OtS 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[MaroiI, 
Contents for March, 1870. 
Apples, Milo, Lord Suffleld, Somersct,.3 Illustrations.. 102 
Asphalt Walks 100 
Bee Notes for March 51 
Birds, The Flamingoes Illustrated. .93 
Boys and Girls Columns— Street Toys— Letter from a 
Little Girl— Don't forget the Birds— Rambles in China, 
Street Scenes — Rebuses— Problems — Answers to Pro- 
blems and Puzzles 5 Illustrations.. 107-103 
Bone Ashes for Fruit Trees 104 
California Pitcher Plant Illustrated . .101 
Castor Bean Cnltnrc 90 
Cattle, The Ayranlt Fat Oxen Illustrated. . SI 
Cutting up the Foro Quarters of Beof. . .5 Must ration?.. QQ 
Economical Fences i IUudratkms. .99 
Farm Work for March S3 
Fish and Muck Compost 99 
Flower Garden and Lawn in March S3 
Fruit for the North-west 101 
Fruit Garden in March S3 
Green-House and Window Plants 83 
Hauling out Manure 99 
Hay or Straw Baskets for Plants 90 
Horse Papers for Farmers, No. 3 92 
Household Department— Library Steps— Nice Dishes 
that all Farmer's Folks can have — A Home Letter on 
Woman's Work, by Faith Rochester — Cause of Sour 
Bread— Yeast— Household Talks, by Aunt Hattie — 
RepairingaKocking-Chair— Wearing Brooms — Oake — 
Washing Reclpos Illustrated . . 105-106 
Houses, Convenient of Medium Size. ..7 Illustrations.. S3 
How to lay out a Flower Garden 2 Illustrations . 102 
Kitchen Garden in March 83 
Market Reports — 85 
Maple Sugar Making 4 Illustrations.. 97-98 
Ogdcn Farm Papers, No. 3, Steaming Food, Preparing 
For Soiling 91 
Onions, Seeds and Sots 91 
Orchard and Nursery in March 83 
Peanut Culture 91 
Plowing and Harrowing 99 
Premiums S4 
Suadrnpeds — Tho American Panther Illustrated. . 93 
hubarb as a Market Crop 103 
Snails, Worms and Caterpillars 104 
Spreading Manure 99 
Spring Greens, The Marsh Marigold 104 
Thrashing Machine of New Mexico Illustrated. . 100 
Walks and Talks on tho Farm, No. 75 — Trying New 
Things — Spring Wheat — Improving Land — 
Plowing under Clover — Will Keeping Sheep Pav ? — 
Drawing out Manuro — Composting — Aro Hogs 
Pigs? 94-95 
Warm House Walls 4 Illustrations. .96 
INDEX TO "BASKET" OB SHORTER ARTICLES. 
Alton Nutmeg Melon 89 
Ashes, Questions on 90 
Ayranlt Fat Cattle 85 
Barley on Mucky Land. . .90 
Beekeepers' Convention. S7 
Bitter Butter 89 
Black Bass 90 
Black-leg in Cattle 86 
Bots in Horses S7 
Breaking Bones 90 
Brewers' Grains for FowlsSO 
Brush Chopping Machine 90 
Butter Essays SS 
Cabbage Insects 87 
California Vines 86 
Carriage Tops 90 
Circulars Wanted SO 
Cost of Keeping Sheep. . .90 
Ditches on Hill-sides 98 
Dominiquo vs. Dorking. .89 
Egg-eating Dogs 89 
Egg Hatching 86 
Egg Keeping i8S 
Euhielan Grape 87 
Farm Prospects in Cal 91 
Field Peas 89 
Field Rollers 87 
Flower Seeds Gratis 87 
Forest Tree Cuttings 87 
Fumi gating Trees ST 
Gas Lime 90 
Golden Dwarf Peach S7 
Gypsum in Tenn 87 
Hail 89 
Hen-house Manure 90 
Hen-lice on Cattle 90 
Hen-plucked Roosters 86 
Laying out a Vineyard . . .89 
Lime and Salt Mixturo. . .90 
Lime Kilns 87 
Little Pigs 90 
Manuring Corn 87 
Seed Peas 89 
Sheep-killing Dogs 89 
Spaying Cows 89 
9tables,Out-bnlldings,ctc.87 
Stamps upon NoteB 90 
Stock in Montana 85 
Stono Fences 89 
Sundry Humbugs 86 
Swelled Cattle's Jaws S9 
Timber in Southern Ind.87 
Trouble with Seed Drill. .87 
Unanswered Letters 86 
Value of Raw and Cooked 
Food 90 
Verbenas and Roses S6 
Water Filters 90 
What is a Ton of Manure ?S7 
White Grubs 90 
Winter and Spring Barley87 
Winter Butter in Va 87 
Yellow-birds 89 
Maple Sugar Items 86 
Market Garden and Flori- 
culture 85 
Market Gardener , 90 
Mixing 89 
Montebello Apple 87 
New Catalogues 85 
N. Y. State Ag'l Society. 85 
Northern Ramie 88 
Norway Oats ST 
Oil Barrels for Cider 90 
Oil for Wheels 90 
Olm Bros 87 
Ox-eyo Daisy SO 
Petroleum for Roofe ST 
Pigs Losing Tails 90 
Plum Trees 89 
Poisoned Dog ST 
Potato Literature S6 
Ronny Fowls SO 
ting Cabbages 89 
Sal 
Back Volumes Supplied,— The back volumes 
of the Agriculturist are very valuable. They contain 
information upon every topic connected with rural life, 
out-door and in-door, and the last thirteen volumes make 
una very complete library. Each volume has a full index 
for ready reference to any desired topic. We have on 
hand, and print from electrotype plates as wanted, all the 
numbers and volumes for thirteen years past, beginning 
with 1857— that is, Vol. ISto Vol. 2s, inclusive. A»>- of 
these volumes sent complete (in numbers) at $1.75 each, 
post-paid, (or $1.50 If taken at the office).. The volumes, 
neatly bound, are supplied for $2 each, or $2.50 if to be 
sent by mail. Any single numbers of the past thirteou 
years will be supplied, post-paid, for 15 cents each. 
Calendar for March. 
«; 
^ 
■s> 
:=» 
« 
t^ 
4 
1 
T 
2 
W 
a 
T 
4 
V 
g 
K 
e 
S 
>j 
M 
8 
'1' 
9 
W 
1(1 
•1' 
11 
h' 
Vf. 
S 
13 
S 
1+ 
M 
15 
T 
1« 
W 
17 
'1' 
IS 
H' 
lit 
S 
I'd 
S 
SI 
M 
n 
'1' 
*s 
W 
M4 
T 
25 
V 
26 
a 
2( 
s 
•>s 
M 
29 
'1' 
Hit 
W 
81 
T 
Bottn.lfEttg: 
land, N. York 
Stale, Michi- 
gan, Wiscon- 
sin, Iowa, and 
Oregon. 
6 30 
6 35 
33 
St 5 51 
(i 30 5 55 
23 g 56 
11 ■»% 
6 35 15 58 
2:5 5 59 
»1 16 
11 '.'fill 
11 IS 6 
G 16 6 
a 14'r; 
n lac 
6 11|G 
9>6 
7j6 10 
6,6 11 
' 6 12 
(i 13 
6 14 
6 15 
■1 1 
4 
2 

5! I 
5 57 
5 55 
5 53 
!i 52 
50 
5 4S 
5 -13 
IS 
6 19 
6 20 
6 21 
6 32 
6 23 
6 24 
n. M. 
5 17 
17 
7 17 
8 11 
9 13 
10 10 
11 07 
morn 
5 
1 3 
2 1 
2 5-1 
3 46 
4 84 
5 17 
rises 
6 27 
7 42 
8 58 
10 12 
11 25 
morn 
33 
1 35 
2 30 
3 13 
3 50 
4 31 
5 2 
5 28 
5 54 
jv. n am, &., 
Philadelphia, 
2sew Jersey, 
Penn., Ohio, 
Indiana, and 
Illinois. 
5 i> 
n.M h.h 
II 33 5 53 
G 31 15 53 
6 33 5 54 
6 30 |a 
(i 29 5 56 
6 27 5 57 
6 25 |r> 58 
6 2115 59 
6 n 6 
6 20 6 
19 
C 17,0 
16 6 
14 !6 
126 
6 II 6 
6 
6 10 
C;6 11 
4 6 12 
2 6 13 
6 14 
6 15 
10 
1 
6 18 
6 19 
5 51 6 20 
5 49 ft 21 
5 4716 22 
5 46:6 23 
£ o; 
h. >r. 
5 20 
19 
7 IS 
8 14 
9 11 
10 S 
11 4 
morn 
1 
50 
1 5>j 
2 51 
3 42 
4 30 
5 14 
rises 
6 27 
7 41 
8 56 
10 10 
11 21 
morn 
28 
1 31 
2 25 
3 13 
3 32 
4 28 
4 59 
5 27 
5 53 
Washington, 
Mart/ land. 
1 trginia, Ken- 
tucky, Missou- 
ri, and Cali- 
fornia. 
5" 
S ~ 
S £ 
1?^ 
*t 
^- 
II.M 
n m 
H. M. 
33 
5 54 
5 23 
32 IS 55 
6 21 
6 30,5 56 
7 18 
6 391-5 57 
8 14 
27 ;5 57 
9 10 
26 .5 58 
10 6 
24 3 50 
11 1 
6 23 6 
11 57 
6 21 
6 1 
morn 
6 20 
6 ? 
55 
IS 
6 8 
1 51 
17 
6 4 
2 45 
(I 15 
II 5 
3 37 
6 18 
6 6 
4 25 
6 12 
6 7 5 10 
6 10 6 8 
rises 
6 96 9 
6 28 
6 7|6 10 
7 4t 
6 6 6 11 
8 54 
6 4 12 
10 7 
6 8,0 13 
11 17 
6 l!6 It 
morn 
5 59 
6 15 
24 
5 53 
10 
1 25 
5 50 
(1 17 
2 19 
5 54 
fi 18 
3 8 
5 53 
f 111 
343 
5 51 
I'l 
4 23 
5 50 
fi 2(1 
4 57 
5 48 
6 21 
5 25 
5 47I6 22 
5 53 
PHASES OF THE MOON 
aiOOX. ,T10STON.. X.YORK. WASIl'N. CIIA'STON CHICAGO. 
-I' 
|d.:h. m. 
New Moon 2 ! 3 56 m. 
1st Quart. .Iioi 8 27 m. 
Full 17 9 8 m. 
3d Quart... Will 54 ev. 
3 44 rn 
8 15 m 
8 56 ev 
n. m. 
3 32 m. 
8 3 m. 
8 41 m. 
11 42 ev! 11 30 ev 
NewMoon'Sl 9 14 ev. 1 9 2 ev.' 8 50 ev. 
n. u. H. M. 
3 20 in. 2 50 m. 
7 51 m. 7 21 in. 
8 S3 in. 8 2 m. 
11 18 ev.110 48 ev. 
8 SS ev. 8 8 ev. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, MARCH, 1870. 
We believe there never was a season which some- 
body did not regard ns very remarkable, if not al- 
together without precedent. No one, however, on 
the seaboard, claims this winter as one of unusual 
severity. With us, it has been almost like summer 
for weeks together. We have seen a good deal of 
plowing done in both January and February, and 
the ground, up to the time of writing, has been 
bare of snow, except for a day or two at a time, 
since before Christmas. This comes, notwithstand- 
ing all the "signs." There hardly ever was such 
a crop of nuts — this betokened a severe winter ; 
the corn husks were thick and abundant — this also 
indicated a long season of cold. Wild geese went 
south early ; a good many bears, and other wild 
animals, were killed further south than usual, and 
there were a score of other "signs" of a hard 
winter. If it comes, it will be after we go to press. 
And now, almost everybody prophesies a cold 
March, and late spring. The fact is, nobody can 
tell, and he has been wise who has improved the 
winter to make his fences, clear off the stones, 
clean up fence rows, dig drains, and lay the tiles, 
so that whenever spring comes, he can go on with 
his work without interruption. March is, how- 
ever, often best adapted for this kind of work, and 
we have yet to see the farm in America whereon 
there is not enough of it to do. Bright, sunny 
days, and a drying surface, aro a temptation to be- 
gin plowing too early. Wait until the ground is 
settled, and the water is out of it, on all except 
sandy or gravelly soils which do not pack when wet. 
The month is likely to be one of great changes 
in temperature ; high winds will prevail, more or 
less, and the farmer's first thoughts should be to 
protect his stock and stores from exposure. The 
frost may derange foundations, loose weather- 
boards may be found, rain finding its way through 
the roof may make musty hay. All these things 
need a little closer looking to than was necessary 
during the winter. At the same time, the roads 
will probably be very bad, and the provident 
farmer will get all real necessities, including: food 
and feed, lumber, nails forrepairs, etc., beforehand. 
Hints About Work. 
Clearing up Fence Rows is good work for early 
spring. Thcra are no leaves and grass to conceal 
big stones, against which, in summer, one is apt to 
strike the bush-scythe, hook, and axe, and a man 
can sec much better what he is about. When the 
brush is cut, and the soil is loosened by the out- 
coming frost, the ground may be plowed much 
more easily than in summer. 
Setting Fences. — Before the land is in condition to 
plow, and while yet it is mellow and loose, re-set 
old fences that have been blown or shoved out of 
place. The cheapest and best wooden fence afarm- 
er can put up is one of J^-inch oak strips, nailed 
to posts, set 6 feet apart, capped and battened. 
The use of the Roller is too little known among 
some pretty good farmers. In the spring, as soon 
as the ground is free from frost, and firm enough 
not to poach up under the feet of horses or oxen, 
all land in grass and grain should be rolled. There 
are mole hills, and clods, torn up by the tread of 
animals, and small stones, and tussocks of gross, 
wheel tracks, and a multitude of things that cause, 
irregularities of surface, which a good roller puts 
out of the way in once going over. Besides, plants 
heaved by tho freezing and thawing of winter, are 
packed firmly in the soil. 
Pick off the Stones from plowed land, grain fields, 
and newly seeded grass land, lay them in pales, so 
that they can be loaded into carts, and drawn oft' 
early in the morning, when the grotwid is stiff. 
Large stones should be lifted, and have sticks laid 
under them, when the ground is soft, that they, too, 
may be moved when it is frozen. 
Grass and Grain Fields may be dressed with a 
few hundred pounds of bone-dust, plaster, and 
ashes, or all three mixed in about equal parts. In- 
stead of this, any fine, well-rotted compost or 
manure maybe applied, brushed in, and the field 
rolled. Liquid manure is particularly recommend- 
ed as a profitable application in the spring. 
Seeding with Clover is usually done in March, if 
possible. The best reason we cau suggest for 
this is, that if a light snow covers the ground, 
the cast can be easily seen. The stand is as good 
if the seed is sown any time before the May rains. 
Plowing. — Plow no water-soaked land. Many a 
field of heavy soil is damaged for the whole season 
by being plowed before the water is out of it, and 
the labor of subsequent tillage is greatly increased. 
Weeds. — March is one of the best times to kill 
certain biennial weeds. They start as oarly as the 
grass, and they are easily killed with a hoe. Go 
through the meadows and lanes, along the fences, 
and over the grain fields, with as strong a force of 
men and boys — women and girls, too, if possible — 
armed with hoes, and cut or pull all such weeds 
as thistles, mulleins, wild teazles, daisies, wild pars- 
nips and carrots, and many other plants, now 
easily seen, but which will soon be concealed in 
the grass. Let docks alone ; if cut, they will make 
half a dozen shoots, which will break off when one 
tries to pull them ; allowed to grow until they arc 
nearly ready to blossom, they may be pulled easily 
in wet weather, and destroyed, root and top. 
Spring Grains cannot be sowed too soon after 
the ground is fit to plow. Prepare the seed by 
winnowing out the light stuff, and use only the 
plumpest grains. Soak in strong pickle, to kill smut. 
The ground should be in good heart, and mellow. 
Peas and Oats will be found a jirofitablc crop for 
many purposes. It is excellent for soiling, capital 
for hogs, and the combined yield of grain is greater 
than either oats or peas alone would reach. 
Peas are sowed early ; and though they need kind 
in good heart and tilth, they do not need but are 
damaged by fresh manure. 
Potatoes may be planted as soon as the land i> 
warm ; but north of Philadelphia, it is not advisa- 
ble to plant many in March. If cut to single eyes, 
many sets are likely to be lost in cold, wet weather 
— larger pieces are best for early planting. 
Manure maybe hauled while snow lasts, or while 
the frozen ground permits easy wheeling on plow- 
ed land. Work over that which is liable to heat, 
and mix with litter not nocded as bedding. 
Swine. — Give breeding sows, soon t» farrow, 
