226 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [Juke, 
t 
Contents of This Number. 
[Articles marked with a star (*) are illustrated; the fig¬ 
ure with the star indicates the number of illustrations.] 
Americans’ Hope Abroad.236 
Among the Farmers, No. 65.—A Murrain—Hue and 
Cry over American Meats—The Thing that We 
Must Do. .240 
Bag Holder, Another.2*..'238 
Barns, Plans of.233 
Bee Notes for June. 232 
Bottles for Milk.257 
Boys’ and Girls’ Columns :— Doctor's Talks .—“ In¬ 
dian Beads’’—“Stone Lilies’’—Crinoids. A Word 
About Sending Plants. A Picture Puzzle. Farm¬ 
ing in Old Connecticut. Our Puzzle Box. Illus¬ 
trated Rebus. In the Field on a Bright June 
Day.7*.. 250-252 
Boys, The Farmer, in Rhode Island . 229 
Brush, A Novelty in Pea.228 
Catalogues Received.258 
Chickory—Wild and Cultivated. . *..245 
Cholera, Chicken.229 
Clod-Crusher, A Home-Made.*..239 
Commercial Matters.259 
Concrete Houses—How to Mix the Mortar. 8*. - 236 
Cow Peas.233 
Crop, The Root.;.233 
Currant Worms, How to Destroy.247 
Dog Show, The Fifth Annual.257 
Dogs, Prairie, How to get Rid of .228 
Dynamometer, A New Recording.*. .239 
Freights, Condense Your.234 
From the First.•.235 
Gate, A Small Lift..2*..244 
Gladiolus, The Culture of the. *..245 
Hay-Caps—Prepare Now.*. .239 
Hay, When to Cut. 231 
Hens and Chickens in the Fruit Yards.234 
Holder, A, for Poles.*..238 
Holder, A Rein, in Fly Time.*.. 234 
Hook, A Manure.*..244 
Household :—A Handy Wash Bench. The Treat¬ 
ment of Bed-Bugs. A Folding Clothes-Horse. An 
Adjustable Boot Jack. More About Water Jugs. 
A Screen for the Back Door. An Oven Wanted. 
Notes and Queries. Conveniences for Weighing 
Small Articles...8* . .248-249 
Humbugs, Sundry .232 
JTack, Another Wagon. *..231 
Keeping One Horse.—First Prize Essay.242-243 
Idbby, Mr. E. H.257 
Lifter, A Wagon Box.* .231 
Lilacs and Snowballs in March.229 
Lumber Interest in the Northwest....236 
JTIedlar on Long Island .247 
Milk, A New Enterprise. 233 
Milkers, Cow.241 
Neatness in the Dairy. 244 
Notes on Orchard and Garden Work.*. .227-228 
Oleomargarine. 233 
Orchard, In the Apple, while in Bloom.*. .225 
Plants, the Value of Common..247 
Plants, Water in Setting.228 
Plaster, Something About.230 
Potatoes under Straw.233 
Prairie Flowers, Golden Selenia.*..246 
Primroses, Old and New—The Cashmerian.*..247 
Back, A Self-Feeding Cattle.*..229 
Rack, A Western “ Extension,” Hay.*. .240 
Repair the Barns and Sheds.238 
Root Cutter, A Home-Made.4*. .234 
Rules, Good, to Follow.239 
Salad, Potato.244 
Saw, Setting a Cross-cut.*..241 
Scarecrow, A Barrel.*..229 
Scythes, Old, Made Useful.4*. .241 
Seeds, Are Your, Good?.228 
Shop, A Work. 241 
Soil Exhaustion. 241 
Sorghum, Shall I Grow ?. 232 
Spiraea, Tbunberg’s.247 
Stop and Think.238 
Stump Puller, Another.*..244 
Suggestions of and for the Season.226-227 
Supplies, Raising Home.233 
Sweet Potato, Culture of.246 
Tim Bunker on Turkey Lore, No. 2.192-193 
Tricbines in Pork—Finding Them.235 
Trough, A Folding Lunch, for a Team.2*..244 
Trout, The Brook or Speckled.*..237 
Values, Condensing—Saving Freight. ’..231 
Vise. A Handy Saw..*.. 241 
Watch, Protect the.235 
Wheat, Harvesting Early.235 
Wheelbarrow, A Low-Bottomed.*. .238 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, JUNE, 1881. 
Suggestions of and for the Season. 
Work with the Crops. 
Frequent cultivation is necessary to destroy 
the weeds in the com field, and to keep the 
soil mellow. While the corn is small, a 
smoothing harrow can be used to advantage, 
to be followed by the cultivator and hoe as 
the plants get larger. It is true economy to 
do as much of the work of corn culture as 
possible with the horse-power. The double 
cultivator is more efficient than one for a 
single horse, and does not cost any more for 
the driver. It should be remembered that 
much of the work of tillage in the corn field 
counts upon the crops that are to follow, its 
beneficial influence being felt throughout the 
whole rotation. Therefore charge a part of 
the labor to succeeding crops. The cultivator 
should go over the corn ground about once a 
week during the rapidly growing part of the 
season. It does not matter that there are no 
weeds to be seen, the soil is loosened, growth 
stimulated, and the weeds that are just start¬ 
ing are killed before they do any harm. It is 
best to sow fodder corn in drills 2'/ 2 to 3 feet 
apart, and at intervals of ten days, for a 
number of weeks from this time on, so that 
there may be a continuous supply of green 
food. If the seed is sown broadcast, the 
plants cannot be cultivated while young, and 
this early attention is very important to in¬ 
sure a good crop. The notion that sweet 
corn makes the best corn fodder is not well 
founded. The fact that the grain is sweeter 
does not indicate that the whole plant is 
therefore better. The smaller and leafy va¬ 
rieties of corn are best on account of the 
superior quality of the finer fodder. 
The rye ground that is cleared by this time 
may be prepared immediately, and planted to 
fodder corn. Hungarian-gi’ass may follow 
the rye, and be cut off in time for sowing 
rye in autumn. Swedish turnips may be 
sown this month, and should be in drills 30 
inches apart. It is best to put in plenty of 
seed, to insure a uniform growth—it is easy 
to thin them out. Two pounds of seed per 
acre is about the right amount. It is essen¬ 
tial that the seed have a rich and mellow bed 
to start in. When the second leaf appears, 
thin the plants to 12 to 15 inches in the rows. 
The pest of the potato crop, the Colorado 
Beetle, must be held in check by a thorough 
use of Paris Green, or the equally efficient 
London Purple, which is preferred by some 
as easier to apply, and is cheaper. Both these 
substances are deadly poisons, and must be 
stored in a secure place, and used with cau¬ 
tion, or serious results may follow. There is 
no danger in careful hands. Buckwheat may 
be sown in June, and make a profitable crop, 
especially upon new ground. It greatly helps 
to loosen up and mellow the soil. The kind 
known as Silver Hull is the superior variety, 
the yield is said to be larger and the flour 
better than that of the common sort. 
The Hay Field. 
Timothy more than any other grass should 
be cut in full bloom ; if allowed to ripen seed, 
the quality of the hay is inferior. If the 
haying is begun early enough, there may not 
be that rush and hurry so often seen upon the 
farm. Use the mower after the dew is off. 
and cut only as much as can be well cared 
for. Where the hay-tedder is used, and it is 
being yearly more employed, it should sown 
follow the mowing machine. Frequent stir¬ 
ring of the grass to give access of air, without 
its burning the surface in the sun, is a great 
advantage in the proper curing of hay. In 
most cases, grass cut in the forenoon, and 
stirred with the tedder, will be ready to go 
into cocks late in the afternoon. It pays to 
cock the hay, rather than leave it exposed to 
the heavy dew and hot morning sun. The 
sweating that the partly cured hay undergoes 
in the cock, makes it more relished by the 
five stock. Hay caps (see page 239) are valua¬ 
ble in protecting the hay from injury by show¬ 
ers, and pay for themselves, sometimes in 
the protection they give in one hard storm. 
Eveiy summer we hear of deaths caused 
by the use of ice water ; even the drinking of 
large quantities of cold water from the well, 
when one is overheated, is often injurious. 
It is better to drink moderately cool water 
frequently than to wait until one is exces¬ 
sively thirsty, and then take ice water or even 
very cold well-water. Water may be kept 
sufficiently cool by covering the jug or other 
vessel with cloths which are to be kept moist, 
as described on page 248. Nothing is better 
in the hay field than the old-fashioned farm¬ 
er’s drink, “ Switchell.” This consists of 
molasses and water, with enough vinegar to 
give a pleasant sharpness ; some ginger is 
usually added. This satisfies thirst and is 
always very welcome to the hands, who 
appreciate any such provision for comfort. 
Dive Stock Notes. 
The horses will be kept very busy during 
the month, and will require good care and 
sufficient feed. Horses can be injured by 
over-feeding, but no harm can come from 
the most thorough care ; over-care is impossi¬ 
ble. Clean grooming, with an occasional wash¬ 
ing, will do much to keep the horses comfort¬ 
able, as well as improve their appetite and 
general health. Harness galls will appear 
if the parts of the harness are not well fitted. 
Besides fitting well, the harness should be 
kept clean by frequent washing apd oiling. 
Should galls appear, they should be attended 
to at once, and if possible relieve the animal 
from the harness for a short time. If the 
horse must be worked, the collar, saddle, or 
other part of the harness that causes the gall, 
should be provided with pads, or otherwise 
arranged to relieve the pressure. A strong 
tea of oak bark is often used to wash the 
galled part. Aloes mixed with the oil used 
upon harness, is said to keep rats from gnaw¬ 
ing it, but the safer way is to place the har¬ 
ness out of their reach. Flies greatly annoy 
horses, some being very sensitive and suffer 
greatly from them. It is said that a strong 
tea of Hickory leaves, put on with a sponge 
and renewed daily, will keep away flies. A 
thin cotton sheet will keep them away, and 
is often a great comfort to the horse. Darken¬ 
ing the stables during the day time will help 
keep out the flies. The cleaner the stables, 
the less annoyance at the house from flies. 
Cows are now in the full flow of milk, and 
as June butter is highly prized for winter use, 
great care should be taken with all the dairy 
operations. Among the essentials are pure 
water, good food for the cows, and clean 
management of the milk and cream in every 
process, from the tune of drawing the milk 
from the udder until the butter is packed. 
