2 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[January, 
Contents of this Number. 
Among the Farmers, No. 36.—Cow Peas—Mangels— 
Barbed Wire Fences—Skimmed Milk—Keeping Po¬ 
tatoes ... Illustrated.. 14 
Bean Weevil, The . Illustrated.. 21 
Bones, a Mill for Crushing.2 Illustrations.. 17 
Boys and Girls Columns.—Plays—Puzzle Picture— 
Puzzle Box — Doctor’s Correspondence — About 
Dates—Missing Figure—Shadow Games— Where the 
Paper came from—Winter Ways, The Snow Man— 
6 Illustrations . 26-28 
Calycanthus as a Cattle Poison. 22 
Cheese, a Remarkable Pyramid of . Illustrated., t 
Cheese in the Army. 17 
Cold Weather, Useful Hints for. 16 
Corn Fodder, it Does not Pay to Cut. 17 
Colorado Slreep Ranches, Among the. Illustrated.. 13 
Dairy Fair. The International . 7 
Deerfoot Farm, Notes from. 2 Illustrations.. 12 
Evergreens, Raising from Seed. 2 Illustrations.. 23 
Exportation of Live Animals. 20 
Farm Accounts, a Simple System. 19 
Farming, Inducements to Better—Agricultural So¬ 
ciety Premiums. 18 
Farming for Profit. 20 
Far West, Editorial Correspondence, Centennial 
State, Utah, Minnesota. 11 
Farm Work in January. 2 
Ferry Boat, Self-acting. Illustrated.. 16 
Figures, Pleasant, continued. 1 
Fruit and Flower Garden and Lawn. . . 3 
Greenhouse and Window Plants. 4 
Hessian Fly, The. Illustrated.. 18 
Hog-Killing Implements.4 Illustr ations.. 2b 
Horse-Power for Barns. Illustrated. 9 
Household Department.—Home Topics—Dressing tne 
Children—Advantages of Plain Living — Pleasing 
Lamp-Shade—Macaroni—Small Toaster—Coal Fires 
—Soda and Hot Water.2 Illustrations.. 23-26 
Humbugs, Sundry. 8 
Irrigating, A Measuring Flume for. Illustrated .. 14 
Kitchen and Market Garden. 4 
Market Reports. 33 
Milk, Winter, Profitable. 16 
Orchard, Garden and Nursery. 3 
Pear, A new—Kieffer’s Hybrid. Illustrated.. 21 
Pitcher plant in the Parlor. 22 
Poultry in Cities. 20 
Quince, A new—The Champion. 22 
Rafters, Measuring and Marking. Illustrated.. 19 
Refrigerator, A Capacious. Illustrated.. 19 
Talks on Farm Crops, No. 23. 9 
Tea Rose, A new Variegated, American Banner.. III.. 22 
Tram-way, A Log.4 Illustrations.. 16 
Science Applied to Farming, XLVIII.—Composition of 
Fodder Materials—Food Ingredients—Food in the 
Body—Digestible Ingredients—Money Values. 10 
Veterinary Medicine, Will it Pay. .1. 15 
Village, Farm, and Home Improvement—Dangers... 24 
Water and Feed Trough. Illustrated.. 17 
Wheat, What Good Seed and Cultivation Will Do.... 33 
INDEX TO “BASKET,” AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES. 
Asiers, Native. 12 
Beware of Bee-wares_ 7 
Butter-Carrier, Lancaster 34 
California Raisins. 5 
Cattle Exportation. 6 
Churn, Spain’s Barrel_ 7 
Cisterns, Cheap. 111.. 6 
Clover-Seed, Smoking... 5 
Cotswold Record, Amer.. 34 
Cow-Milkers in New Zea¬ 
land. 34 
Cow, Will it Pay to Keep 
in City. 5 
Dairy Interests, Magni¬ 
tude of the. 33 
Dinner Year Book. 7 
Dr. H.’s Hog-Cure . 6 
Door Sagging, to Prevent 
Illustrated. 5 
Earthworms in Pots. 33 
Engraving, Steel-Plate. ..4-5 
Farmer’s Friend Grain 
Drill. 6 
Farm to Support Itself... 6 
Feed-Cutter, Best. 7| 
Fence, A Durable_ Ml.. 6 
Fence, An Italian_ 111.. 7 
Florists, Look out. 34 
Fountain forChickens.Zff. 17 
Fowls, Medium-Sized_ 1 
Fruit-Canning in England 19 
Garden, Labor in . 6 
Healthful or Healthy. 34 
Horse Shoe-Nails Abroad 
3 Illustrations.. 7 
Illinois Agr. Institute... 
Indian Corn. 33l 
Iowa Fine Stock Show.. 5 
Lice, to Free Calves from 6 
Live Stock to Europe_ 5 
Lucern in Canada. 34 
Mammoth Rye, Diamond 
Wheat. 6 
Minnesota, Wheat in 
Northern. 34 
Michigan, Northern_ 34 
Nameless Letters. 7 
Pampas Grass Plumes... 5 
Peaches, Early Fruiting. 35 
Piano for $5.00. 6 
Petunias and Potato Bugs 33 
Population of tlie World 6 
Potatoes. Keeping. 33 
Printing-Presses, Small.. 6 
Poultry Exhibitions.34 
Rack. Handy Drying. III. 6 
Roup, Care for. 34 
Scratches in a Horse_ 6 
Sheep, Standard of Ex- 
lence. 6 
Spring Show of Milking 
Stock. 6 
Stable, Light in. 111.. 7 
Stirrup, A Safety_ 1U.. 34 
Swine, Management of.. 7 
Tenn. Farm Gate_ 111.. 5 
Three Horses, Lines for 
Driving. III. 5 
Tunnel,Longest in World 34 
Turnips, Value of. 15 
Wire Binders to the Rear 34 
Wisconsin Cheese. 34 
Wis. Dairyman’s Assoc’n 5 
Veterinary Surgery Pays. 5 
SEE ABOUT Premiums, on page 4 and last 
cover page ; About Steel-Plate Engravings for Sub¬ 
scribers, on pages 4, 5, and 35; About “ A Chance 
to Make Money,” on page 35 ; About Microscopes 
for Subscribers, page 4; About New Premium, 
page 35 ; About Books for Farmers, 3d cover page ; 
About Clubbing with Magazines, etc., on page 34. 
Calendar for Jauuary, 1879. 
Boston. N Eng¬ 
land. N. York 
State, ilichi 
gun. Wiscon¬ 
sin. Iowa, and 
Oregon. 
H.M 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 79 
7 29 
7 29 
7 29 
7 28 
7 28 
7 28 
7 27 
7 27 
7 2G 
7 25'4 56 
7 25 4 58 
oq £ 
n.3i 
1 38 
4 39 
4 40 
4 41 
4 42 
4 43 
4 44 
4 45 
4 46 
4 47 
4 48 
4 49 
4 50 
4 52 
4 53 
4 54 
4 55 
7 24 
7 23 
7 23 
7 21 
7 21 
7 20 
7 20 
7 19 
7 18 
7 17 
7 16, 
7 15‘5 13 
H. 51. 
0 53 
2 0 
3 3 
4 7 
5 9 
6 8 
rises 
5 2 
6 15 
7 29 
8 43 
9 56 
11 10 
morn 
0 25 
1 41 
2 56 
4 9 
5 15 
6 8 
sets 
5 23 
6 31 
7 37 
8 41 
9 43 
10 44 
11 46 
morn 
0 48 
1 51 
iV. Y.Citu. Ct., 
Philadelphia, 
New Jersey. 
Penn.. Ohio. 
Indiana , and 
Illinois. 
03 
II.5I 
7 25 
7 25 
7 25 
7 25 
7 25 
7 25 
7 25 
7 24 
7 24 
7 21 
7 24 
7 23 
7 23 
7 23 
7 22 
7 22 
7 21 
7 21 
7 20 
7 20 
7 19 5 
7 19 5 
7 185 
7 17 5 
7 16,5 
7 15,5 10 
7 15 5 12 
7 14 5 13 
7 13 5 H 
7 12 5 15 
7 11 5 17 
II. 51 
4 44 
4 44 
4 45 
4 46 
4 47 
4 48 
4 49 
4 50 
4 51 
4 52 
4 53 
l 51 
4 55 
4 56 
4 57 
4 59 
5 0 
5 1 
2 
3 
4 
6 
7 
8 
9 
fits 
1*5 co 
II. 51. 
0 55 
1 :.6 
2 53 
4 1 
5 0 
6 1 
rises 
5 8 
G 20 
7 32 
8 45 
9 57 
11 9 
morn 
0 21 
1 37 
2 51 
4 3 
5 8 
6 2 
sets 
5 27 
6 35 
7 39 
8 42 
9 43 
10 43 
11 43 
morn 
0 44 
1 46 
Washington. 
.Maryland, 
Virginia. Ken¬ 
tucky, Missou¬ 
ri, and Cali¬ 
fornia. 
II.51 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 19 
7 18 
7 18 
7 18 
7 17 
7 17 
7 17 
7 16 
7 16 
7 15 
7 15 
7 It 
7 13 
7 13 5 12 
7 12 5 13 
7 11 5 15 
7 115 16 
7 10 5 17 
7 9 5 18 
7 8 5 19 
7 7 5 20 
II. 51 
4 40 
4 50 
4 51 
4 51 
4 52 
4 53 
4 54 
4 55 
4 56 
4 57 
4 5S 
4 59 
5 0 
5 1 
5 2 
5 8 
5. 4 
5 6 
5 7 
5 8 
5 19 
5 10 
5 II 
PHASES OF THE MOON. 
MOON. | BOSTON* 
N. YORK. 
WASH’N. 
cha’ston 
CHICAGO. 
Full M’n 
3d Quart. 
New M’n 
1st Quart 
n.ln. si. 
8; 7 4 mo. 
151 6 la mo. 
221 7 7 mo. 
30 j 7 0 mo. 
H. 51. 
6 52 mo. 
6 6 mo. 
6 55 mo. 
6 48 mo. 
II. M. 
6 40 mo 
5 51 mo 
6 43 mo 
6 36 mo 
TT. M. 
6 28 mo. 
5 42 mo. 
6 31 mo. 
6 21 mo. 
TT. M. 
5 58 mo. 
5 12 mo. 
6 1 mo. 
5 54 mo. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, JANUARY, 1879. 
Hints for the Work of the Month. 
[The Hints and Suggestions in these columns are 
never copied from previous years, but are freshly pre¬ 
pared for every month, from the latest experience and 
observations, by practical men in each department. 
Keep Accounts. —Make a beginning now. For 
sundry directions, see articles in last month (page 
466) and in the present number (page 19). 
Keep a Diary or Daily Record. —This is a useful 
and interesting work, and the time spent will be 
well repaid, in its value for future reference. 
Insurance. —See that a sufficient insurance is 
placed on the farm buildings and contents. This 
is a duty every man owes to himself, his family, and 
to his creditors if he has any. 
• Keep Out the Cold.—The old fashioned method 
of banking up the house, is not the best one. It is 
better to have double windows in the cellar, and 
the cellar wall properly pointed. If this has not 
been done, it may yet be, on a warm day. 
Take Care of the Ashes. —Many fires occurthrough 
careless disposal of ashes. The ash house should 
be at a safe distance from any other buildings. 
A safe way is, to keep the ashes in an iron can or 
holder, until cool, and then throw them into the 
box or receptacle provided for them. Wood ashes 
are too valuable to waste, and coal ashes make an 
excellent absorbent in the earth-closet, and are 
very good for making hard foot paths. 
A Supply of Fuel sufficient for some weeks’ use, 
should always be kept at hand under cover. De¬ 
scriptions of wood sheds and coal bins, have been 
frequently given in the American Agriculturist. 
The Barns should he kept clean and tidy. The 
lot of useless rubbish so apt to gather in build¬ 
ings, should be disposed of at least once a year. 
Whatever is useful should he stored and cared for. 
Small Matters make up the sum of our comfort, 
and constant attention to them will not only save 
trouble, but will confirm a habit of looking after 
more important things. 
The Daily Work should be done according to 
system. This will lighten labor and save time; 
things will be done in order, and less be forgotten. 
The Cows should be cleaned before morning milk¬ 
ing, then fed—the feed having been prepared, as far 
as possible, the previous afternoon. This, with the' 
care of the horses, and a light feed to the small 
stock, will occupy the time before breakfast. 
After Breakfast the small stock should be further 
looked to, fed and watered. The same hours as 
nearly as possible, should be observed each day for 
these matters. Animals are exacting as regards 
time, and are uneasy under irregularity. After the 
small stock are cared for, horses and cows should 
be watered, and the latter turned into the yard. 
In Stormy Weather the stock are better under 
cover than exposed to the wintry blasts. It is a 
mistake to suppose that exposure makes them 
hardy: on the contrary they are weakened by it. 
Fodder Racks. —The wasteful practice of throw¬ 
ing hay and fodder upon the ground to he fought 
over and trampled upon, is far too frequent. A 
cheap foddering rack, covered and protected from 
the weather, should be provided in every yard. See 
back numbers of American Agriculturist for plans. 
Protection for Stock should be provided even in 
the Southern States, where the winters are relatively 
mild. Dry snow is not so chilling as a cold rain; 
damp winds, even some degrees above the freezing- 
point, often prove disastrous. A shed open to the 
south, however rough, will answer as a shelter. 
Work for the Teams. —Work should be found for 
the horses and cattle. They are all the better for 
exercise, and by looking around, useful work may 
always be found. If nothing better offers, make a 
holiday, and take the children for a drive. 
Milking Cows should he kept dry and clean in the 
stalls, and extra feed be given to dairy cows that 
fall off in their milk. A few quarts of ground oats, 
linseed-oil cake-meal, or bran, stirred in the water 
in the drinking troughs, will increase the milk-flow. 
Calves. — Warmth and cleanliness will keep the 
young calves in a good condition with light feeding, 
while, without these, heavy feeding will do more 
harm than good. It is useless to over-feed young 
animals in an effort to make up for the want of care. 
Kwes. —Sometimes a few lambs will come in Janu¬ 
ary. By good care these may he made very profita¬ 
ble. A chilled lamb may be restored by a warm 
bath and a teaspoonful of hot ginger tea. The 
lamb should he thoroughly dried and wrapped 
around with a strip of woollen cloth. The ewes 
should be well nursed with warm gruel for a few 
days. Provide warm pens for early lambing ewes. 
Pns and Yards. —If plentiful litter is provided, 
the pens and yards need not necessarily be cleaned 
out often; hut enough litter should be used to 
keep a dry bed and to prevent much heat in the 
manure. If there is any smell apparent, a light 
dusting of ground plaster will remove it. 
A Barrel of Plaster should he kept in a handy 
place in every stable and manure cellar. Where 
this is used constantly, there will be freedom from 
the usual strong odor of stables and fermenting 
manure, and a saving of valuable material which 
would otherwise escape. 
A Curry-Comb or Card and Brush freely used, 
will help to keep the cows, calves, and other cat¬ 
tle, as well as horses, in good health and comfort. 
If there is doubt about this, a short trial will con¬ 
vince any one that the practice is a profitable one. 
Swine. — Pork is lower than for many years 
past. There have been about 10,000,000 pigs 
marketed within twelve months. That this vast 
number should have been disposed of at any price 
is an extraordinary fact. It proves that the market 
is practically unlimited, if the price is low enough. 
The aim must he to produce pork as cheaply as pos¬ 
sible. The way to do this, is to keep only the best, 
and have pigs heavy enough for pork, without win¬ 
tering over. A pig uf the best breeds may be made 
to weigh 300 lbs. within a year. Only such pigs 
will pay at present, and poor stock won’t pay at all. 
A clear Head and good judgment are needed 
for success in business. Just now farmers need 
to be more thoughtful and careful than ever 
before. If times are had, it is the greater rea¬ 
son why we should be liberal in getting all pos¬ 
sible helps to make them better. A good agricul- 
