4=2, 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
Contents for February, 1867. 
Animals— What Becomes of Dead 65 
Apiary for February 43 
Barn Door Fastenings 2 Illustrations. . 57 
Beavers Illustrated.. 53 
Bees — Impurities of Cross-bred Drones 54 
Blackberries — Propagating 2 Illustrations. . 61 
Boys and Girls 1 Columns — Eyes May Deceive — Curious 
Bouquet — New Plaything — Ants, Strong Little People 
— Problems and Puzzles — Hare-brained Team — Master 
Workman's Tools — Cotton on the Gallows — Curious 
Book-worm 6 Illustrations . .61-GS 
Cattle— Feeding at the Stack 56 
Cattle— Head of Calf. Illustrated. .60 
Cherries— Early May and Richmond 62 
Cows— Best Style for Family Use 58 
Farm Work in February 42 
Farmers' 1 Club — Sense at 58 
Flower Garden and Lawn in February 43 
Flowers — How New York is Supplied 59 
Fruit Garden in February .. 43 
Garden — Kitchen in February 43 
Green and Hot-Houses in February 43 
Hollies — American and European Illustrated.. 64 
Horse Mangers — Hanging Followers 3 Illustrations. . 57 
Horses— Old Mares as Mule Breeders 55 
Horticultural Society, Indiana 43 
Household Ornaments 5 Illustrations. . 65 
Housekeeper's Diary — Prize Essay Illustrated.. 65 
Housekeeper's Journal — Prize Essay 66 
Land— Bringing up Worn-out 54 
Manure— Night Soil for 58 
Manures— How and When Applied 55 
Markets 45 
Meadows— Reclaiming Swamp 56 
Moles — Shrew and Star-nosed 2 Illustrations. . 53 
Pear — Beurre Clairgeau Illustrated. .63 
Pear — Dana's Hovey 62 
Poultry Clubs — Dealing in Fancy 51 
Premiums 44 
Profits from Small Places 63 
Priming— Ways and Means Illustrated. .62 
Hats— Finality on '. 66 
Straw Beds iu the Garden 64 
Straw Covers for Hot-beds, etc 63 
Swamp Meadows — Reclaiming 56 
Tkn Bunker on the Food Question 57 
Tree— vt Big " of California 64 
Trees— Care of Young Illustrated. . 62 
Violets— Old and New IU ust rated . .60 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. 38 — Beans a Paying 
Crop — Winter Fattening of Sheep — High Taxes — 
High Price of Cows — Future Prices of Produce — 
Winter Work on the Farm— Outlet for Drains — Wheat 
under Packed Snow — Benefits of Draining— Farming 
"by City People 51-52 
INDEX TO "BASKET," OR SHORTER ARTICLES. 
Advertisers, Notice 
Agricultural Annual 46 
Ag'l Department Report. .50 
American Naturalist 50 
Apple Pear Stocks 4S 
Authors, Notice to 4' 
Breck's Flowers 4' 
Cake, Molasses 48 
Calves, Raising 49 
Carrots for Food 49 
Catalogues, Noteworthy. .50 
Catalogues Received 50 
Chapped Hands, etc 49 
Clover Seed, Good 4S 
Contents, Look at 47 
Cooking Food for Stock. .49 
Cora Planter, etc 49 
Cows in the Yoke 49 
Door Mats 48 
Draining, Book on 47 
Dyeing Brown 4S 
Egypt Turnip 49 
Forty Pages 47 
Fruit Keeping House 50 
Fuller's FruitTBook 47 
Gardening for Profit 47 
Guano Supply 49 
Horses, Plowing with 49 
Hops in California 4S 
Horticultural Annual 4f 
Humbugs, Sundry 4£ 
Insects on Strawberries... 4S 
Late Number 46 
Live Stock Markets 47 
N. Y. Evening Post 46 
Manure, Hen 49 
Manures, Manufactured. . . 48 
Muck Composts 49 
Orchard, Setting out 48 
Painting Floors 48 
Paper Cutter, Good 48 
Pears in California 48 
Phrenology, etc 46 
Pigs, Fattening 49 
Plants by Mail 50 
Poniologv, American 47 
Pom'l Soc'y, American. . .47 
Poul try Ailments 48 
Poultry, Meat for 48 
Prizes Awarded 4S 
Publisher, Another 46 
Pudding, Rice 48 
Shrub for Grave 48 
Seeds, American 50 
Slugs, Bait for 49 
Sorghum Vinegar 4S 
Stanchions, Patent 48 
Standard Dwarfs 50 
Steers, Fine Devon 49 
Sugar Cane, Brazilian 48 
Tree Peddlers 50 
Tripe, Cooking 48 
Unwarranted 'Certificate. .50 
Vineyard at Lakeview 47 
Warts on Cows' Teats 49 
Warts on Hands 48 
Weedcr, New 48 
Western Opportunities. . .50 
Wheat in Maine 49 
Wheat in Wisconsin 40 
Wheat on New Laud 49 
Weeat, Winter in Spring. 40 
Where to Buy 50 
Whole or Half Sheets 50 
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-duor. and the Inst ten volumes makeup 
a very complete library. Each volume has a full index 
for ready reference to any desired topic. We have on 
hand, and print from stereotype plates as wanted, all the 
numbers and volumes for ten years past, beginning with 
1857— that is, Vol. 16 to Vol. 25, inclusive. Any of these 
volumes sent complete (in numbers) ;it SI. 75 each, post- 
paid, (or $1.50 if taken at the office). The volumes 
neatly bound, are supplied for %-z each, or $2.50 if to be 
sent by mail. Any single numbers of the past ten 
vears will be supplied, post-paid, for 15 cents each- 
AMERICA?} AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW-YORK, FEBRUARY, 1867. ■ 
We hope our readers will not think that we are 
unseasonably "harping upon one string," when 
we again insist upon the necessity of laying defi- 
nite plans for work to be done. This makes the 
difference between success and failure — between 
thrift and unthrift, provided of course, that such 
plans are made, as may be, and are, carried out. An 
old farmer knows by experience what may be done, 
by what has been, and it is well for the young farmer 
not to undertake too much. Depend upon it, time 
will not hang heavy on your hands. Do what you 
undertake, thoroughly well, but do not "putter" 
and fuss to no account. Especially regard four 
things : First: "Your own health aud that of the 
family, especially that of the good wife — relieving 
her in every possible way, by servants, by washing 
machine and wringer, by sewing machine, by your 
own helpful care, solicitude, aud interest in her 
work and cares. Second — System : Having every 
thing go according to a preconcerted plan. Third — 
Time : Being prompt, up early, having chores done, 
breakfast ready at the moment, and the work of 
the day begun as nearly as possible at the 
same hour daily — and so through the day. Besides, 
allowing full resting spells, permit no loitering of 
men or teams. Fourth : If you employ one or 
more hands, impose a strict responsibility in regard 
to certain work, and enforce the same. Thus things 
will go smoothly. 
There is one thing farmers are very apt to neg- 
lect, and that is, the Kitchen Garden — many of 
them hardly glance at the hints in another column. 
A good vegetable garden is the most profitable 
part of any farm. Manure will pay best applied 
there, and labor will produce more comfort, food 
and gratification if expended iu the garden than 
elsewhere. And in the neighborhood of villages 
there are always quick sales for fresh vegetables, 
aud by the preparation of a little more ground and 
a small additional cost for seed and tillage, no in- 
considerable income may be derived. Think of this 
while making plans for March aud April work. 
Hints Altont Woa-li. 
At the North we are pretty much cut off from 
proper field work, yet, as the Agriculturist goes 
Southward, it soon comes upon bare fields and soil 
in which no frost remains long. There spring 
begins iu good earnest a month or six weeks earlier 
than iu our latitude (41°), aud "spring plowing," 
etc., is there winter work. We adapt these 
hints to our own latitude, but are apt to anticipate 
a little, chiefly in order to have plenty of leeway 
in ease the season is especially early. 
Field Work. — Dead furrows in grain fields and 
furrows plowed for surface draiuiug should be 
clear, so that the ground will not wash much in 
thaws. If grain is badly harmed by frost put on an 
even light dressing of muck or soil or simply roll. 
Gj-oss and Clover Seed may be sown if the ground 
is bare and the frost is out. It is best to be done on 
a very light snow in case the surface is not frozen. 
Any kind of grass or clover seed may be sown. 
Manure may be hauled out to the distant 
fields when there is good sledding, but it should 
only be such as is well composed' and which will 
ueither wash nor deteriorate essentially by expo- 
sure. It may easily be put in this condition 
by the use of muck, but very little that is hauled 
to the field in the winter time is so protected 
from the action of the weather, and half to two- 
thirds is wasted. 
Buildings. — Timber may be prepared for auy 
repairs, or for new buildings which may be de- 
sired. (Pine, Spruce, aud Hemlock, may be cut at 
this season.) Stables and cellars should be opened 
and aired on warm dry days. A little salt sprinkled 
around posts, which form the foundations of corn 
cribs aud similar structures will prevent their being- 
harmed by the frost. This is true of gate posts. 
The Wood Lot affords plenty of work in cutting 
fire wood, getting out framiug stuff, cedar beau 
poles, stakes, and such things. Avoid cutting trees 
that are full of sap at this season, or as soon as the 
weather is warmer — as the maple, beach, etc. 
Ice. — Review what has previously been said about 
storing ice, it is not too late so long as good ice 
can be procured. Pack only solid ice, removing all 
the soft snow ice that may be attached to the cakes. 
Secure Seed of each kind of grain it is proposed 
to sow this spring. If you can do so, select seed 
grain from a large quantity by repeated winnow- 
ings. Send for catalogues of seedmen, study them, 
and order early. At the same time also 
Secure Good Farm Sands. — February is usually, 
the time to make the best engagements. 
Working Stock, if not employed, should not be fed 
too much grain, but roots should be iu a measure 
substituted, and if hard worked, feed accordingly. 
JToi'ses ought to be kept sharp-caulked, as ice is 
more dangerous if it exists only iu spots than when 
it covers the ground. Feed four quarts of carrots 
with a handful of ashes and half as much ginger 
daily if they get "off their feed" for lack of ex- 
ercise. They are approaching the time when they 
shed their coats, and as they are then liable to take 
colds, they should be well fed and in good con- 
dition. The tax upon the system in renewing the 
coat is considerable. Brood mares, with foal, need 
especial care, lest they slip aud fall, or in playing 
strain themselves, or get kicked. 
Colts. — When there is a foot of snow on the 
ground the time is particularly favorable to training 
and breaking colts to saddle aud harness. Gentle- 
ness, firmness and sugar are the specifics, with the 
common sense use of which, we warrant it ea6y to 
break any colt not made vicious by bad boys or men. 
Oxen should come out in fine condition for spring 
work on little besides corn stalks if these are 
properly prepared, namely : cut up, soaked and 
salted with a very little meal upon them. 
Beef Stock may have a little increase of meal or 
oil cake when they begin to shed their coats. 
Cows that are giving milk may well have wheat 
bran and oil-cake meal on their cut and soaked 
stalks. The earlier they are dried off, the better 
will the calf be, in all likelihood, but If milked 
until nearly time for the new milk to "spring" a 
tendency to give much milk is increased. 
Calves intended for veal may very early be taught 
to nibble hay, aud finally to eat a good deal, and 
with what skimmed milk they can get in their 
boiled gruel, they will make rapid progress. 
The Currycomb should not be neglected, its 
exercise on all kinds neat stock aud horses is a 
great prevention of disease and vermin, and is 
productive of thrift. 
Sheep should be kept so assorted in flocks that all 
can get Ihe proper allowance of feed. Provide a 
warm shed, feed straw and hay in racks, and grain 
iu troughs ; of course, feed some roots, or hemlock 
boughs, or both. House ewes near yeaning time, 
where they will have room, warmth, and comfort. 
Visit all the stock personally the last thing at 
night and first thing in the morning. See that 
they have water enough, at least twice a day, better 
three times. Give salt frequently, and let them 
stand several hours in the yards every day if fair. 
Poultry. — Set one or two clutches of the earliest 
eggs, mating the finest pullets with the best old 
cock, as early in the month as possible, provided 
you can furnish the chicks warm, dry, light quar- 
ters. Kept clean, and attended with care, they 
will make fine birds, either to improve your own 
flock, or for the fall shows. 
Swine. — Keep the shoats at work at the manure. 
We often think of the saying of a Massachusetts 
farmer, that for corn, a cob that a hog bad breathed 
on is worth a bushel of yard manure. Breeding 
sows near farrowing, should be well sheltered, and 
have warm nests away from other swine ard be fed 
well, but not with heating food ; a few raw pota- 
toes or other roots are promotive of milk, and 
make an excellent addition to their diet. 
