4 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[January, 
beginning; such may purchase a few plants of each 
variety, and propagate them to obtain a supply for 
a planting. This will, of course, take time and 
cause the loss of a year with strawberries, and of 
'two or three years with the shrubs. The works 
referred to give directions for propagation, and 
seasonable hints are to be found in these Notes... 
We therefore commend the consideration of a 
Fruit Garden to the farmer, primarily as a source 
of health and comfort to his family, and as afford¬ 
ing light and healthful occupation to its younger 
members, and, secondarily, as a source of profit. 
Work to be Done in gardens already established.— 
Whatever of pruning has been omitted, should be 
completed on mild days.The autumn has been 
so mild that we have not, up to the present time, 
Dec. 15, covered the strawberry beds ; it is better 
:to wait until the freezing of the soil indicates set- 
fled cold weather, as strawberries are perfectly 
lardy, and the covering is more to avert injury to 
the roots by frequent thawing and freezing, than 
to protect from the cold... .Coarse manure may 
be applied around currants and gooseberries ; the 
soluble portions will find their way into the soil, 
leaving the rest as a mulch in hot weather. 
liitchen and Market Garden. 
In the introductory Notes, we have suggested 
that many farmers may cultivate with profit, sev¬ 
eral crops that are regarded as belonging to the 
garden rather than to the farm. Those who under¬ 
take to raise crops which they have not grown be¬ 
fore, should study the best methods, as followed by 
those who had profitable experience in such culture. 
Gardening for Profit,” by Peter Henderson; 
•“ Money in the Garden,” by P. T. Quinn, aud 
Farm Gardening aud Seed Growing,” by F. Brill, 
are all excellent works, each giving the ex¬ 
perience of its author; together they form a library 
of great value, and we do not see how one who pro¬ 
poses to make the most out of his land can well 
dispense with either. 
Care of Produce. —Up to the middle of December, 
the problem has been, not to protect our crops 
from the frost, but to keep them dormant. In such 
mild weather, the nights are appreciably cooler, 
and the root cellar should be left open at night and 
-be closed during the day. Roots and celery in 
trenches, should have only sufficient covering to 
keep off' the sun, and it would be better if this 
were done by means of boards raised sufficiently to 
allow the air to circulate beneath them. 
Cold Frames present a similar difficulty, and every 
care in the way of shading, must be given in such 
weather, to keep the plants dormant if possible. 
Manure-Making is one process favored by this 
mild weather, and while decomposition goes on 
rapidly, prevent overheating bv turning and water¬ 
ing, if the interior be dry. 
The How and Spade, wherever the soil is not too 
wet, may be kept at work in mild weather, and thus 
facilitate the spring operations. 
Implements should be overhauled and put in 
■order, and the stock replenished. Extra plow- 
points, cultivator teeth, and duplicates of parts 
likely to be broken, save many a half day’s work. 
Seeds. —Overhaul the stock ; if in doubt as to the 
■vitality of any, there is time to test them by sow¬ 
ing in a pot or box of earth in a warm room. 
Sundry Matters. —Provide a supply of pea-brush 
and bean-poles_Make markers of various widths, 
and dibbles_A well-made wooden reel for the 
.garden line, is better than the weak iron ones sold 
at the stores_Labels or marking stakes should 
be provided ; have these so large that they can not 
'be hoed up without some trouble. 
Flower Garden aud Lawn. 
Beyond caring for the walks, and preventing in¬ 
jury by heavy snows, but little can be done here ex¬ 
cept in planning for next season_Evergreens es¬ 
pecially are liable to injury ; if damp snow lodges in 
the top and freezes there, there is danger that the 
branches may be broken or twisted out of shape, 
causing deformity ; it should be shaken out when it 
first falls. Accumulationsof snow should be removed 
from the lower limbs for fear of similar accidents. 
Greenhouse and Window Plants 
should now be looking at their best, and new growth 
and bloom repay the care bestowed upon them. 
.Chrysanthemums, as they pass out of flower, 
6hould have the tops cut back, and the pots put in 
a frame or the cellar... .Bring bulbs and other 
plants that were potted for forcing, to the green¬ 
house or window, watering gradually at first, and 
giving it more freely as they increase their foliage 
... .When the flowers of Hyacinths and other bulbs 
begin to fade, cut off the flower-stalk, and, if it is 
desired to keep the bulbs for planting out, let the 
leaves continue until they fade... .Should very cold 
nights occur, draw the plants back from the win¬ 
dows ; if freezing is feared, cover with a sheet or 
blanket properly supported above them... .Give all 
smooth-leaved plants an occasional sponging, one 
leaf at a time; those with rough leaves may 
have the dust removed by showering; covering the 
plants with a paper or muslin screen while sweep¬ 
ing, is going on, will aid greatly in keeping them 
free of dust....When air can be admitted from 
outside without a direct cold current upon the 
plants, do so, if but for a few minutes... .Insects 
will increase as the days lengthen ; all the larger 
ones, like scale and mealy-bug, can be picked 
off, or scrubbed off with a brush and soap-suds. 
Frequent showers applied to the lower surface of 
the leaves, as well as the upper, will check the red- 
spider; and tobacco, whether in the form of smoke, 
liquid or powder, will kill plant lice... .Worms in 
pots do injury by making channels in the soil, and 
compacting the rest; by turning out the ball, they 
may often be picked off ; if this fails, water with 
perfectly clear lime-water, and then with rain water. 
Our Steel Plate Engraving, 
“The Farmer’s Pride,” 
This magnificent work of art, painted by Jerome 
Thompson, the eminent landscape painter, and engraved 
by Marshall, “ The Master of the Art in America,” is 
receiving deservedly flattering encomiums from every 
quarter. Those whose orders have not been already filled, 
must bear with us a little, inasmuch as the immediate 
demand for the picture has exceeded our capacity for 
getting them off to subscribers. From this time forward, 
however, we expect to be able to send them as fast as 
called for, and we hope during the next few weeks to 
place this work in Two Hundred Thousand Homes. No 
Steel Plate Lino Engraving of equal workmanship, size, 
and character, lias ever before been supplied as a Presen¬ 
tation Picture. It will indeed be a most acceptable and 
pleasing ornament,alike in the lowliest dwelling and most 
palatial mansion. In answer to inquirers,'we have to say: 
the Engraving is supplied only to bona-fide subscribers to 
the American Agriculturist for 1879. The price to all 
others, pre-paid, is $5.00. For full particulars see page 35. 
A Premium for Every Subscriber. 
Except in some small places, where nearly everybody 
already takes this paper, there are very few of our read¬ 
ers who do not each know at least two others who would 
be profited by the perusal of such a paper, and who would 
take it if its merits were explained. The Table, on last 
page of Cover,names 20 desirable articles,one of which will 
be presented to any one sending his own and two other 
subscriptions at $1.50 eacli a year. It is very easy for a 
multitude of people to each make up a larger list and get 
a more costly Premium. The articles are described and 
illustrated in the November number. An Plustrated 
Descriptive Sheet will be sent free to any one desiring it. 
Clubs can at any time be increased by remitting for 
each addition, tlie price paid by the original members: 
ora small club maybe made a larger one at reduced rates, 
thus: One having sent 6 subscribers and $7, may after¬ 
wards send 4 names more and $3, making 10 subscribers 
for $10.00; and so for the various other club rates. 
containing a great variety of Items , including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form, for want of room elsewhere. 
WIEL YOU JOIN The 20,000, who have 
obtained, without cost, one or more of the valuable 
Premium Articles, offered free to those who forward 
the names of some of their friends and neighbors as sub¬ 
scribers to this Journal ? They are good articles, many 
of them very valuable, and This month of Janu¬ 
ary is a good time to secure them. See last cover page, 
and if you have it not, send for the Illustrated Descrip¬ 
tive Premium List. A postal card, giving your address, 
and saying “ send premium list” will bring one free. 
American Agriculturist MICROSCOPE 
Still Available. —We are glad to announce that we 
shall be able to supply this valuable little instrument to 
new subscribers, and to old ones who have not had it, 
up to December 31, 1878, for 40 cents at the office, or de¬ 
liver it anywhere in the United States or Territories for 
60 cents; and on and after January 1, 1879, and during 
the year 1879, for 50 cents at the Office, and for 70 cents 
delivered as above. This applies only to subscribers who 
have not had one. To all others the price will he the 
same as through dealers, viz.: $1.50 each, or $1.05 if de¬ 
livered free. The 3 lenses, alone, would cost more than 
this, in any other form. Over a hundred thousand of our 
readers have already enjoyed their use. 
As a source of information, we always ad¬ 
vise our readers to go through the advertising pages 
carefully. Thousands of inquiries come to us about im¬ 
plements, seeds, plants, animals, etc., which are directly 
answered in the business columns. Besides, seeing what 
others have, aud how they describe their wares, is quite 
likely to suggest some new thought that will be useful. 
The Rapidly Increasing Circulation of 
the German Agriculturist affords us gratifying assurance, 
that its many improvements are being observed and ap¬ 
preciated. The splendid full-page engraving which now 
appears in every number, is richly worth the whole year’s 
subscription price. Every German cultivator aud laborer 
ou the farm, or in the garden, should have the paper ; 
while its varied household departments make the journal 
invaluable to every German home, either in the Old 
World or the New. 
Re Early.—This month is none too early to 
begin to lay out plans, to study up implements, the best 
varieties of seeds to plant or sow, and where to find them. 
It is a good time to send to dealers for their catalogues 
and circulars, find what is in market, and the prices, and 
make camparisons. Dealers are glad to supply informa¬ 
tion, and a penny postal card will bring what is de¬ 
sired. As soon as decided, it is well to get orders into 
the hands of dealers early, even for the plows and mow¬ 
ers, etc., wanted next summer. They will have time to 
prepare and meet such orders well and be without excuse 
for delay. Our business columns have the cards of many 
trustworthy manufacturers and dealers. In writing to 
them for circulars, or catalogues, it is well to inform them 
that you are members of the Agriculturist family ; they 
will thus know what you expect of them, and what we ex¬ 
pect ef them, in the way of fair dealing and promptness. 
Bound Copies of volume 37, and of every pre¬ 
vious volume hack to Yol. XYI. (1857), neatly bound, with 
gilt hacks, Index, etc., are supplied at $2 eacli (or $2.30 
if sent by mail). See Publishers’ Notes, 2d cover page. 
Send us Sketches for Engravings.— We in¬ 
vite every reader who has made, or uses, or sees others 
use, any new device or contrivance, from the smallest 
item upward, which will help others in any way, to send 
an account of it for the American Agricultumt, describ¬ 
ing it plainly, and giving some outlines and markings 
that will enable us to construct a clear engraving. No 
one need hesitate on account of the rudeness of draw¬ 
ings or sketches. We keep a corps of artists and en¬ 
gravers who know how, and whose business it is, to put 
such things into proper form. Some most valuable hints 
have come in this way from farmers who never put a 
sketch of any kind on paper before. Don’t omit the In¬ 
door matters. The Housekeeper's work needs all the aid 
