AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
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"AGKICULTUKE IS THE MOST HEALTHFUL, MOST USEFUL, AND MOST NOIILE EMPLOYMENT OF M.U," IV t „i 
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For Contend, Ternu, etc., *<■• page 04. 
VOLUME XXIII-No. 2. 
NEW- YORK, FEBRUARY, 1864. 
NEW SERIES-No. 205. 
Entered according to art of Congress In tltc year 1SG3, by 
OJUNQI drop, In the Clerk's Olllce of the District Court of 
tin- United States for Hie Southern District of New- York. 
tW~ Other Journals are Invited to copy desirable articles 
freely, f/onch article be credited to American Agvlculiuri.it, 
American Agriculturist in German. 
Each number of this Journal is published in both 
the English and German Languagos. Both Editions 
are of the same size, and contain, as nearly as possible, 
the same Articles and Illustrations. The German Edition 
Is furnished at Ihe same rates as the English, singly or in 
clubs. A club may be part English, and part German. 
Notes and Suggestions for the Month- 
Why the Fishes (Pisces) should be the name of 
the Zodiacal sign for February, has puzzled 
even astronomers. A plausible theory is, that 
the constellations of the Zodiac were named in 
Egypt, about 2300 years before the Christian 
Era, at which time the groups of stars called, 
Aquarius (the Water-bearer) and Pisces, rose 
just after sunset in the months of January 
and February. During these months the Nile 
overflows its banks, hence the Water-bearer, 
and the Fishes would there be very appropriate 
names, and would naturally be chosen by 
Egyptian astronomers to designate those months. 
Although in this latitude fishing is not a leadiug 
matter of interest in February, yet in many pla- 
ces, much amusement, and profit as well, can be 
enjoyed even while the ponds and streams are 
ice-locked and the merry skaters are gliding 
over the quiet haunts of the pike and the perch. 
These fish readily take the bait from lines low- 
ered through holes cut in the ice, and a well 
prepared chowder, for which our artist has pro- 
vided in his sketch, is a welcome addition to the 
pleasures of a skating party, with appetites 
whetted by frosty air and vigorous exercise. 
It is an interesting fact, perhaps not generally 
known outside of scientific and sporting circles, 
that the young trout are hatched during the 
last of January and first of February. The 
female deposits her eggs in a gravelly basin or 
bud carefully prepared by the male. He is con- 
stant to his mate while she is spawning, and will 
allow no stranger to approach the chosen 
domicile. The eggs are fecundated immedi- 
ately after being laid, and the slow process of 
hatching consumes from eight to ten weeks, or 
more, depending somewhat on temperature. 
Tbe eggs of some other fish require even longer 
periods : the salmon which appears in early 
spring requires live months for incubation. The 
breeding offish deserves more than the passing 
notice, with which it might be here dismissed, 
were it only a matter for scientific inquiry or 
for affording occasional recreation. The rapid 
declension, and entire extinction in many 
streams, of a most valuable source of food is of no 
little importance, particularly, as experiments 
have shown that it may be remedied. In France, 
the government lent its aid to restocking the 
trout, salmon, and other home fisheries. All the 
accounts received have been favorable as to the 
success of the enterprise. Eight or ten years 
ago the matter was considerably discussed in 
this country, and several experiments were un- 
dertaken with various results. EnoughAhow- 
ever was accomplished to show the fear.bilily 
under proper management of again repeopling 
the cold-spring brooks with trout, the ponds 
with pike, perch, bass and other appropriate 
species, and the nothcrn tide-water streams with 
the salmon whose finny ancestors once gave 
both sport and sustenance to the aborigines, and 
profitable employment to the first settlers from 
the Old World. We shall be pleased to publish 
facts tending to awaken a new interest in the 
subject, or if the enterprise be impracticable, 
to know the circumstances and reason of failure. 
Two obscure fishermen in France, skillful only 
in their craft, brought the art of pisci-curu"'e or 
fish-raising to its prominence in that country, 
and there is no lack of men or means on this 
side the Atlantic to improve upon their ideas 
aud develop this new branch of industry here. 
TVork for tUe Farui, Barn, and Stock Yard. 
Animals. — All the auimals of the farm should 
be glad to see their owner, and in fact every 
other person who has to do with them. Man 
should bo recognized as their best friend. Colts 
and steers particularly, should be petted and 
handled constantly. Treated thus, they will 
never need breaking. If there be a stable boy 
who plays with the horses by pinching or pre- 
tending to pinch their flanks, keeping himself 
out of the way of kicks and bites, no wonder 
they become vicious. The same boy in passing 
through the cattle yard will crack the cattle 
over the back with a fork handle if they are 
caught standing in the driest parts of the yard 
when he wants to pass. The result is always 
the same — a yard of wild cows and ugly steers 
to be afterward " broken" by fear and a goad. 
Feed roots to all classes of stock, particularly to 
those which may be breeding, and by this 
means counteract the tendency to constipation. 
Building. — Study to make changes which will 
save steps and afford decided conveniences. 
Paint lasts a great deal longer if put on in win- 
ter instead of in summer, and is less likely to 
be defaced by dust while in the green state. 
Bulk.— Train young bulls to the yoke. In a 
single yoke or harnessed with gear, much labor 
may be done by a bull. He will be quieter for it, 
abetter stock-getter, and much less dangerous 
in every way. A bull's will should always be 
controlled and his anger never excited. Insert 
a ring in the nose of unmanageable animals. 
Calves dropped in February can soldom be 
afforded fresh milk. They should therefore be 
weaned as soon as possible, and fed with 
skimmed milk, clover tea aud gruel. 
Cows. — It is common practice to have cows 
come in about 40 to CO days before they can be 
turned out to pasture. This makes March or even 
April.the calving time in this latitude. Still many 
cows come in in February. They ought to have 
good hajr, a daily feed of cut roots slightly sal- 
ted, and a little meal sprinkled on this. For a few 
days before calving they should be removed to a 
roomy stall or loose box to geta little at homein 
it. They should be looked after, but let alone 
unless in serious trouble. After parturition 
give a warm bran mash made with scalding 
water, and let the cow return to her ordinary 
feed, increasing the amount of roots and grain 
if the flow of milk is great, or exhausting. 
Horses.— See hints in last month's calendar. 
If, as often happens in winter, a horse's coat is 
full of dirt and scurf which currying appears to 
develop but not remove, a change of diet is need- 
ed. If possible, feed roots, and also give free 
access to salt. In the absence of roots, bran wet 
with plenty of warm water may be a partial 
substitute, especially in cases of constipation. 
• Hired men, if not already provided for the sea- 
son, should be secured iu February. The best 
men are usually engaged first. See hints on 
page 47. Many immigrants are expected this 
spring,among whom will doubtless be some good 
farm hands. See Basket item on this topic. 
Ice.— The " ice crop" has been unusually 
abundant ; the character of the ice most excel- 
lent. Still more may be secured, if the weather 
is such as to keep it solid, or freeze it afresh. 
Manures. — See sundry articles in this number 
on a subject so important both west and east. 
Maple Sugar. — Several warm days will cause 
the sap to flow, and the first Sowings are richest 
in sugar, so there should no time be lost, but 
preparations be early completed. See page 43. 
Potatoes. — Keep seed potatoes in the coolest 
part of the cellar, secure from frost. Examine 
others, removing decayed ones, and rubbing off 
the sprouts that will start if they be kept warm. 
