting rather 
than to be made more open. 
Presei'viug Fence Posts. — "B. G.," 
Delaware Co. The various chemical processes for pre- 
serving timber, are all too costly for application to fence 
posts. They can only be economically applied when a 
large number are to be operated on. Posts may be made 
more durable by tilling the holes in which they are set 
■with large stones, so that air may circulate about the 
lower part of the post, and that no earth shall touch it ; 
also Jf the post is washed with thick lime wash every 
few years. The process of painting posts with oil and 
charcoal dust, does not prevent decay in their interior. 
Calendar for May. 
■c" 
^ 
ti 
V 
o- 
;5 
;^ 
r- 
^5 
=i 
1 
S 
a 
s 
X 
M 
4 
■r 
n 
w 
fi 
■r 
( 
K 
« 
s 
H 
s 
10 
M 
11 
•I' 
V/ 
w 
i:i 
■r 
14 
V 
l"i 
s 
Hi 
s 
i> 
M 
IS 
■r 
19 
w 
;'ll 
■I' 
21 
F 
•a 
K 
n 
S 
at 
M. 
■/-, 
T 
■M 
\V 
ti 
■r 
•/s 
V 
Hit 
s 
so 
s 
31 
n 
tioston.y Eng- 
land, N. York 
State, Miclu- 
gan, iViscoyi- 
sin.Inwa, and 
Oregon. 
H.M 
4 55 
4 53 
4 52 
4 50 
4 49 
4 41 
4 4 
4 46 
4 4i 
4 44 
4 43 
4 43 
4 4i 
4 40 
4 39 
4 K 
4 3; 
4 36:7 nl 
4 36,7 18 
4 3i 7 J9 
4 34 
4 2& 
4 32 
4 32 
4 31 
4 
20 
7 21 
r 22 
7 23 
7 21 
(7 25 
4 29 7 26 
4 29,7 27 
4 2S 7 2S 
4 27 7 23 
4 2617 29 
a. ji. 
2 59 
3 21 
3 44 
4 S 
sets 
8 52 
10 14 
11 23 
morn 
9 
.57 
1 30 
1 59 
2 17 
i 33 
2 .53 
3 24 
3 41 
3 59 
rises 
9 7 
10 4 
10 .55 
11 S3 
moru 
6 
35 
1 
1 22 
1 41 
N. r. Citi/. ft., 
Pluladelplua, 
Neto Jefsetj. 
Fenn„ Ohio, 
Indiana, and 
Illinois. 
Jlo'n 
rises. 
n.M 
4 59 
4 57 
4 56 
4 54 
4 53 
4 .52 
4 51 
4 50 
4 49 
4 4S 
4 47 
4 46 
4 45 
4 44 
4 43 
4 42 
4 42 
4 41 
4 40 
n.M 
6 56 
6 5' 
6 58 
6 69 
' 
1 
2 
3 
7 8 
9 
10 
7 11 
II 
7 12 
7 13 
1 40,7 14 
4 39; 
4 38;7 16 
4 37 7 17 
4 37 7 IS 
4 36 7 19 
4 g-i 7 19 
4 3.-. 7 20 
4 34 7 21 
4 34 7 22 
4 33,7 23 
4 3il7 23 
II. jt. 
2 56 
3 20 
S 44 
4 10 
sets 
8 47 
10 7 
11 16 
morn 
2 
52 
1 26 
1 55 
2 16 
238 
2 5S 
3 25 
3 47 
4 4 
rises 
9 
9 57 
10 48 
11 29 
morn 
t I 
31 
53 
1 21 
1 44 
2 9 
\\'(isltingt07i, 
Jlari/tanti, 
Virginia.Ken. 
tuckif, Jlisson- 
ri, and Call- 
foinia. 
n.M 
5 2 
5 1 
5 
4 ,58 
4 57 
4 56 
4 55 
4 54 
4 6S 
4 52 
4 51 
4 50 
4 49 
4 48 
4 47 
4 41! 
4 46 
4 45 
4 44 
4 44 
4 43 
4 43 
4 42 
4 42 
4 41 
4 40 
4 40 
4 39 
4 39 
4 38 
4 8' 
n.M 
6 52 
6 58 
6 51 
6 5- 
6 56 
6 57 
6 58 
6 59 

1 
10 
7 10 
7 11 
7 12 
7 13 
7 14 
7 15 
7 16 
7 16 
7 1 
7 18 
7 18 
n. sr. 
2 54 
3 20 
8 45 
4 13 
sets 
8 40 
9 59 
11 3 
11 65 
innrn 
46 
1 21 
1 53 
2 14 
2 37 
2 59 
3 27 
3 50 
4 8 
rises 
8 53 
9 49 
10 40 
11 20 
11 56 
morn 
27 
55 
1 19 
1 44 
2 10 
I'HASES OF Tllli; MOON. 
New M'n 
1st Quart 
Full Jl'n 
S(l Quart. 
"BOSTON. N. TORE. WASn'N. CHa'STON CHICAGO. 
H. M. 
10 20 mo. 
2 53 mo, 
4 8 mo, 
1 46 mo. 
fi. M. 
10 s mo, 
2 41 mo 
3 50 mo. 
1 34 mo. 
n. M. 
9 56 mo 
2 29 luo 
3 42 mo 
1 22 mo 
n. M. 
9 44 mo. 
2 17 mo. 
3 SO mo. 
1 10 mo. 
H. M. 
9 14 mo. 
1 47 mo. 
3 Omo. 
40 mo. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, MAT, 1875. 
May is a busy month. So much work crowds 
upon the farmer that he is in danger of bein^ in a 
hurry. Hurried work is seldom well done. A cer- 
tain amount of deliberation is necessary to work 
well, and even to work quickly. To go slowly but 
surely, is better than to go about a thing in a hurry, 
and have the work to do over again. The diligent 
man is industrious in making preparations before 
he begins to work, so that his industry may be 
profitable. Some of the most unsuccessful farmers 
are very industrious men, but their work does not 
tell. Every hour's work in this month, that is not 
done so as to be effective hereafter, might better 
have been loft undone. That which is most urgent 
and important, should be done first. Planting and 
sowing will occupy the month, and to do this well 
is the most important business of the farm, because 
as we BOW, so do we reap. 
Hints altoitt IVork. 
Feeding Cattle, — Beeves that have been fed for 
market, should now be finished off as rapidly as 
possible. The appetite will be stimulated by a fe%v 
roots along with the dry fodder, and some exercise 
in a dry yard. The change of coat is accompanied 
by irritation of the skin, and the curry cpmb and 
brush should be used daily. 
Root Crops, — Mangels and sugar beets are valua- 
ble for stock of all kinds, and a few acres should 
be sown this month. A deep rich soil should he 
chosen, and be broken up well, and manured with 
30 loads of barn-yard manure to the acre. Lay off 
the surface in ridges 37 to 30 inches apart, roll or 
rake the ridges, and sow the seed with a hand-drill, 
at the rate of 5 pounds per acre. The middle of 
the month is the proper time in the northern states. 
A sprinlding of superphosphate of lime or guano, 
will help the young plants. A thousand bushels of 
roots, per acre, may be expected on rich soil with 
good care. Carrots may be sown this month for a 
field arop ; two pounds of good fresh seed per 
acre is a proper quantity. 
Corn. — Com planting is on many farms the great 
work of this month. Plow deeply if the soil is 
deep, but shallow soils will not stand deep plowing. 
Harrow, mark out, and plant as soon as the ground 
is plowed ; these operations should follow oaf 
another as closely as possible. Choose sound well- 
ripened seed, from ears that have been selected 
and kept for this purpose. Reject all moldy seed. 
To keep away birds, some steep the seed in W!*m 
water, in which a little pine tar has been stiiTed, 
and dry in plaster before planting. If the seed is 
sown with a drill or planter, it must not be soaked. 
Crom and other Birds.— Crovs are not so black 
as they are painted. On the whole they do more 
good than harm. While they will damage some 
com at this season, they are working for the farmer 
the rest of the year. To poison them is a great 
mistake, as well as an unnecessary cruelty. Keep 
them out of the fields of sprouting com, by scare- 
crows or any other devices, but their lives should 
not be sacrificed by shot or poison. The same will 
apply to the majority of birds. Even owls and 
hawks do some good, and there are methods of. 
preventing them from doing mischief on the farm, 
without slaughtering them indiscriminately. 
Grain Melds. — Fine fertilizers of any kind may 
be apjilied to winter or spring grain. Wood-ashes, 
poultiy droppings, plaster or guano, are all valuable 
at this season. 
Meadows,— Do not pasture meadows. There is 
nothing gained by it. It would be more profitable 
to buy hay or roots, than to do this. Any of the 
fine fertilizers before mentioned, are as applicable 
to grass as to grain crops. 
SoaeU, — This is the best time in the year to repair 
roads. The surfaces of holes or gullies should be 
worked over with the . pick and loosened before 
fresh earth is laid on ; the union of the old and 
fresh earth is then more complete. Round up the 
center of the road, and lower the side ditches ; a 
wet road can never be kept in good condition. 
Mowing MaeMnes, — On rainy days it will be well 
to overhaul the mower. Take out all the bolts, 
clean all the moving parts and gears with kerosene 
oil, then oil them with pure lard or sperm oil, and 
replace the bolts, first putting some clean tallow 
on the screw-threads of the bolts and nuts. When 
all is clean, throw a barn sheet over the machine, 
to keep it free from dust. Scythes may be ground 
up and prepared for nest month's work, and hay 
rakes suppUed with new teeth. Any tools or 
machines that are to be procured. Should be looked 
after now. Consult the advertising columns for 
information as to the makers' and dealers' names. 
Manure. — Nothing that can add to the manure 
pile, should be wasted. Cattle yards should be 
raked over, and the droppings removed to the pile 
every day. Let no stable manure remain scattered 
and exposed to the sun and rain. 
Fbtatoes. — Early potatoes should be put in at once. 
Plant shallow, and earth up as soon as the sprout 
appears ; it frost is feared, cover up in the after- 
noon with an inch of fine soil. Plant good sized 
ripe seed, and give small potatoes to the pigs. 
ibj<?<r!/.— Fowls will do well anywhere but in the 
garden. Provide coops that may be closed at night 
for young chickens, and keep them closed until the 
dew is dried from the grass. Cold and damp are 
the causes of more fatality among chicks, than any 
other evils. Young ducks are excelleut to destroy 
insects in the garden ; a hen or two cooped with 
broods of ducklings, will do more good in this 
way, than almost any other remedy, and they are 
self-acting. 
Swine. — Hogs are scarce this season. There wilt 
be a demand for light pigs next fall, and it a good 
thoroughbred boar has not been secured, no time 
should be lost. A newly farrowed sow will take 
the boar in three days after pigging. She will go 
sixteen weeks, and pigs may be looked for in Sep- 
tember. The pigs may be made to weigh 100 lbs. 
by Christmas. Spring pigs, if pushed now, and 
kept on good clover pasture during summer, may 
weigh 300 lbs. by winter. A sow is simply a farm 
machine for the production of pigs, and should 
not be kept idle, and as with other machines — keep 
only the best. See article on page 176. 
Sheep. — Ewes with early lambs, it not to be kept 
for breeding, should be kept well fed, and separat- 
ed from the lambs as soon as there is good grass. 
The lambs should have a little extra food during 
