130 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
Calendar of Operations for May 1858. 
[We note down sundry kinds of work to be done during 
tbe month, not so much to afford instruction to practical 
men, as to call to mind the various operations to be at¬ 
tended to A glance over a table like this w til often sug- 
ge>l some piece of work that, might otherwise be forgotten 
or neglected. Our remarks are more especially adapted 
to the latitudes of 38° to 43° ; but will be equally appltca 
ble to points further North and South by making due 
allowance for each degree of latitude, that is, later for 
.he North, earlier for the South.! 
Explanations.— / indicates the./?rst ; m the middle; 
and l the last of the month.—Doubling the letters thus:/ - 
or mm or It, gives particular emphasis to the period inilt- 
caied —Two letters placedlogether, as fin or ml, signifies 
that the work may be done in either or in both periods in 
dieuted ; thus, work marked fm indicates lhat it is to be 
attended to from the first to the middle of the month. 
FARM. 
May is quite as busy a month as April, for the farmer,— 
at the North even more so— Nearly all crops not already 
in the ground require putting in at once, and before the 
end of the month, the hoes will be called into use. 
No after labor can compensate for work poorly done 
now, and a future crop is mainly dependent upon wtll ma¬ 
nured and thoroughly plowed ground, good seed, and a 
judicious planting or sowing. We can not too strongly 
urge, t.ow, at the planting season, a finely pulverized and 
deeply worked soil for the seed lied, whether it be a corn 
field, a potato patch or a grain lot. A few more bushels 
to the acre will pay for an extra plowing or subsoiling. 
Beans, w hich are not as hardy as many other field crops, 
may be planted, f. m,; or even, 1, for the kidney va¬ 
rieties. Cover the large kinds rather lightly or they will 
come up ooorly 
Bees, will be swarming in some localities, 11. Have 
hives in readiness and watch them closely. See “Apiary.” 
Broom Corn—Plant like common corn or in drills, f, m. 
Cabbages—Plant out early sowings, ff, m. Sow, 11, for 
late planting. 
Cattle — Working oxen require good tending now that 
their labors are heavy. Keep them from grass lili Spring’s 
work is over. Save the finest calves for stock, notwith¬ 
standing the butcher may offer ever so tempting a sum. 
A good calf is as easily and cheaply raised as a poor one, 
and the value of the future animal may be doubled. 
Ce lars are fruitful sources of disease if garbage and 
filth are allowed to accumulate for years. We trust, they 
were thoroughly cleaned and whitewashed last month. 
Open the windows daily for ventilation. 
Corn—Read the article on another page. Use seed 
which has proved good. Failures may be planted the first 
of next month with King Philip or other quick growing 
varieties. Sow, rn, 11, in drills thickly for soiling. As 
soon as planted stretch twine across and around the field 
to keep away crows. A few old barrels left in different 
parts of the field suggest ambuscades to them. Bright tin 
dangling from a pole usutlly frightens them. 
Drain wet lands whenever other labors will admit of it, 
and often when they don’t. This should be a standing 
rule the year round. 
Economy of the Farm—To drive business, be up with 
the sun. A late beginning usually makes a worrying day 
with an unsatisfactory amount of labor done at night. 
Have your ow n tools, and places to keep them in, that no 
time be lost in searching for them or in going to neighbors 
to borrow. Spend a little time to root out the stumps, old 
roots or large stones against which the plow has brought up 
for years. Leave no waste uncultivated places about the 
farm. The soil may as well produce a crop of vegetables 
as weeds. Set out a few shade and fruit trees about the 
buildings, and along the lanes and roads. Your wife and 
children will thank you for it in after time. There is 
economy in it too. 
Fences—Keep stock of all kinds from becomingbreechy, 
by providing good fences. 
Grain —Sow, ff, any Spring crops mentioned last month 
and not already in, including millet, flax and hemp. 
Grass Seed may sti'l be sown with Spring grain. 
Hoes will need scouring up in the corn fields by the lat¬ 
ter part of the month in the South and Middle States. 
Horse and Mule teams require good hard feed while un¬ 
der heavy work. 
Manures—Do not omit the manufacture of them, al¬ 
though the yards have just been cleared.^ Cart in muck 
or loam for a bedding, and absorb all liquid or semi-liquid 
droppings of animals. 
Meadows—Keep stock of all kinds from tramping over. 
Heat the cattle droppings with a “ mall” constructed for 
the purpose. Sow plaster or ashes over old fields. 
Onions were probably sown last month They will 
need hoeing, m, 1. 
Peas— Sow. f, m, scalding any needingit to destroy the 
fly. We have tried pouring scalding waterover them and 
allowing it to cool, with no damage to the germinating 
power of the peas, but with decided damage to the germs 
of a future crop of bugs. 
Plowing is still going on briskly. Subsoil as many fields 
as possible Remember E5P An inch deeper every 
year 
Potatoes—These were doubtless nearly all planted last 
month. Complete, ff. See article in last number upon 
the merits of different varieties. 
Poultry will require little care now if running at large. 
Where shut up it is well to let them out for awhile about 
sundown, otherwise the quantity of eggs will diminish. 
Hens may still be set for late chickens. 
Pumpkins—Plant, ff, m. among corn and by themselves, 
both for table use and for stock. 
Roots—'If not done last month, sow carrots and beets 
for stock, ff, on rich and deeply plowed soil. 
Sheep have lambs by their side, or are fast dropping 
them, and require care and good feeding Washing and 
shearing may be done, II, in some warmer localities. 
Sorghum or Chinese Sugar Cane—Plant, ff, both for syr¬ 
up and for soiling. It may be put in as corn, or what is 
better, though requiring a little more labor, drilled thickly 
in rows 3{ to 4 feet apart, to be thinned to 6 inches in the 
row, when well started. 
Swine—The pens are supposed to be well stocked with 
young “ grunlers,” w hich may properly have the range of 
the orchard if it is not under cultivation. Don’t make 
them a nuisance, both to yourself and the' neighbors, by 
turning them into the highway. 
Tobacco—Plant from seed beds, ff, m. 
Tools, Machines, Ac.—Now that mowing machines and 
reapeis are coming into such general use. see if you had 
not better add one tliis season. Have carts, wagons and 
other gear in order, and purchase whatever hay and har¬ 
vest tools are wanted, early in the season. 
ORCHARD AND NURSERY. 
The orchardist doubtless so improved the mild weather 
of last month as to have his planting nearly completed 
now, excepting at the North where he is still busy. We 
have not iced that nurserymen have been pretty busy in 
filling the orders for trees. Many of them were unpre¬ 
pared for such a rush, and their stock, especially of stand¬ 
ard pears, has been exhausted. The rage for dwarf trees 
has subside' 1 and standards are mainly selected now. 
Apples may still be planted, ff, although all trets should 
have been set out last month. 
Budded Trees—Cut away the heads of seedlings budded 
last season, unless a failure is evident. Remove suckers. 
Cherries—See apples. 
Evergreens—The most appropriate season for planting 
these is at hand. We prefer for this locality, the middle 
of May for setting them, although any time in the month 
answers well. Remove them carefully, keeping roots 
shaded during the operation. 
Grafting may still be done, ff, m, if the scions were pre¬ 
viously cut, and are in good order. 
Hoe nursery rows, m, 1. 
Inarching—Perform, f, m. 
Insects—Destroy caterpillars before they spread over 
the branches. Search out borers, and wash young trees 
affected with scale. 
Mulch newly planted trees, especially if the weather 
prove dry. 
Old orchards will be improved by plowing up and ma¬ 
nuring. Young ones are better kept under cultivation for 
several years with hoed crops, manuring the land liber¬ 
ally. 
Peaches, apricots, nectarines, Ac., should have been 
planted last month. If neglected put out, ff. 
Pears—Plant, ff, if not previously done. Head back 
where necessary. See chapter V, orchard culture on a 
following page, and illustrations of pyramid trees, pages 
1L5 and 116 last number. 
Plow often among nursery rows, turning a furrow tow¬ 
ards the trees at onetime and from them at another. 
Plums—Plant, ff. Cut away black knots. 
Quinces—Plant, ff. 
Seed Beds—Keep free from weeds. 
Transplanting and Planting out of stocks and standards 
should be completed as early in the month as possible. 
Water newly planted trees, if the ground should be dry. 
Weeds—Keep down in all parts of the nurseny and about 
standard trees. 
KITCHEN AND FRUIT GARDEN. 
The vegetable gardener is now hurried with work, pre¬ 
paring grounds and putting in the remaining crops. Many 
of the directions for the latter partof last month are equal¬ 
ly applicable to the first week of May, and operations not 
completed will take the ptecedence now. The work of 
planting should he hurried along, many of the vegetables 
succeeding much better when planted early. Those hav¬ 
ing but small plots of ground may so arrange their crops 
as to get large returns from little snace. Of course the 
land should be manured in proportion to the returns ex¬ 
pected from it. For example, a patch of early potatoes 
may be planted, and after receiving their last hilling, say 
by the middle of June, set cabbage plants between the 
rows, and after digging the potatoes the latter part of July 
or first of August, sow turnips over the ground for a late 
crop. Again, radishes need take up no room ot them¬ 
selves. Scatter seed over the asparagus bed, in potato 
and melon hills, among beet and pnrsnep seed, Ac. They 
are soon out of the way and scarcely iniure the othei 
crops. Lettuce and spinach may be sown between rows 
of larger vegetables, or on ground which will eventualij 
be covered by running vines. Turnips or cabbages may 
be grown after early peas, or squashes may afterwards 
cover the ground. 
Towards the middle of the month hoes will need scour¬ 
ing up by daily use, and the armies of weeds conquered, if 
a crop of anything else is desired. 
Artichokes—If neglected last month, fork around old 
beds and make new plantations, ff. 
Asparagus—New beds may be made, ff. Fork over old 
beds at the same time if not done in April. Sow seed, ff, 
m. Cutting will begin, f, in, or even earlier. Do not injure 
the young shoots in the operation. 
Beans—Plant Limas and Kidneys, f, mm, placing the 
former on edge with the eye down. A good plan is to 
start a bed of them in a warm corner of the garden, and 
only plant out those whichpromise a vigorous growth. 
Beets—Sow, f, m, or for keeping through the Winter, I. 
Hoe and thin early sowings, m. I. 
Blackberries may still be planted, ff, m. Stake up old 
plantations. 
Borecole, Broccoli and Kale—Sow and plant out, ff. 
Cabb ge and Cauliflower—Sow, f, m. for late use. Plant 
out, fl, m, from hot beds and cold frames if any remain 
Scatter dry ashes over the seed rows to protect the plants 
from the garden flea. Hoe former plantings. 
Carrots and Parsneps—Sow, ff, if not alteady in. Hoe 
and thin, m, 1, 
Capsicum—Plant, f, m. 
Celery—Sow, ff, m, for late. Set early plants in pre¬ 
pared trenches, f, m, watering and shading. 
Corn—Plant sweet varieties, ff, m, and 1, to have a suc¬ 
cession. 
Cucumbers—Plant, ff, m, for early, and, 1, for late use 
and pickling. Protect young plants from the striped bug, 
by frames, or dust with flour and black pepper. 
Currants—Plant, ff. Use the wash water and chamber 
lye upon old bushes. 
Egg Plants—Put out, f, m, or only when the weathei 
has become settled warm. 
Fruit Trees—Planting may still be done, ff. Train wall 
and espaliers rubbing off superfluous shoots. 
Grapes—Rub off useless shoots, m, 1. Keep well fast 
ened to trellis or stakes. 
Herbs—Set, ff, any remaining roots. 
Hoe early plants, m, 1, both to destroy weeds and loosei 
the soil. 
Hot Beds—Complete planting from them, f, m. 
Kohl Rabi—Sow, ff, in. 
Lettuce—Sow and plant from hot beds, ff. Sow at ii 
tervals of two w eeks to keep a succession. 
Melons—Plant and protect as cucumbers, keeping tb* 
different varieties by themselves if seed is to he save, 
otherwise they will mix. Pumpkins,cucumbers, squats 
es, Ac., should be kept apart for the same reason. 
Mushrooms—Make beds for Summer use, fl, m. 
Nasturtiums-Sow, ff, m. 
Okra-Sow, ff Plant out former sow ings, m. 
Onions—Sow, ff, if not put in last, month. Early soY-ing 
is essential to good bottoming. Put out sets and topoi—ons 
at the same time. 
Peas—Sow Champion of England, or some other choice 
marrowfats, f, m, 1, to form a succesrion with the I) ->niel 
O’Rourke and others sown last month. Stick when (tree 
or four inches high. 
Potatoes may still be planted, ff, m, if they were t -»t all 
put in last month. Put out sets of the sweet varieties, 
f, m. 
Radishes—Sow at intervals, f, in, 1, among other veget¬ 
ables, or on ground, w here late crops are to t.e pltuited. 
Raspberries—Tie up canes, ff. Cut back lonj. strag 
gling shoots. Fork in a good supply of manure if not al¬ 
ready done. 
Rhubarb—Sow seed and plant roots, ff, although better i 
planted in April. Keep ground light, rich and Lee from 
weeds. 
Salsafy—Sow, ff. on rich, deep soil. 
Seeds—See that roots spoken of last month a-e all out 
for a supply of pure home-grown seeds. 
Small Salads—Sow, f, m, 1, lettuce, cress, rapt. mustard 
spinage, Ac. 
Spinage—Hoe and thin plants Wintered ovei, laving a 
quantity (or seed ; sow, f. m, I, for successive use 
Squashes—Plant, f, m, as cucumbers, which si e. 
Strawberries—New beds may be made, f, m. Water in 
dry weather Keep free from weeds. 
Tomatoes—Put out early plants, ff. m, and sow seed at 
the same time for late use. 
Transplanting—Much of this will require doia.r, ni, . 
Select damp cloudy weal her before a rain, if pi ..sible; 
otherwise water and shade the plants after moving 
