4:2 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
Contents for February, 1871. 
.Accounts— Keeping 59 
American Magpie Illustrated.. 53 
Antelope — Hunting on the Plains Illustrated.. GO 
Black List ol Florists and Nurserymen 63 
Boys ami Girls' Columns.— Visit to Mt. Vesuvius, by 
••Carleton"— Air.it Sue's Puzzle-box— Feeding the 
Sparrows— A Cheap Elephant 3 Illustrations. . G0-6S 
Brush in Pastures— To Subline 58 
Butter-making in Winter ,. 59 
Cottage without a Cesspool .5 Illustrations. . 52 
Cotton-Seed ileal 57 
Cranberry Bogs— Depth of Covering 63 
Dykin*-' Swamp Land 66 
Farm Adornments — Vines on House-walls — Trees — 
Stone and Cedar Bridge — Working to a Plan— Trans- 
planting from Wet Land 62 
Farm Work for February 42 
Flower Garden and Lawn for February 43 
Fruit Garden for February 43 
Garden Work for February 48 
Grape Culture, by Keystone. .. 63 
Green-house and Window Plants for February 45 
Home Doctoring, by Faith Rochester 66 
HHBking Corn — How Much in a Day 1 59 
Japan Globe Flower 2 Illustrations.. 64 
Lamp— German Student's 2 Illustrations.. G5 
Maple Sugai Making, by W.J. Chamberlain. .2 lUust.. 49 
Mice— Injury to Fruit Trees Probable 47 
Money— Cheap. Wanted at the West 47 
Ogden Farm Papers, No. 14— A Portable Grist Mill- 
Engineer — Overstocking — Making vs. Buying Ma- 
nure—Manure vs. "Processes" — Coloring Butter- 
Feeding Roots — Mangels vs. Corn — Transplanting 
Roots 50-51 
Orchard and Nursery Work for February 43 
Patching. and paining Exhibition— Awards of Prizes 
— Editors' Report, and Report by a Visitor 4S 
Peat for Find 57 
Pigs Losin; their Tails 57 
Plants and Flowers— Propagation and Growth for Mar- 
ket, by Peter Henderson 6 Illustrations.. 61 
Poultry- Yard Appliances— Nest-Bos— Feeding Hopper 
— Water-Fountain — Folding Coop. 5 Illustrations. .56-57 
Poultry— White :i:ul Partridge Cochins. . .Illustrated. . 41 
Protection to Half-hardy Shrubs 04 
Rocks— Burying vs. Transporting, by Connecticut ... 53 
Soiling Cattle 58 
Vegetable Sliccr and Grater Illustrated.. 65 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. SO— Manure 
Making— Meat Production Makes Manure. — High 
Farming— Large Crops or Small Profits— Letter from 
J. J Thomas— Cattle, Sheep, and Swine, as Grain 
Consumers, compared— Essex Grades. ( . . 64-55 
Wife for a Young Farmer 65 
INDEX TO "CASKET," OR SMALLER ARTICLES. 
Am Journal of Science. . 
Advertising Med'm Good 
Agriculturist, Bouud Vol- 
umes. ... 
Agriculturist, Postage 
upon 
Ashes Mixed with Bones 
Bones Mixed with Ashes 
Chilis, how Increased . . . 
Cotton-Seed Meal 
Corn-Stalks, Burning. . 
Counterfeit Money Oper- 
ators 
Ditsuins — Is it Farm 
Work ? 
Double Thief 
Eggs— Preservation of. . . 
Fowl-. Treatment of 
Roupy 
Qrape- Vines, Eumelan.. 
Harrows. Shares' vs. 
Nisuwitz 
Hired Men. Tune of .... 
House and Barn Designs 
Humbug and Bad Adver- 
tisements 
Humbugs, Sundry 
47 Hungarian Grass 
46 Jersey Grade Heifer 
Lilies, Japan 
45 Lotteries, etc 
Mice, Tartar-Emetic for.. 
45 Milk in Winter.. . 
40 No Mistake 
40 Plaster in Manure Heaps. 
45 Pigs, Scours in Sucking. . . 
40 Post-Office Money Orders 
46 Potatoes, Unloading 
Pump for Deep Wells 
45 Poultry Establishments 
Large 
40 Rabbits and Young Trees 
45 Rats. Riddance to 
40 Railroad. The Air-line. . . 
Registered Letters 
47 Seed Corn for Soiling 
45 Special Premiums 
[Spring Coming 
47 ! Steam-EnL'ine^ Little 
'10 Stock for Indiana 
4ii Subsoil-Plow, The Best... 
Tomato. Tlic Trophy 
45 Tripe. To Cook 
45iWiudmills 
Buffalo JBeeJ" in rS'ew York. — We 
have been for some time receiving buffalo hams, mostly 
from old bulls, sent by express from Kansas ; but just as 
we go to press we have had the pleasure of seeing a car- 
load of 120 hnid-o.aartcrs of young cows, and 7 carcasses 
of buffalo veal, all plump and fat, full of kidney fat and 
in good order, though having been 13 days on the way, 
brought on by T. L. Rankin, of Lyndon, Osage Co., 
Kansas. They were shot near the Colorado line on the 
Kansas Pacific Railroad, and brought on in a patent car 
of Mr. Rankin. This meat is hardly well enough known 
iuourmarket to bring a remunerative price, for this lot 
might have been solrl west of the Allegbanies ior a much 
higher price than it brings here. It ought to bring 
as much as the very best beef. It comes in the hides. 
Calendar for February. 
Boslrm.SEng- X Y.Cilll, Ci.. WuxUwulOH, 
land, .rv. 1 nrk 1 
State. Mulli- 
Philadelphia, 
Aew Jersey, 
Peun., Ohio, 
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7 185 Hi 
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PHASES OF THE MOON. 
MOON'. 
BOSTON. 
N.YORK. 
WAsn'x. 
cha'ston 
rniCAOO. 
D. 
[I. M. 
R. M. 
n. m. 
II. M. 
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Full 
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9 18 m. 
9 6 m. 
SMm. 
8 42 m. 
8 12 m. 
3d Quart 
12. 
10 10 m. 
10 4 111. 
9 53 111 . 
9 40 m. 
9 10 m. 
New Moc 
n t'l 
9 5 111. 
8 53 111. 
8 41 m. 
8 20 m. 
7 50 m. 
1st Quart. 27 
5 54 111. 5 42 ill. 5 30 m. 
5 IS 111. 
4 43 111, 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1871. 
It is hard to realize that so very soon after this 
number of the Agriculturist is intrusted to Uncle 
Sam's mall bags, it will be read by thousands of 
families who may read it lifting with open doors 
and windows and watch the mellow soil turned 
by the plow, or enjoy the fragrance of blooming 
fruit trees and jasmines, while we shiver, with the 
thermometer below zero, perhaps, and face day by 
day the blasts of winter. Yet it is even so. The 
fields of the South are green with white clover and 
spring grasses, and spring work is beginning in 
earnest. The market gardens about Norfolk and 
Beaufort are busy enough, and their early crops 
perhaps already shipped to our hungry North. 
Clucking mothers lead forth their downy broods, 
which will make our choice broilers in May and 
June at a dollar to a dollar and a half apiece. In 
another direction mail trains and stages will be de- 
laved by drifted snow, and neighbors with their ox 
teams and snow shovels will be opening roads and 
helping the stage-sleigh with its load of half-frozen 
passengers through to their jouruey's end. 
As the sun rises higher at noon, and waxes hot- 
ter, the sap will start in the 6tigar bush, and there 
will be pleasant scenes on many a hill-side, where 
the fires of the sugar-camps bum night and day. 
We st ill have comparative leisure for reviewing the 
past year's work, and laying plans for the coming 
months, when so much hard labor will be demand- 
ed that the mind will not give itself readily to con- 
tinuous thought. Whatever plans are made, on 
this very account, if for no other reason, should be 
put upon paper, so that when the time comes for 
their prompt execntiou, they shall not be forgot- 
ten. The season of field work, when it does come, 
will be likely to come all at once, and then you will 
feel as if every moment were gold. Therefore, use 
all leisure timo to get ready for spring work. 
Hints about Work. 
If the snow is off the fields, the opportuni- 
ty is a good one to pick up stones. Cart them oif 
from the mowing and grain fields in the mornings, 
while the ground is frozen. The grass fields may 
be gone over with a sharp hoe or weeding "spud," 
and multitudes of weeds cut just below the surface. 
Winter Grain, which does not look well, and has 
been thrown by the frost, will be benefited by a 
light, even dressing of fine, well-mixed muck com- 
post, or simply flue muck or soil. 
Grass and Clover Seeds. — These may be sown to- 
ward the end of the month, if the frost is pretty 
well out of the ground. The sowing is easiest 
done on a light snow, when the seed may be seen, 
and an even cast secured. To ibis end, it is often 
well to sow in two directions across the field, and 
sometimes even three, as in sowing grass seed upon 
a hi™. Suitable weather for this frequently does 
not come until March. Avoid sowing where melt- 
ed snows will wash the soil away, or move the seed. 
Buildings. — Clear roofs from too heavy snow, 
stop leaks, keep eaves-troughs free, paint where 
needed, fasten loose boards, keep manure away 
from sills, oil rusty hinges, see that fastenings are 
in good order, and all repairs promptly made. Get 
out timber for sheds sufficient to shelter all stock. 
Study economy and convenience in plans. 
lee. — Secure a full supply, if not already done. 
In good weather, an ice-house may bo made and 
rilled within a week. One will pay ou a dairy farm, 
and be convenient everywhere. 
Manure. — Mix plenty of muok, especially with 
that from the horse stable, to prevent fircfanging ; 
or, in absence of this, fork over the pile to prevent 
too great heat. All deposits now made in readiness 
for use in spring, will respond to drafts to be made 
for good crops next fall. Keep a heavy bulauce in 
your favor to draw upon. 
Wood-Ashes should not be emptied Into wooden 
smoke-houses before they are sifted, to be sure no 
live coals are in tlicm. A few smouldering sparks 
may be sufficient to fire the structure, destroy its 
eontents, and cause great loss ; nt least the lower 
part should be brick or stone. 
Crates, Bags, Barrels, Baskets, etc , used for mar- 
keting, or kept at home, should be plainly marked 
with the owner's name and residence. A branding- 
iron or markiug-piate and brush will save many 
losses. Improve leisure 'by putting all in repair. 
Bird-Houses. — Prepare neat houses for martins, 
bluebirds, and wrens, to be put up about the house, 
fruityard, and farm. The occupants will pay good 
rent by destroying insects. 
Farmers' Clubs. — The meetings may be made in- 
teresting by committees appointed to investigate 
and report on subjects, such as new crops, new im- 
plements, the condition of firms in the vicinity, 
etc. ; by correspondence with 01 her similar asso- 
ciations, and occasional joint meetings of the clubs 
of different townships. IScw facts and experience, 
worthy of general notice, should be put in terse 
language, and communicated to the Agriculturist. 
Advertisements are profitable reading. They usu- 
ally Indicate what progress the world is making. 
To farmers they arc invaluable. Notes on tools, 
seeds, stock, trees, plants, etc., should be made, 
and further information gained by seuding for cir- 
culars of trustworthy parties. The Agriculturist 
aims to admit no other class. 
Horses. — A few carrots with their grain will aid 
digestiou and appetite, and improve their coats. 
Exercise daily. Train colts so that no breaking Will 
be needed, and that none of spirit or of harness re- 
sult. Keep working and carriage horses sharp shod, 
well groomed, and blanketed when standing out, 
or in cold stables after exercise. Ventilate stables, 
and abolish high feeding racks. 
Cows. — Dry off four to six weeks before calving. 
Give generous feed of hay and roots, but not much 
grain. Cut hay or straw, steamed, and a little bran 
or meal added, is profitable. Keep the skin healthy 
by frequent carding and brushing. Those about to 
calve should be turned loose into separate, roomy 
stalls. Watch their time, to give assistance, if 
needed, but do not interfere, unless absolutely nec- 
essary, and then use gentle means. Allow the calf 
to have the milk for four or five days. The effect 
of the first milk is medicinal and essential to the 
health of the young animal. After calving, let the 
cow alone ; she will He down awhile, and then get 
up and begin to eat. Then offer her a warm bran 
