in-: 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
Contents for May, 1874. 
Animals— The Poitou Marc- Illustrated . .173 
Animals— The Wild Ass Illustrated. .173 
Bee Notes 1™ 
Boys and Girls' Columns— The Doctor's Talks— Car- 
rant Question— Aunt Sue's Puzzle-Box— Notices to 
Correspondents — An Impersonation — .Making an 
Acquaintance 3 Illustrations. A&J. 188 
Butter Factory 4 Illustrations.. 115, 176 
Celery, Preservation of 181 
Cistern, Underground Illustrated . .177 
Crossing— Hybridizing 3 Illustrations . .182 
Bar-Marks lor Stock 3 Illustrations. 178 
Farm Work for May 162 
Flowers— Enormous Arad— Amorphophallus III.. 181 
Flower Garden and Lawn in May 164 
Fruit Garden in May 163 
Greenhouse and Window Plants in May 164 
<3rist-Mill, A Shetland Illustrated. AW 
House Built of Sods S Illustrations. .179 
Household Department — Abont Paper-Hangings — 
Home Topics— Closets in the House— Towns-Peo- 
ple's Cr deisms — Graham Gems — Chocolate Cake — 
Corn-Starch Cake 5 Illustrations. .185, 186 
Hurdles, How to Make 2 Illustrations . .177 
Implements — A Smoothing Drag Illustrated.. IIS 
Implements — The Grubber 3 Illustrations . .176 
Kentucky Blue-Grass 171 
Kitchen Garden in May 163 
Bard-Oil Press Illustrated. .177 
Market Reports 164 
Notes from the Pines— Forcing Plants— Greenhouse 
Pump — Primula Japonica, P. involucrata 182 
Ogden Farm Papers, No. 51— Large Yields of Butter — 
Feeding Dairy Cows — Manure— Abortion in Cows- 
Increased Sale of Jersey Bulls 171, 172 
Orchard and Nursery in May 163 
Pigeons — National Columbarian Society's Show. 
Illustrated.. 161, 171 
Plant— Indian Strawberry Illustrated.. 1S4 
Plants— The Pale Corydalis Illustrated . .183 
Plants— The Vanilla Plant Illustrated . .183 
Poultry— Care of Young Chickens 3 Illustrations . .177 
Trees— Weeping Poplar 181 
Wagon Seat, An Easy 2 Illustrations . .172 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. 125 — Corn Culture 
— Rotation — Lawes and Gilbert's Experiments- 
Pasturing Pigs — Science in Farming — Wheat — Sell- 
ing Timber — Mallows— Fattening Grade Lambs — 
Thomas Harrow 174, 175 
INDKX TO " BASKET," OR SHORTER ARTICLES. 
Apples in Sawdust 169 Lyons Hon. Exhib 165 
Ashes for Wheat 167 Manures uponPoorLands 167 
Balking, Cure for 1(57 Meat in Summer 168 
Beans 'for Feed 107 Meat, Slow Killing of.. .167 
Bee Sting- 168 Mich. Bee Ass'n 165 
Black-Ash Shingles 1(15 Milk. Curdy 167 
Bois d'Arc 168 Milk Fever 166 
Bones 167 Milk, Turnip Flavor in.. 167 
Bots in Horses 166 Millet for Soiling 167 
Brahnias, Light 167 Moles 168 
Bugs on Grapes 165 Muzzle for Cribbers 169 
Buried Pork 165 Newbnrgh Hort. Ex 165 
Butter for 3 cts. per lb. . .168 Northern Spy in N, J....16S 
Butter from Suet 168 Old Roofs 169 
Butter from Sweet Cream 169 Patent Pnosphate 166 
Butler-working Maciiin- 'Peach Prospects 169 
erv 166 Peas 167 
Cabbages for Seed 168 Pigs, Feed for 167 
Calf at Seven Months. . ..166 Plants by Mail 165 
Cancer in l he Eye 16S Plant Trouble 168 
Chicken Lice 168|Plaster, Agricultural 167 
Chickens, Nests for Earl vl67! Plaster for Gardens 167 
China Geese 169! Plow Mole or Drain 168 
Clevis, Three-Horse 168 Pork in California 169 
Concrete Pipe 169 Potato Blight 168 
Corn in Em'pt Ills Pouliry House for Chicks 167 
Corn, Shallow Plowing.. 167 Poultry Yard 167 
Corn, Shrinkage of 16S Prize Lawn Essays 165 
Corundum 168 Reclaiming Swamp 169 
Cross-bred Fowls 166 Rhubarb, Forcing 168 
Cross-bred Pigs 169'Ruta-Bagas, After 169 
Croat Cabbage 165Scab 169 
Curcnlio 169 Scab. Duration of. 167 
Ecraseur 169 1 Sheep and Lambs. Food. 167 
Eggs all the Year 166 Sheep, Catarrh in 167 
Egg within an Eg- 168lSheep in Orchard 167 
Flax 169 Size of Acre 165 
Farm, Renting a Small. .168 Sorghum 168 
Flowers. Easter 168 South Carolina, For 168 
Gardening lor Profit ....166lSpcntHops 166 
Gate, Slide 167 Stable Floors 168 
narrow. Cultivating. . . 168 Stables 169 
Hennery Wanted .. 168| Star Thistle 169 
Hogs, Coughing 169 Sundry Humbugs 168 
Hogs, Poland China 16" Swamp Muck 169 
Hops as Manure, Spent. .161 Swamp. Reclaiming 169 
Horse, Rough-Coated... .169 Swine-Breeders' Conven- 
Horses, Hitching 168 lion 168 
Horse Talk 16S Time for Piaster 169 
Japan Pea 169 Turkeys' Eggs 167 
Jersey and Alderney. .. 169 Underdraiuing 169 
Jerseys in Dairy 169 Waste fn in Wool-Scour- 
Lampass 169, ing Vats Hi7 
Lice on Cattle 166 Western Office !St 
Lice, To Destroy 167, Wheat Growing in KV...188 
iuveru 168 Wheat:. M-.r. 166 
Calendar for May. 
■ff* 
V. 
o- 
» 
It; 
a. 
q 
K) 
1 
F 
2 
M 
8 
S 
4 
M 
a 
T 
6 
W 
1 
T 
8 
1'' 
9 
s 
10 
S 
11 
M 
in 
■1' 
i:; 
W 
u 
T 
is 
C 
16 
K 
17 
S 
1^ 
M 
19 
T 
:>!> 
W 
■' 
T 
•a 
H' 
23 
K 
•11 
S 
as 
\l 
an 
T 
a; 
W 
as 
'1' 
an 
V 
mi 
s : 
St 
s 
lloxlon.XEiig- 
land. N. York 
Slate, Michi- 
gan, Wiscon- 
sin, [ntoa. and 
Oregon.. 
Six. "< »t : ''-~ 
4 53 
4 53 
4 52 7 
4 50 7 
4 49 7 
4 487 
4 47 7 
4 46 7 
4 45 7 
I 44 
4 43 
4 4a 
4 41 
4 40 
4 _ 
4 S8 
4 37 
4 36 
4 30 
4 S3 
4 34 
4 33 
4 32 
4 32 
I 31 
4 30 
4 29 
4 39 
4 as 
4 a? 
4 26 
7 10 
7 11 
7 12 
7 13 
7 14 
7 IS 
7 16 
17 
IS 
19 
7 20 
'.'1 
22 
7 23 
24 
is 
20 
a; 
as 
28 
29 
II. M. 
7 11 
8 14 
9 24 
10 30 
11 31 
morn 
28 
1 3 
1 42 
3 9 
2 34 
a 57 
3 as 
3 49 
sets 
8 34 
9 SO 
10 54 
11 45 
morn 
23 
50 
1 13 
1 13 
2 3, 
-j go I 
2 41 
3 
3 22 
3 49 
4 23 
-V. r.CUu, VL, 
Philadelphia, 
Xeiv Jersey, 
I'enu.. Ohio. 
Indiana, and 
Illinois. 
II M 
56 
6 5' 
6 58 
6 59 
; o 
7 1 
7 2 
7 
7 
IT .31 
4 59 
4 5" 
4 56 
4 54 
4 51 
4 5> 
4 51 
4 50 
4 49 
4 4x 
4 47 7 
4 46 7 
4 45 7 8 
4 44:7 9 
4 43 7 10 
4 12 7 H 
4 42'7 11 
4 41 IT 12 
4 40 7 13 
4 40 7 14 
4 39 7 15 
4 158 7 16 
4 87 7 17 
4 37 7 IS 
4 36 7 19 
4 35,7 19 
4 35 7 20 
4 34 7 21 
4 34 7 22 
4 33 7 23 
4 3i 7 23 
H. 51. 
7 8 
8 9 
9 18 
10 23 
tl 24 
morn 
16 
57 
1 87 
2 5 
2 32 
2 57 
3 24 
3 51 
sets 
8 2S 
9 43 
10 47 
11 33 
morn 
18 
51 
1 10 
1 41 
2 2 
2 22 
2 42 
3 2 
3 26 
3 54 
4 29 
l'HASHS 01' TUB MOON. 
II. M. 
in. 
li a: 
3 29 m. 
5 3.3 ev. 
10 35 ev. 
2 2 in. 
N. YORK. 
WASU'N. 
CHA'STON 
otttcago. 
II. M. 
II. M. 
II. M. 
n. m 
11 13 m. 
11 1 m. 
10 49 m. 
10 19 m. 
2 17 m. 
2 5 in. 
1 53 m. 
1 23 m. 
5 21 ev. 
5 9 ev. 
4 57 ev. 
4 -37 ev. 
10 23 ev. 
10 11 ev. 
9 59 ev. 
9 29 ev. 
1 50 m. 
1 33 in. 
1 26 m. 
56 m. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTUR 1ST. 
NEW YORK, MAY, 1874. 
May is a busy month. In fact we know of no 
month in the year when a farmer can not find 
plenty of work that ought to be done. When we 
speak of winter being a season of comparative 
leisure, we simply mean that we can, if we choose, 
postpone our work for a few days or weeks. On 
a well-managed farm there is always work that can 
be done to advantage. Farmers often complain 
that their work is never done. We would not wish 
it otherwise. Without honest work there can be 
no honest pay. He that won't work neither shall 
he eat. How often does a man say, "if I could 
only get work I should be happy." A farmer need 
never say this. He is never in the condition of a 
briefless lawyer, or a minister without a charge, or 
a doctor without a patient. His store never lacks 
customers. His factory need never be run on half 
time. For this let us be thankful. 
On our own farm, and we presume it is so on 
others, it is almost impossible to get ahead of the 
■work. The seasons are short and the weather un- 
certain. The land is too wet to plow this week 
and too dry and hard to plow the week after. We 
must be prompt. We must be systematic and 
orderly. Plows, harrows, rollers, cultivators, 
drills, stone-boats, crow-bars, chains, spades, forks, 
wagons, carts, harness, bags, pails, baskets, ropes, 
whippletrees, devices, bolts, monkey-wrench, ax, 
hammer, nails, and a score of other things that are 
likely or unlikely to be wanted should be all ready 
for use and just where you can lay your hand on 
them in the dark if needed. We must be ready at 
any moment to change from out-door to in-door 
work — to plow and harrow or grind hoes and oil 
harness ; to draw off stones, sow plaster, build 
fence, dig, underdrain, or to cut feed, sort pota- 
toes, repair tools, whitewash walls, or paint imple- 
ments. To do all this without loss of time, and a 
hundred other things connected with good farm- 
ing, requires a clear head, great patience, much 
self-denial, untiring energy, systematic and prompt 
industry, and constant iiersonal supervision. 
Himts nljout Work. 
Hi-rwj need to be well looked after at this Fearon. 
Much depends on their ability to do a good day's 
work now. They require not only good feed, but 
good digestion. Neither man nor horse can work 
well unless he eats well, sleeps well, and digests 
his food. Horses sutler more from iudigestion 
than from any other one thing. At this season we 
are apt to keep them too many hours in the field. 
We know horses that are taken out to plow at sis 
o'clock in the morning, are brought to the stable 
at noon, the bits taken out of their mouths, but 
the harness not removed. They ara given a few 
ears of corn, and have some long, dry hay thrown 
into the racks ; are again taken to the field at half- 
past one, and kept there until half-past seven at 
night. The horses are tired and exhausted when 
brought in at noon, and before there is time for 
the process of digestion to commence they are 
again put to hard work. 
Three-Horse Teams are becoming more and more 
common, and can not be too earnestly recom- 
mended. A man can drive three horses as easily 
as he can two. Where it takes the strength of one 
horse to draw the empty wagon, three horses have 
double the effective force of two horses. 
Plowing is often hard work. This is especially 
true in striking out the first furrow. In sod land 
we should always put on three horses, or else strike 
out a light, narrow furrow. On stubble land we 
throw up a light furrow and then turn it back 
again. This plows the whole laud and does not 
overtax the team. 
When the Horses are Brought Home at Noon give 
them a pail of water with a pint of corn or oatmeal 
stirred in it. Take off the harness. Wash the 
shoulders. If sweaty, rub them dry with straw, 
curry off the mud and dry sweat, and rub them 
down with a brush. Then feed them, and let them 
eat while you are at dinner. 
Better Grooming in the stable and less idle time 
in the field is what we aim at on our own farm. 
Cut Feed, moistened with water and mixed with 
meal and a little bran, can be eaten more rapidly 
than long hay, and leaves more time for rest and 
digestion. We mix. a bushel of cut hay, four 
quarts of corn-meal, and two quarts of bran toge- 
ther, and let the horses have ail they will eat of 
the mixture, and give them a little long hay in 
the racks. 
Keep the Mangers Clean and Sweet. — As soon as tho 
horse stops eating the cut feed remove all that is 
left from the manger. This is very important. 
Give a little salt in the manger every day. The 
horses will not eat too much if they have it 
regularly. 
For Chafed Shoulders wash with warm soft water 
and castile soap and then dress with crude petro- 
leum. If ulcerated, wash them with carbolic soap 
and apply petroleum afterwards. If possible, let 
the horse rest a few t!ays. 
Planting Corn is the important field work of the 
month. Cora is not likely to be as low next year 
as it has been for a year or two past. We think it 
a good time to plant freely. 
Better Cultivation Is, however, more desirable 
than a larger area. Wet land and weeds are the 
great enemies of the corn crop. 
Early Planting is desirable, provided the land is 
warm and in good order. 
On Sough Land we woul '. plant in hills Si cr i 
feet apart. We can then cultivate both ways and 
clean and subdue the land with little hoeing. 
On Clean, Smooth, P.ich Land we think it pays to 
drill in the crop. When the stalks are valuable 
for fodder, and the land is rich enough, we are 
sure that drilling is more profitabl: than planting 
in hills. 
Drilling has one great advantage. The work i3 
not only done much more expeditiously and 
cheaply, but you can put in the seed every day as 
fast as the land is plowed and harrowed, and thus 
avoid delay from wet weather. A drill that would 
drop in hills so as to have the rows straight both 
ways would enable us t j do the 6ame thing, but we 
have never yet found a drill that will drop the teed 
exactly in the hi'.'.s. 
_ laster cau b. cowc eith:. v roadcast or dropped 
