AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
FOR THE 
Farm, Grarden, and Household. 
"AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST IIEALTIIFUL, MOST USEFUL, AN" MOST NOBLE EMPLOYMENT OF MAN."- «•„„„„,, 
ORANGE JUDD, A.M., ) 
EDITOR AND PBOPEIETOK. > 
Office, *1 Park; Row, (Times Buildings.) ) 
ESTABLISHED IN 1842. 
Pnhlishcd both in English, and German. 
I $1.00 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE 
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t For Contents, Terms, etc., sec page 324. 
VOLUME XXII— No. 7. 
NEW-YORK, JULY, 1803. 
NEW SERIES— No. 198. 
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1S63, by 
Oi:an-(;k .Jimp, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
tlir fJnited States for the Southern District of New-York. 
r£'-<Hhi.T J.iu.nals are invited to copy desirable articles 
freely, pencil article be credited to American Agriculturist. 
Suggestions and Notes for the Month- 
Summer reigns. The beautiful clays of June, 
like lovely maidens, scattered roses in the path 
as the advancing season, journeyed from its 
Southern home, and now July places the regal 
harvest crown upon its head. Oriental splen- 
dor never equalled the gorgeousness of its court. 
Field and forest are waving triumphal banners, 
and earth refulgent with golden sunshine is a 
lit palace for the glorious monarch. But with 
the blaze of royalty comes also something of its 
oppressiveness. The air trembles with the 
waves of the sultry tide, and nature would fain 
seek friendly shelter from the noon-day glare. 
It is unwise for man to neglect the teachings of 
animal instinct, and while beast and bird hide 
themselves in the forest until the fierceness of 
the sunshine is abated, he too should rest from 
his labors. Want of time need be no excuse for 
imprudent exposure and exhausting labor, when, 
as often occurs the heat rises to above 90°. Let 
the labors of the harvest commence with the 
early dawn, be suspended during the oppressive 
mid-day, resumed as the sun declines, and con- 
tinue while the light remains, and more can be 
accomplished with greater ease, and with no 
danger of sun stroke or exhaustion. Men should 
be merciful to themselves as well as to their 
cattle, and they will find it no less profitable. 
The amount and influence of heat derived by 
the earth from the sun, form an interesting topic 
of thought for a noon-day rest, and as many 
cultivators will look to the Agriculturist for in- 
structive entertainment on such occasions, we 
will note a few facts on the subject. The 
average amount of heat received from this 
source year by year, has been quite accurately 
determined by scientific observations. Youmans 
states that it has been found by careful measure- 
ment, that the quantity of solar heat which falls 
upon a square foot of the earth's surface in a 
year, would be sufficient to melt 5,400 lbs. of 
ice; and as a cubic foot of ice weighs 5-1 lbs., 
the heat thus annually received, would melt a 
column of it 100 feet high; or in other words, if 
the globe were encased in ice 100 feet thick, the 
heat from the sun would cause it to disappear 
in a single year. It is true this heat is unequal- 
ly distributed, for the earth moves in such 
a position with reference to the sun, that the 
rays of the latter strike less directly and conse- 
quently with less intensity upon different parts 
of the surface. Were this not the case, climate 
would be the same in all latitudes. All coun- 
tries would produce the same animals and vege- 
tables, and races of men would iu time be almost 
wholly assimilated. But the design of the 
the Creator was diversity as well as harmony, 
and by the present arrangement we have the 
luxuriant vegetation, luscious fruits, mammoth 
animals, and fiery but unenduring men of the 
tropics ; the useful trees, grains, and animals, 
and enterprising races of the temperate zones, 
and the stunted growth of far northern life ; 
each fulfilling the conditions of its own sphere, 
and each capable of administering to the gene- 
ral good. It is left to the industry of man to 
make the stores of these different climates sub- 
servient to his own needs, and thus a constant 
stimulus is given to his energies. The wheat 
now falling before the reaper in the great West, 
will feed the operators in European workshops, 
and in return bring their wares to the door of 
the cultivator. Thus, though climate causes 
diversity, provision is made also for the brother- 
hood of the race, and the great law of harmony 
is complete. Happy will it be for the world 
when its working shall be developed according 
to the design of the Great Lawgiver. 
Work for the Farm, Household, etc. 
It too frequently occurs that haying and har- 
vesting, which cannot be delayed without loss, 
require attention before the hoed crops have 
been thoroughly worked. The backwardness 
of the season will be likely to intensify this state 
of things the present year, and it should be pro- 
vided against. Make thorough work in the 
corn field, even if it be necessary to employ 
extra help at high cost. Weeds left now will 
grow rapidly, and not only seriously diminish 
the yield of grain, but ripen their seed, and cause 
much hard work to subdue them another season. 
It is essential that the soil be left loose and mel- 
low, that the roots may find their way through 
it easily, and that plenty of air and moisture may 
be supplied, which are especially needed in hot 
weather. A well tilled field will continue to 
grow during a drouth that would greatly injure 
corn standing on a compact, unbroken soil. 
Endeavor to engage plenty of help before the 
busy time commences. The iron muscles of 
the mower and reaper are more profitable and 
more easily managed than human laborers. 
The horse pitchfork will be equivalent to one 
or more extra hands. At no time of the year is 
more care needed to prevent loss of health by 
over-work, and true economy requires that 
whenever possible, enough hell) should be se- 
cured to prevent a danger from this source. 
Barns and Sheds if not already in order to 
receive crops, should be attended to now. Have 
ladders or other conveniences at hand for as- 
cending mows and stacks. Read suggestions 
under this head in last month's calendar. Pro- 
tect such building's with lightning-rods, and also 
keep them well insured against loss by fire. 
Bees. — Important directions for their manage- 
ment are given on another page, under "Apiary." 
Buckioheat. — Sow where corn has failed, and 
on new, or pasture land to be devoted to winter 
grain. A few acres with this crop may add 
largely to the profits of the year. The grain 
will be excellent ground with oats for feeding 
stock iu the Fall, or will find a ready market 
when manufactured into flour. Read "Buck- 
wheat versus Summer Fallow," on page 203. 
Butter-malting in hot weather requires extra 
care. The milk room should if possible he kept 
at a temperature not above 60°, by the use of 
ice or by cold spring water running through the 
room. If cellars are used for dairying purposes, 
keep them clean and sweet by frequent while- 
washing, and ventilate freely. Allow nothing 
having strong odor to remain in the vicinity. 
The barrel for sour milk, whey, etc., to be fed 
to swine, should never be allowed in the milk 
room. In sending butter to market, keep it 
shaded from the sun ; freshly cut grass, slightly 
moistened, is a good material in which to pack 
the tubs. Keep all utensils perfectly clean and 
sweet, with the tinned ware scoured bright. 
Cabbages may be cultivated with profit as 
food for stock and poultry, or for market when 
accessible. Transplant to ground from which 
early potatoes are taken this month, and 
sow seed now to have plenty of young plants in 
readiness when they are wanted for late. 
Cattle for fattening next Fall should have a 
good start by being allowed full pasture dur- 
ing summer. There should be free access to 
water. If pasture for milch cows be short, feed 
night and morning with cut grass, clover, or 
millet, corn, etc., from the ground devoted to 
that purpose. Calves will thrive well upon a 
good growth of clover with little other feed. 
Cheese is more easily managed than butter 
during the extreme hot season, and often more 
profitable. Read suggestions given on page 206. 
Draining. — Observe where water stands dur- 
ing summer, and prepare for draining as soon 
as practicable. The low marshy portions of 
some farms contain its most valuable land, if 
properly reclaimed. Diy weather is best for 
draining if there be time and help sufficient to 
attend to it. Surplus capital can at any time be 
