AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
FOR THE 
Far-iTi, Grarden, and. HonseliolcL. 
'AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST HEALTHFUL, MOST USEFUL, ANU MOST NOBLE EMPLOYMENT OF MM.»-\V,.i„„„, 
ORAJfGE JIIDD, A.M., ) 
EDITOK AND PHOPHIETOK. > 
, 41 Park Row, (Times Buildings.) ) 
ESTABLISHED IN 1842. 
Published botli in English and German. 
$1.00 PEE ANNUM, INT ADVANCE 
SINGLE NUMBEB, 10 CENTS. 
For Contents, Terms, etc., sec pagc23G. 
TOLUME XXII— No. 8. 
NEW-YORK, AUGUST, 1863. 
NEW SERIES— No. 199. 
Entered according to act of Congress in tlie year 1S63, by 
')raxgb Juod, in tlie Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
le United States for tlte Southern District of New- York. 
'" Oilier Journals arc invited to copy desirable articles 
'cly, if each article be credited to American Agriculturist. 
Suggestions and Notes for the Month. 
The great work of the season is over. The 
hot strife upon the harvest field has heen crown- 
ed with victory J and the husbandman has borne 
away his golden trophies to the storehouse. He 
may now well relax his energies by a brief sea- 
son of rest and recreation. There is yet much to 
be done before the campaign closes, and it is 
wise to recruit, before the plow is again driven 
afield, or the treasures of the cornfield secured. 
Tlie writer well remembers how in younger 
days the prospect 01 a fishing excursion after 
harvest was like an oasis in the unending round 
of farm labor. It maybe questioned whether 
in the universal strife for acquiring, American 
farmers are not sacrificing more than is neces- 
sary or wise. It is noticeable that farmers as a 
class, although surrounded by the most favora- 
ble conditions for enjoyment in life, yet bear the 
strongest marks of toil and care. It is not alone 
that the face is browned and the hands harden- 
ed by exposure and labor ; the spirit of the 
man seems as rigid as his muscles, and he comes 
to regard work as the chief end of life. Here 
and there an open, genial countenance beaming 
with sunshine, shows tlie man appreciative of 
something more than money getting ; and in 
such cases it is almost invariably found that the 
man mingles recreation with his labor. If there 
be a pond or stream within reach, he has a con- 
venient boat, and well arranged fishing tackle; 
if it be where game abounds, he is supplied with 
rifle, fowling piece, and ammunition. " All work 
and no play," makes dull men as well as dull 
boys, and he is wise who unbends his muscles 
and his thoughts from severe toil before they are 
hardened into rigid severity. It is possible for 
a man to coin all his finer feelings, his better 
aspirations, and all the genial emotions of his 
nature into gold, by restraining eveiy indulgence 
which interferes with nuking and saving money, 
but there was never a greater mistake than to 
call such a man rich, though he may be able to 
count his acres by the hundred, and his bank 
stock by thousands. True wealth is the means 
of purchasing enjojnnent, and of bestowing it 
upon others ; and he most surely secures it who 
gives the fullest play in the right direction to 
all his faculties. Bight here, we think may be 
found in large measure the explanation of the 
low estimate in which farming as an occupation 
has been held, and the lamentable eagerness 
with which young men have left it for other 
employments. Home has not been made the 
most attractive place, for it was only the center 
where money making operations by severe la- 
bor were carried on, and the indulgence of rec- 
reation and pleasure was considered entirely an 
outside matter, foreign to the great object of 
life ; and hence the young have been in haste to 
escape to the outside, where pleasure was prom- 
ised, and considered allowable. The Agricultur- 
ist would be untrue to its aim, if it did not en- 
deavor to lead its readers to cultivation of them- 
selves as well as of their grounds, and hence it is 
urged, that duty, no less than enjoyment require 
the indulgence of occasional seasons of relax- 
ation from severe labors, and that the abundant 
stores of pleasure found in field and stream be 
freely drawn upon. A fishing excursion, a trip 
to the sea-side, or a neighborhood pic-nic, will 
furnish pleasant memories for months, and be 
like a sparkling stream flowing along the beaten, 
dusty track of every-day farm life. 
Work for tlie Farm, Household, etc. 
The widely prevalent drouth so hastened the 
maturity of the Summer crops, that haying and 
harvesting are now mostly completed, and there 
is a season of comparative leisure before the 
time for plowing for Fall grain. Profitable em- 
ployment can be found in adding to the perma- 
nent improvements of the farm. A few hund- 
red dollars expended for buildings needed for 
sheltering stock next Winter, may pay the in- 
terest on thousands in saving feed, and the 
lives of cattle or sheep. It is a most favorable 
opp.ortunity for draining,particularly in swamps, 
which at other periods of the year are inacces- 
sible on account of water. The fences, hedge 
rows, bushes and stones in meadows and other 
fields, claim early attention. The judicious 
farmer will also be on the lookout for good 
stock by which to manufacture his hay and 
grain into less bulky, more easily transported 
and more profitable beef, pork, and mutton, un- 
less there be already a sufficient number on 
hand. If there be a surplus, the present is the 
time to fiud a market for them, before every one 
who is short of fodder is anxious to sell. 
Buildings where grain and hay are stored need 
occasional examination to see that ventilation is 
sufficient, and that they are weather tight. A 
good coat of paint before the fall rains, will save 
mueh decay. Erect all needed for shelter to all 
stock. Temporary sheds with roofs of straw are 
worth much more than their cost, if nothing 
better can be erected. 
Bees. — Full directions for the month are given 
under the head of " Apiary." 
Butter. — Continue to follow the directions giv- 
en last month. An increase in quantity and 
quality may be secured by feeding cows with 
corn, millet, etc., from the soiling patch, unless 
pasture is abundant. 
Cattle neglected at this season of the year and 
allowed to become thin in flesh, will with diffi- 
culty be prepared to pass through the Winter in 
good condition. If pastures are short, feed 
milch cows from the soiling patch, or give them 
a daily allowance of bran, shorts, and screen- 
ings. The extra leaves from a field of cabbages 
may also be turned to good account at such time. 
If fed immediately after milking in the morn- 
ing, there will be less danger of injuring the 
flavor of the milk. 
Chee.se- Malting will still be more profitable than 
the manufacture of butter, during the warm 
weather, where there are not conveniences for 
keeping the dairy cool. Endeavor by cleauli- 
nnss and care in all the operations, to produce a 
first class article. 
Corn. — It is not advisable to work among this 
crop after the roots have well occupied the 
ground, as they are in danger of injury by plow- 
ing. If necessary, pull out the weeds by hand. 
A liberal supply of green corn for winter use 
should be dried, or preserved in cans. For the 
latter purpose it should be thoroughly cooked, 
at least an hour, and sealed tight while boiling 
hot. Whole ears of corn may be preserved in 
strong salt brine. 
Draining is now practicable in many places 
too wet at other seasons. Improve the present 
opportunity if practicable. If nothing more 
can be clone, dig a ditch around swamps to cut 
off the supply of water from adjacent high 
grounds, and thus prepare for more thorough 
work in the future. Retentive soils will be ben- 
efitted by imderdraining. If tile can not be ob- 
tained at reasonable cost, lay drains of loose 
stone. Dig ditches 2£ to 3 feet deep, 40 to 80 
feet apart, according to the nature of the ground, 
lay a course of flat stones at the bottom, and 
above these set large stoues inclining together 
in wedge shape, then fill in with small stones, 
and cover with brush, straw, and earth. Brush 
drains alone, described in the Agriculturist, Vol. 
XX, page 169 (June No.), will amply repay their 
cost in many situations where better material 
can not be readily procured. 
Fallows should be plowed if the weeds are pre- 
paring to ripen seed. They may thus be made 
to fertilize the ground from which they have 
drawn part of their nourishment. If left to 
mature, their produce will be a great hindrance 
