1858.] 
AMERICAN ■'AG-RICULTURIST. 
ses 
1hc very bigU price which butter briugs. We 
)ic:irtily wish t'lrmcra could realize the retail prices 
;i5ked in the cities and large towus fur their pro- 
ducts — butter 65 cents per pound — tliiuk of it ; gel 
it If you can — though 35 eeutb will jm?/. Examine 
hay for evidence of ergutized seed (growu three or 
four times its natural size — the etfect uf a disease). 
This probably is the cause of abortion in cows, 
which has been so disastrous In many sections of 
late years. Any cow that is ailing in the least, 
thould be removed from others. If one of a herd 
tliuks her calf, three or four may follow suit, and 
probably will. Filthy ttables provoke abortion. 
Yvuiiy Stock of all kinds bhuuld be kejit vii^or- 
uusly growing all A\'iuler. Warm -dry yards, sheds 
or stables, some grain or roots, and plenty of fresh 
\vater and salt, with regular care, will ensure thrift 
.■lud much better sized animals than if the winter 
treatment checlcs their grow^th, as is usually the 
case. Their manure will be worth soiuethiug, too. 
S/xep. — If sheep are in pioor condition now, tljey 
must be gradually brought up ; feed oats lu the 
sheaf, a few daily, .and some roots aud good hay. 
When grass fails, hemlock boughs once or twice a 
w eek are good. Let all have the rauge of dry yards 
or fields, aud warm sheds well ventilated. The 
period of gestation in ewes is about 5 months, (153 
days,) aud a Hoek in good order is rarely served in 
less than 3 to 5 weeks. If sheep put up to fat at 
this season, sell in February, March, or April for 
enough to pay their present value, .and for all the 
t,rain fed toSliem, there is a profit. Their manure 
will be full pay iu many places. 
i/i«7.s. — Watch the pork market, and if there is a 
certainty of taking advantage of high prices before 
the geueral killing takes place, do so, otherwise 
rouiplete the fattening. If nowhere else, there 
is at least a large gain iu the manure heap. 
Refer to articles ou hog killing in the Jauuary 
number (p. Iti). Iu killiugail sfjuealingaud fighting 
is stopped by shootiug a wooden plug into the 
iiead between the eyes, easily done, and a most 
humane practice; use very little powder. Feed on- 
ly cooked or soaked food; ground if possible. 
JhuUnj. — See article on fattening fowl.^. It is 
equally applicable to other poultry. For ducks for 
3'our owu table, feed meal scalded and mixed with 
celery leaves chopped fine, for 3 or 3 weeks before 
killing. It gives them the flavor of canvas-backs. 
Iu warm, light houses, sjiring pullets lay all winter 
^f'lniu'e. — The value of the mauiu'c of animals 
stands in direct relationship to the value of the 
food they eat. Poultry have the richest food ; men 
next, hogs next, fatteuii^ cattle, horses, sheep, 
cows and growing stock follow in about this order. 
The feed of well fed beeves is usually richer than 
that of horses, aud so is that of fattening sheeiJ 
sometimes, but this varies. Here, however, is a 
true measure of the value of the droppings, aud of 
the care that should be taken of each kind. The 
farmer's business is to make manure just as much 
as it is to make money, and he should do it first by 
saving. Ileu-duug is easily saved by making the 
birds roost over a floor sprinkled with earth, 
■» hich is swept up and freshly earthed every week. 
Calculate to have ,'j manure aud "3 earth. Save 
the next on the list on precisely the same principle 
— that is, mingling it witli Sg its bulk of dry fine 
soil, but do it every day or two. — See the box, etc., 
figured ou page 319. — Hog manure is saved and pre- 
eerved by mixing it with earthy or vegetable mat- 
ters, anything that will decay, but especially articles 
soft, porous aud bulky, as weeds, sods, bogs, peat, 
e'.e. The droppings of horses are very profitably 
added either to the manure of the sty, or mixed 
with that of neat stock, especially to that ot young 
cattle and cows, ^^hieU is thus brought up to a 
liigher standard. Manure of all other kinds is 
kept aud improved by admixture of straw, leaves, 
etc., aud especially by being laid up in heaps over 
beds of rails, so that the liipior which leaches from 
it naturally, or after being pumped on, m.iy be re- 
lumed aud pumped over it agaiu. Where this can 
not be done, it should be mixed with sods, dry 
peat, or muck, or even simple soil, and laid !•> n 
compost heap as fast as it accumulates. The ma- 
uure harvest is from November to May. 
riowhiij. — By all means do .as much plowing this 
f.dl as possible. Use a j)low tint will lay a furrow 
as flat .as a floor. Flow in manure deep for corn, 
potatoes and root crops, but not for small grains. 
Leave no manure ou the surface, except fine com- 
posts that may be harrowed iu. Laud is well pre- 
pared in this way for seeding in spring to clover 
or grass without an accompanying grain crop. 
Grain luckls. — Prevent water standing anywhere 
ou wiuter grain or young grass, by 
i:iuyface Drains. — Make siirfaee water courses to 
conduct oil' water from si>ots where it mii}' \\asli 
.and do damage, by euttiug chauuels or by biingiug 
ou dirt or gravel. Continue 
Undcr-drainbig also, as long as the ground is not 
frozen hard. Laborers are easier got in November 
than at most other times. The ditches must be 
well filled, and the eurth pounded down, or the 
water will wash them out in the spring. 
^^'ood. — See article ou splitting. It is a good 
time now to gather the " down stuff" in the wood 
lot, which is useful for light quick fires. 
Orchard and Niii'§ei'}'. 
When we advocate autumn planting, we do not 
mean to advise planting in winter. Iu general, the 
present month is too late to plant, and it is much 
better to hecl-iu the trees, received thus late, than 
to set them. Trees properly planted will uot need 
stakes, but if it must be done to save a weak or in- 
jured one, a single stake witli a twisted straw rojic, 
as described in April, 1S03, will be best. See page 
399 for protecting young trees during winter. 
Ciiltr Makliuj still continues. Good, sound, and 
clean apfjles, absolute cleanliness of the casks and 
every thing used iu the process, ai'e essnitial to the 
production of the best article. If what the Ger- 
mans call apple wine (Apfel-Wein) be desired, Ibl- 
low directions for grape juice in Sept., page 3'.i5t 
Cellars. — Close up only when there is danger of 
freezing. Fruit should be kept at a uniform low 
temperature — as low as it can be withcjut injuiy. 
The changes th.at go on in ripening fruit, generate 
heat, aud this should be borne iu iniud. They also 
cause the liberation of inj^u■^)U3 gases, and when 
fruit is stored iu cellars under dwellings, ventila- 
tion should be provided. An opening into the flue 
of a chimney is as good as any other 
Cioiis may be cut at any time after vegetation has 
ceased. Select this year's shoots with short joints, 
tie in bundles, label carefully, and keep cool and 
from drying. Damp sand or earth \vm do, but saw- 
dust is better, as it will not injure the grafter's kuife. 
Laheh. — Trees from the nursery often have the 
labels closely wired to a limb ; these should be 
loosened, or what is better, taken off altogether, 
and h.ave the small copper wire replaced by one of 
lead or by a leather strap. Have every tree li- 
belled for conveuient reference, and so recorded 
as to leave no possibility of losing the name. 
Manure can bo put upon the orchard at any time 
after the ground is frozen. Manure the whole sur- 
face, aud do not make a mound around the trunk. 
Stocks must be taken up belbre the ground freezes. 
Those intended for rout-grafting are to be assorted, 
tied in bundles and packed in the cellar in sawdust. 
Take up all apple aud pear stocks, and preserve 
those too small to graft, to set agaiu next year. 
Secdlinrjs generally have a hard time of it the first 
winter. Leaves and the boughs uf cedar aud 
other evergreens make a good protection. 
Cuttings, if the ground is open, may be set. Sec 
article on uuttings in October, page 361. 
Iiit(>lieu Ciardvii. 
Whenever the ground is open, somethiug may be 
done to help along next spring's work. See last 
month for suggestions about nu^nures. Clear up 
all rubbish, lay drains, and do all jirflpnratory work 
whenever the weather will allow.' 
page 3G;;, will need a gradual covering; or, if the 
roots have been put in heaps, pits may yet be made. 
Cahba;ics. — Plants iu cold frames are to be fully 
exjiused every mild day. Take in tlie late crop, as 
directed last month. Cattle relish the loose leaves. 
Cderij should never be put in (00 soon, it will 
stand light frosts, but should not be thoroughly 
frozen. 8ee last month's directions for wintering. 
Jlurne-radlsh. — Dig and cover In pits, as directed 
for other roots. Save small roots to set next year. 
Hvthcils. — If not already done, procure a lot of 
good soil and put under cover, or cover with boardc. 
J\(rsnlps aud Siilslffj may be dug whenever the 
ground is open, but it is best to have a supply for 
use iu culd w eather preserved lu sand in the cellar. 
lihubarb. — Whenever the ground is open, new 
beds may be made, by dividing the old rooti, tak- 
ing care to keep an eye or bud with each, and set- 
ting deeply in richly manured soil. 
S}ilnach. — Cover with straw or leaves. 
Fruit Garden. 
The general directions of last month may be fol 
lowed wherever they will apply. Iu locations 
where the climate will admit of it, planting of 
dwarf trees, blackberries, currants, etc., may con- 
tinue. Manure as directed under orchard. 
Fiijs Trees arc to be laid dowu aud covered with 
earth, or if there is danger from much water, take 
up with a large ball of earth and put in the cellar. 
Grape Vines. — Prune as soon as the leaves are off 
— this is tefien to prune. How to prune will de- 
pend upon the vine and the person's knowledge of 
its manner of growth. We can only give general 
directions. Look at your vine now that it is di- 
vested of leaves. All that is seen of the wood of 
the present year's growth, has borne aud done its 
duty. The buds upon the canes, that uow look so 
insignificant, are next spring to throw out vigorous 
shoots and bear fruit. If all the buds ar left, there 
will be many weak shoots and little fruit. If this 
year's shoots are cut back to two or three buds, 
these remaining buds will jiush out vigorous shoots 
and produce mucli better fruit than if the vine had 
been allowed to run wild. Have this in mind 
whenever the vine is pruned — the buds, aud not the 
wood uow on the vine, are to produce the fruit. 
Prune understandiugly. We have given full direc- 
tions with engravings in previous numbers. 
Grapes may be preserved a long time, if put iu 
boxes and kept at an even lo^v temperature. Tho 
Catawba and Diana are the best keepers. Grapes 
with a tender skin, that breaks at the least pres- 
sure, are not good for keeping. 
Rars. — The wiuter sorts are to be kept as here- 
tofore recommended for wintcrapples. Keep them 
cool until the time of their ripening, and then 
bring them into a warm room. 
Jtas2Jbcrrie.i. — Tender kinds arc to be bent dowu 
and covered with eartli. If the old canes have 
uot been cut out, do it at the time of laying dowu. 
Strawberries. — There is no need of covering until 
the ground is crusted. The object of covering is, 
to avoid alternate freezing and thawing. Too much 
covering, provided it smothers the plants, is worse 
than none at all. 
Flower CSardcii and Lawii. 
All work here will be governed by the character 
of the season. In fineweather, grading, making new 
walks, new borders, etc., may be carried on. It is 
well to compare the views, after the leaves have 
fallen, with thoseof midsummer, aud obscrvcwherc 
pleasing views may be opened by removiug the 
trees, and note the unpleasant objects that m.ay be 
shut out by judicious planting. Clean up all rub- 
bish. Cover tender plants and put everything need- 
ing it into winter quarters by the end of the month. 
Bulbs. — Take up GVidiolus, Tuberoses, Tiger- 
flowers, etc., before hard frosts. Dry them off and 
then put in paper in a dry place, where mice 
will not reach them. If the ground is open, put 
(ijjt eprfu^ )|o>yprjog l<u!bs, Hyacintbs, Tulips, ele^ 
