282 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
Contents for August, 1871. 
Bee Notes for AHgust 388 
Boat— How to Build One 6 Illustrations . .297 
Boys and Girls' Columns— Insects as Musicians- 
Farmer or Doctor, Which ?— Aunt Sue's Puzzle Box 
—Tempting Good Nature — Boys and Girls' Letters. 
4 Illustrations— 301-308 
Brooms for Stable and Barnyard 3 Illustrations. .298 
Cabbage Maggot and Caterpillar 303 
Cattle— Brittany Cow Illustrated. .203, 209 
Don't Sell the Best Calves 298 
Drainage in Scotland 299 
Egyptian Beet 302 
Farm Work for August 282 
Fish— The Alewife Illustrated . .293 
Flower Garden and Lawn in August 284 
Fraxinella Illustrated. . 304 
Fruit Garden in August 2S3 
Fruit Ladder Illustrated . .296 
Fumigation for Plants and Poultry Illustrated . .296 
Greenhouse and Window Plants in August 284 
Greenhouse— How to Build a Cheap One. . . .5 Mus. 301 
Harrowing for Different Effects 298 
Horse's Shoe— How to Replace 4 Illustrations . .296 
Household Department— Improved Spinning Wheel- 
Home Topics— Practical Studies— Mistaken Econo- 
my—Children's Shoulder-straps— Froebel's Gifts- 
Canning, Pickling, and Using Fruit— Eating Green 
Corn— Questions about Canning — Heading off Mos- 
quitoes Illustrated. . 305, 306 
Husking Pin Illustrated. .299 
Kitchen Garden in August 283 
Market Reports 284 
Notes from the Pines — Grapes — Varieties — Mildew — 
Insects — Training — Tendrils — Evergreens — Pruning 
— Peas — Spirtea callosa— Hardy Cactuses 302, 303 
Odometer or Measuring Wheel Illustrated. 297 
Ogden Farm Papers, No. 20— Setting Mill;— Farm 
Stock — Dallas — Fancy Prices for Thorough-bred 
Animals 290, 291 
Orchard and NurEery in August 2S3 
Pasturing Meadows 289 
Pig Question again 299 
Poultry— An Egg Farm 2 Illustrations. .291, 292 
Rustic Bridges Illustrated.. 301 
Salt-Marsh Mid as a Fertilizer 296 
Tim Bunker on Paying Crops 289 
Tuberose— A New One 303 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. 92— Apple Or- 
chard — Red-root — Sheep and Swine — Rotation — 
Weeds— Shorthorns— Footrot in Sheep 294,295 
Watering the Herd Illustrated . . 300 
Will it Pay to Cook Corn for Hogs? 298 
Wool-bearing Animals Illustrated.. 281, 2S9 
Yellow Asphodel Illustrated. . 303, 304 
INT>EX TO "BASKET," OV. SHORTER ARTICLES. 
Alfalfa 287 Horse not Leading 285 
Breaking Steers 2S5Huml>ugs, Sundry 285 
Buckwheat, Thrashing.. .287, Lactometer 2R7 
Building a Greenhouse.. 285' Lime on Stubble 287 
Butter Making 287;Lime vs. Ashes 287 
Care of Harness 288 Milk Weed 2S7 
Carrots and Onions 287 N. T. Agr'l Ed. Excnrsion285 
Corn 285| Odd Fellows 285 
Corn-Husking Machine. .287|Orchard, Nesrlccted 286 
Cows Holding up Milk... 285 Oxford. Pa., Fair 287 
Criticisms 285 
Crops in Va 2S4 
Curing Corn Fodder 288 
Currant Worms 287 
Plantation Cows 288 
Plaster 287 
Pollen 287 
Poppy Culture 285 
Cutting Cions 286; Putty and Paint 288 
Docking Lambs 2S7'Raising Pigs by Hand... 287 
Farmers' Clubs 285 Sandy Uplands in Ind....2S8 
Farm Gates 287|Scab in Sheep 286 
Feeding Fodder Corn 237'Scolymiis 286 
Flens 28H!Scyds, Keeping 287 
Foul in t¥e Foot. 287 Skim-Milk and Meal 286 
Four Lambs 286 S. C. Phosphate 288 
Gargetand Bitter Cream. 288JSpcciaI Notice 285 
Glycerine 287 Sundry Humbugs 285 
-Grass, to Get 287:Svrawberrv Questions.. . .286 
Green-fly on Quince 287 Thomas' Harrow 287 
Green Land Marl 287iTomato Wine 286 
Hard-milking Cow 2^6 Wash from Rouds 2S5 
Harvesting Peanuts.. . . 287 Wheat and Chess 285 
Hide-bound Calf 285 Worn-out Stock 284 
Cows Leaking their Milk. — C. E. 
Rogers, Orleans Co., Vt., wants a remedy for cows leak- 
ing milk. Milk such cows three times a day. On page 
203, vol. 28, American Agriculturist, the following preven- 
tive was given, viz., apply collodion (gun cotton dis- 
solved in ether) i • the end of the teat, covering the orifice. 
This will form a thin skin over the end of the teat which 
must be picked off before milking. It will also tend, by 
its contraction, to press the teat together, and close the 
aperture whence the milk escapes. If there are cracks 
or sore spots on the teats, wash them clean with water 
before applying the collodion ; it is a very healing appli- 
cation, though slightly painful at first. 
Calendar for August. 
•-£ 
■^ 
fe 
■& 
a, 
C! 
1^1 
R 
— 
— 
1 
T 
2 
H 
S 
'1' 
4 
K 
5 
S 
6 
s 
7 
M 
R 
T 
1 
« 
II) 
T 
11 
K 
12 
S 
lit 
s 
14 
M 
In 
T 
111 
W 
17 
T 
IS 
K 
in 
S 
an 
s 
»\ 
M 
22 
T 
n 
w 
n 
T 
» 
K 
36 
S 
« 
s 
m 
M 
m 
T 
m 
W 
31 
I 
Boston. X Eng- 
land, X. York 
State, Michi- 
gan, Wisrott- 
sin, ftiwa, and 
Oregon. 
II M 
1 53 
4 S3 
4 51 
4 55 
I 56 
I 
4 51 
4 59 
5 
|[ M 
7 20 
7 18 
7 17 
1 16 
7 15 
7 14 
7 12 
7 11 
7 10 
7 
5 37 6 
5 4;7 4 
5 57 3 
5 67 1 
5 77 
5 Sic 58 
3 1016 57 
5 11 6 55 
5 IS 6 54 
5 13 6 5 
14 
r, 13 
5 if, 
5 17 
5 18 
5 19 
:-, 30 
5 SI 
r. SS 
5 S3 
51 
6 111 
6 
6 46 
fi 14 
8 43 
E 41 
H. M. 
8 19 
8 5! 
9 21 
9 16 
io 10 
10 35 
11 10 
11 30 
morn 
2 
40 
1 SI 
2 13 
S 9 
4 7 
sets 
8 10 
8 3f. 
9 3 
9 29 
9 58 
10 29 
11 7 
11 51 
morn 
50 
1 54 
3 6 
rises 
7 18 
7 45 
X. Y.Citg, CI. 
Philadelphia, 
Xeio Jersey, 
Penn., Ohio. 
Indiana, and 
Illinois, 
H.M 
4 56 
t 57 
4 5S 
1 59 
5 
5 1 
5 2 
5 3 
5 
5 
5 fi 
5 
S 
5 
5 IS 
5 11 
5 IS 
5 IS 
5 14 
5 15 
S 16 
5 17 
5 r 
H.M 
7 16 
7 14 
7 13 
7 12 
7 11 
7 Ml 
9 
7 
6 
5 
4 
2 
4 

18 
7 
7 
7 
6 
6 57 
6 55 
6 154 
6 53 
6 51 
fi 50 
6 48 
6 4' 
18 16 45 
5 19 6 44 
i 20 6 42 
5 21 6 41 
5 22 6 89 
5 23,6 37 
5 24 6 36 
5 25 6 34 
n. si. 
8 15 
8 50 
9 19 
9 46 
10 11 
10 37 
11 3 
II 33 
morn 
6 
45 
1 28 
2 17 
3 14 
4 12 
sets 
8 8 
8 35 
9 3 
9 30 
10 1 
10 33 
11 12 
12 
morn 
55 
2 
3 11 
rises 
7 16 
7 41 
Washington. 
Maryland. 
Virginia, Ken. 
lucky, Missou- 
ri, and Cali- 
foi-nia. 
v.; 
h.m 
7 11 
7 10 
9 
II. M. 
8 11 
8 47 
9 18 
9 45 
10 12 
10 S3 
11 6 
11 37 
morn 
11 
50 
1 34 
2 23 
S20 
4 18 
5 9 
5 10,- .. 
5 11 6 58 
5 13,6 56 
5 13,6 54 
5 14 6 53, sets 
5 15 6 52 
5 16 6 51 
5 17 6 50 
5 17,6 48 
5 18 6 47 
5 19,6 45 -. 
5 20 6 44' 11 17 
5 21,6 43 morn 
8 31 
9 3 
9 32 
10 3 
10 37 
5 22 6 41 
5 23,6 40 
5 24 fi 38 
5 25,637 - 
5 36 6 35 rises 
5 26 6 84 7 14 
5 27 6 32' 7 44 
5 
1 1 
2 4 
3 16 
PHASES OF THE MOON. 
MOON. 
BOSTON. 
N. yorx 
WAsn'N. 
cha'ston 
CHICAGO. 
D 
H. M. 
IT. M". 
H. K. 
H. M. 
n. M. 
3d Quart.. . 
7 
11 40 ev. 
11 28 ev. 
11 16 ev. 
11 4ev. 
10 34 ev. 
New Moon 
Ifi 
2 18 m. 
2 6 m. 
1 54 m 
1 42 m. 
1 12 m. 
1st Quart. 
S3 
6 51 m. 
6 39 m. 
6 27 in. 
6 15 m. 
5 4n m. 
Full 
30 
1 37 m. 
1 25 m. 
1 13 ni. 
11m. 
31m. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, AUGUST, 1871. 
We have had an unusually hurrying time on the 
farm the past month. The hay crop was late, and 
the wheat crop early. We have also had heavy 
and frequent rains, which, though much needed, 
aud of great value to pastures, corn, potatoes, 
oats, and roots, have not only retarded the hay- 
making operations, but caused a great growth of 
weeds in the corn and potato fields, and rendered 
necessary an extra amount of hoeing and cultivat- 
ing. Seldom has work been more pressing, and he 
is a fortunate farmer who has been able to secure 
his hay and grain iu good condition, and at the 
same time keep his growing crops clean. 
To those who have been able to do this, August 
is a month of comparative leisure. Or, rather, it is 
a month of freedom from pressing work. We have 
time to breathe. We can stop to think. But the 
battle is not over. A farmer's work is never done. 
Next year the same tilings must be done again, 
and now is the time to prepare for them. If we 
have had good crops, this should encourage us to 
renewed exertions ; if we have had poor ones, it 
should spur us up to more vigorous efforts to re- 
move the cause. As a rule, we know what the 
cause is. And many of us know also how to re- 
move it. What we need is promptness, energy, and 
forethought. The weak point in the management 
of not a few farmers, is (he neglect of little things. 
Tools, implements, and inachi»es are out of order. 
Gates sag, the hinges are off, the lower board is 
broken, and the fastening is gone. Fences are out 
of repair. Boards and shingles are loose upon the 
barn. The apple-trees are full of suckers. The 
fence corners are a mass of weeds, rubbish, stones, 
and brush. Every year the owner of snch a farm has 
made up his mind to improve, buthe does not know 
when and where to commence. We can tell him : 
There can not be a better time than the month of 
August, 1871, and the first thing to do is to reform 
himself. Agriculture is, or ought to be, a grand 
educator. It should teach promptness, order, sys- 
tem, energy, self-reliance, patience, a sense of re- 
sponsibility, faith in Providence, and a joyous hope- 
fulness. As a rule, a fanner has no one to blame 
but himself. He may complain of the weather, but 
it is no worse for him than for others, no worse 
this year than it was in years past, or will be in 
years to come. He may complain of " want of 
time," but he will soon learn that he lias all the time 
there is. No one robs him of it. It is a good thing 
for a man to feel his responsibility. We all want 
to blame some one other than ourselves. 
It is no use quay-cling with circumstances, or the 
" constitution of things." We must meet onr 
difficulties like men; and patience, perseverance, 
and intelligent industry will enable us to triumph 
over them. 
Hints about Work. 
Thatching Hay Stacks. — We are no advocates of 
the English system of stacking and thatching hay. 
It is far better and cheaper to put it in a bam. But 
where this can not be done, the 6tacks should be 
thatched with more or less care, according to cir- 
cumstances and the value of the hay. With a care- 
fully made roof much may lie done to enable it to 
shed the rain by raking the hay downward on the 
roof, so as to make it lie 6mooth and straight. It 
is better to do this during »r immediately after a 
rain. It is better, however, to regularly thatch 
the stack, directions for which were given in the 
Agriculturist for October, 1870, page 374. Long 
grass, very useful for thatching hay stacks, may fre- 
quently be cut on low land. It should be put on 
while green, and laid straight, and earel'ully raked. 
If straw is used, the great poiut is to have it thor- 
oughly wet, so that it can be made to lie straight 
on the roof of the stack. If thatching is considered 
too much trouble, at any rate do not neglect to tie 
some poles together with hay-bands, and place 
them astraddle the roof to prevent the wiud from 
tearing up the hay. 
Thrashing Grain. — A farmer had better hire an 
extra man than to work at any 6teady job connected 
with thrashing. He can save more by seeing that 
every thing is done properly, than by doing, as is 
frequently the oasc, the hardest part of the labor 
himself. A thrashing machine is a " regular horse 
killer." The thrashers are inclined to save their own 
horses at the expense of those of the farmer. The 
outside horse has to walk much faster than the in- 
side one, and should have a correspondingly longer 
part of the evener. Bore a hole in the cvener of 
the inside horse, for the clevis, from two to three 
inches nearer the center than that of the outside 
horse. See that the track is firm, even, and free 
from stones. If possible, let it be on level land, as 
a free horse is inclined to pull harder when going 
up hill. When stopping for lunch, let the horses 
have some water, and if a pint of meal is stirred up 
in a pail of water for each horse, it will enable them 
to do extra work without feeling it. The granary, 
of course, will be put in order before the thrashers 
arrive. If there is a cellar underneath the 
granary or the thrashing floor, it is better to 
be on the safe side and put an extra prop 
or two underneath to support the floor. Fod- 
der will be scarce the coining winter, and all the 
straw and chaff should be carefully saved. It is a 
common mistake to make the straw 6taek too wide, 
and not high enough. This gives too flat a roof, 
and much of the straw is damaged by the rain. Bet- 
ter make the bottom of the stack too small than 
too large. The great point in stacking straw is to 
keep the middle full and tread it down solid. For 
the first ten or twelve feet the better plan is to put 
a horse or an ox on the stack, and drive him about 
to tread down the straw. With a horse that is 
used to it, there is no trouble in getting him off the 
stack, especially if a part of one side is made a lit- 
tle slanting, and a few forkfuls of straw are placed 
at the bottom for him to alight on. When the mid- 
dle is kept full and well trodden, the outsides will 
settle more than the middle, and thus make a bet- 
ter roof. The hole where the man stands to take 
the straw from the carrier, should, after *hc stack 
is completed, be carefully filled with a few bun- 
dles of straw, so placed and held in by thatch-pegs 
that they will keep out water. 
Weeds in Corn and Potatoes must be destroyed. 
Better knock down a few hills of corn in cultivat- 
ing, than suffer the land to be covered with weeds- 
