Q26 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
questions with the clerk, and beyond his arith¬ 
metic to answer. 
For the large majority of the race, there can be 
no doubt, that country life is the most lucrative 
as well as the most beautiful. Their skill and la¬ 
bor will procure more of the comforts and luxu¬ 
ries of life, than they could ever gain in the city. 
--».——«»«—-—«■- 
Calendar of Operations for August 1858. 
[We note down sundry kinds of work to be done during 
the 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 will often sug¬ 
gest some piece of work that might otherwise be forgotten 
or neglected. Our remarks are more especially adapted 
to the latitudes of 38° to 45° ; but will be equally applica¬ 
ble to points further North and South by making due 
allowance for each degree of latitude, that is, later for 
the North, earlier for the South. 
Explanations —/ indicates th efirst; m the middle; 
and Mtie last of the month.—Doubling the letters thus:,#', 
or mm, or U, gives particular emphasis to the period indi¬ 
cated —Two letters placed together, as fm or ml, signifies 
that the work may be done in either or in both periods in¬ 
dicated ; thus, work marked fm. indicates that it is to be 
attended to from the first to the middle of the month.1 
Farm. 
Except at the far north, the cutting of hay and wheat is 
now over and the present is, by some, called a month of 
leisure ; but the thrifty farmer will find quite enough to 
occupy his time. His business is not as pressing as dur¬ 
ing “ hay and harvest,” and he may properly enjoy a lit¬ 
tle relaxation with his family, and let the boys ‘‘go fish¬ 
ing.” But his farm crops must not be neglected, and now 
w a favorable opportunity to make many improvements 
noon the place, to collect and compost manures for Win¬ 
ter grain and Spring crops of next season. “A penny 
’saved is two pence earned,” should be borne in mind by 
those who spend large sums annually in the purchase of 
foreign manures, while the farm has a “ mine ” of muck or 
black earth, not yet worked, or it can be had for a trifle 
from a neighboring swamp. 
Barn yards should be examined to see that no wash 
finds its way into the highway or upon a neighbor’s farm. 
Provide sheds for the manure, and allow no weeds to go 
to seed about the yards. 
Bushes, briers and weeds along hedges and in pastures 
should now be cut or grubbed up. Bushes “whipped” 
this month will not sprout readily. 
Butter and Cheese making will form a very important 
pa rt of “household labors,” in all of which neatness is an 
essential requisite. 
Cabbages—Late ones may still be planted out, ff, on 
grounds already free, or soon to be cleared of early crops. 
Cattle—See that their grazing lands are sufficient. 
Give milch cows a little of the soiling crop each day to 
keep up a good supply of milk, especially if it is for mar¬ 
ket. Cross the cows and two-year-old heifers with a Dur¬ 
ham, Devon or Ayrshire male, and so improve your stock. 
Cellars—Keep sweet and clean and well ventilated. 
Corn—Keep the fields free from weeds, but do not plow 
or cultivate so deep as to injure the roots at this season. 
Early plantings for forage may be gradually cut and fed. 
Cotton—Prepare baskets, sacks, gin stands, presses, 
&c., in the early part of the month, that there be no de¬ 
tention when the picking season commences at the south, 
about the middle of the month. * 
Draining—Reclaim swamps, and double the value of 
'wet lands by thorough drainage. Read the chapters in 
former cambers, and employ the leisure of this month in 
following out the directions there given. 
Fences—Keep in good repair. Do not invite your cat¬ 
tle to become unruly by leaving a bar down here, a rail or 
board off there, and a broken down wall in another place. 
As feed becomes short in the pastures, they are apt to ex¬ 
amine closely the fences which separate them from bet¬ 
ter pickings. 
Forests—The present is a favorable month to cut off 
forests for the purpose of bringing them under tillage. 
After removing the larger wood, spread and burn the 
brush, m, 1, for a crop of rye or wheat. 
Grain and Granaries—Thresh early and watch the 
market and speculators at the same time, not omitting to 
“ take the papers.” Cleanse granaries and put a little tar 
in the crevices, the offensive odor of which is frequently 
a preventive of the attack of weevils and other insects in 
the bins. See that everything is mice and rat proof. 
Hay—Cut salt and sedge, selecting neap tides in order 
to remove it without being flooded. Stack upon high 
grounds, or give it barn room. 
Hoeing should not be neglected as long as weeds con¬ 
tinue to grow. 
Hogs— Keep their pens and yards well supplied with 
manure materials, and compel them to contribute in part 
towards their support, as manufacti i'ers. Store hogs may 
continue in pasture or orchard, but those for early fatten¬ 
ing should have a smaller range and more feed. 
Manures—Pay particular attention to their manufac¬ 
ture, collecting from the woods, muck swamps, ponds and 
road-sides, everything valuable and compost with fish and 
sea-weed. Keep hog and cattle yards covered with muck 
and collect the droppings each morning, throwing them in 
aheap undercover. Lands will now need manuring for 
the crop of Winter grain soon to be put in. 
Millet—Commence cutting for milch cows, ff. Secure 
the whole crop before the seed hardens, unless the grain 
is wanted. 
Mowing Fields—Whenever you have time clear from 
stumps, bushes and stones, that the mowing machine and 
horse-rake find no obstruction. It is a good time to cut 
under-brush and weeds. 
Muck—Dig in dry weather and cart a goodly supply to 
your yards and stable, not forgetting the privy, where, in 
addition to the manure it makes, it forms a very good dis¬ 
infector. 
Oats—Complete harvesting, ff. Do not allow them to 
get too ripe, thus injuring the straw for feeding. 
Pastures'—See that the feed is sufficient for grazing ani¬ 
mals. A frequent change of grounds is beneficial. 
Plow deep for Winter grain, m, 11, manuring well. It is 
better to plow sward land, ff, even, and harrow it several 
times during the month previous to sowing. 
Potatoes—Early plantings are now ready for market and 
the ground may receive a crop of cabbages, turnips, or be 
sown to wheat or rye in the early part of next month. 
Poultry—Look to, especially if confined in houses and 
yards. Keep the roosts and. nests clean, and if troubled 
with vermin, dust the fowls with flour of sulphur. 
Rice—Complete cutting at the south, m, 1, shutting off 
the water for a week or ten days previous to harvesting. 
Root Ciops—Keep the ground free from weeds and well 
stirred between the rows. 
Rye—Complete harvesting both Winter and Spring va¬ 
rieties. Sow Winter crop, 11, or early next month, using 
one and-a-halfbushels to the acre. 
Seed Wheat, Rye, &c.—If all foul stuff was pulled from 
the seed patch, it will only be necessary to thresh with 
flails, and sift out the small shriveled grains. Before sow¬ 
ing, it is well to soak in strong brine which will float any 
poor grain and separate oats or chess, besides preventing 
smut. Plaster or lime sifted on while wet with the brine 
is an additional benefit—the lime being a special remedy 
for smut. 
Sheep— Protect from dogs by placing bells upon a few of 
the flock. Rub a little tar upon the nose to keep away the 
fly. Give salt freely. Tar is sometimes spread over a 
trough and salt scattered upon it. In eating the salt they 
smear their noses with tar. 
Soiling Crops—Give cows and other stock a portion of 
the millet, green corn or sugar cane sown for fodder, 
now that the feed is getting short. 
Timber—This is one of the very best months for cutting 
timber to last. 
Timothy—Sow with rye and wheat, 11. If sown by it. 
self we prefer the 10th to the 15th of the month. In either 
case use about 12 quarts of seed per acre. A better seed¬ 
ing and an improved quality of hay will be the result. 
Tobacco—Commence harvesting when the leaves have 
acquired a mottled, gummy appearance and break when 
doubled over. 
Turnips may still be sown, ff, m, among corn and pota¬ 
toes, or after early crops. Flat or cow-horn varieties 
should be used instead of rutabagas for such late sowings. 
Cultivate, hoe and thin former plantings. 
Weeds—Make into compost, or feed to swine instead of 
raising for seed, particularly about the manure heap.. 
Thistles may be destroyed by mowing when in bloom — 
cutting them a few inches from the ground. 
Wheat—Cut Spring varieties at the north, f, m. Pre¬ 
pare grounds at the same time for sowing, 11, or early next 
month. Nearly two bushels of seed per acre is about the 
best quantity to use for broadcast sowing on ordinary soil, 
taking one season with another. It is oftener found too 
thin than too thick. 
OrcSias’d and NsM’sery. 
The Orchard is now yielding its finest fruits, such as 
luscious peaches, bloom covered plums, melting pears and 
the early juicy apples, the sight of which, as one beholds 
his heavily loaded trees, causes a watery sensation about 
the palate ; in the satisfaction and apparent profit, the 
fruit grower feels repaid for all his toil. While enjoying 
them let him provide for the dearth of Winter and Spring 
by putting up a good supply in cans or jars, which can be 
opened at any lime, and give the farmer fresh peachas in 
January. See the particulars on page 217 last month, and 
elsewhere in the present number. 
In both Orchard -and Nursery the Summer pruning 
commenced last month, may be continued during August. 
The chief work of the Nurseryman for the present, how¬ 
ever, is 
Budding—Which should be continued on the different 
varieties as the state of the stock and ripeness of the buiii 
indicate the proper season. It is useless to attempt bud 
ding when the bark of the seedling will not separate read¬ 
ily. Those inserted last month should be examined in 
about three weeks after the operation and bandages loos¬ 
ened if necessary. Rebud if the first has failed to unite 
Pay strict attention to the source from which buds are 
obtained. A few spurious shoots may cause much mis¬ 
chief, or loss of trees and time at least. 
'Caterpillars—Examine for late broods of these, and 
check their ravages at once. 
Fvdlen Fruit—Collect by hand, or allow swine a range 
of the orchard. Cook all that falls prematurely, to de¬ 
stroy the worms remaining in it. Read article on the 
Curculio on another page. 
Fences Keep in good repair, as cattle are fond of nlj. 
ping offthe new growth if an entrance can be obtained tG 
the grounds 
Hoeing of Nursery grounds should not be neglected this 
month, nor should the soil about newly planted, or even 
other fruit trees nourish a crop of weeds or grass. 
Inarching—This is the proper season for performing the 
operation upon many trees and plants. 
Insects—Search for borers among the apple and 
peach trees. Read the plainly written article on another 
page, end follow the directions there given. 
Manures Provide for new grounds to be planted in the 
Fall and Spring. Muck and leaf mold mixed with stable 
manure form a good compost for trees. 
Peaches will need gathering and marketing or putting 
up for Winter during the early part of the month. Pick 
before they are soft, else they will bruise in handling. 
Pears, particularly early varieties are now ripening and 
should be gathered and laid upon shelves or sent to mark¬ 
et while firm. The flavor is not injured but rather im 
proved by picking before fully ripe and maturing them in 
houses. 
Plow or run the cultivator through nursery rows often. 
Pruning—Complete, f, m. We strongly advise Sum¬ 
mer and Fall pruning in preference to deferring it till 
Winter or Spring. 
Seedlings of all kinds should be kept free from weeds. 
Shade the evergreens and other varieties liable to burn 
off, by a partial screen, or place them under the branches 
of trees. 
Seeds of Nursery Stock—Collect as they ripen and la¬ 
bel with care. 
Stones or Pits—Collect and put in the ground or in 
boxes of moderately dry sand or earth. If long kept in a 
dry state they will rarely vegetate. 
Thin late fruit, ff, if not already attended to. 
Vines—Continue to train new growth, and layer for an 
increase of stock. 
Weeds are perchance eating and drinking what should 
be food for the trees. Let the hoes make slaughter among 
them. Clean tillage is as desirable in an orchard and 
nursery as elsewhere. * 
Kitcliesi and Fruit Gardesi. 
With the exception of a little late planting where the 
early crops are coming off. attention to the growing crops 
will require most of the gardener’s care. In addition, if 
raising vegetables and fruits for market, he will be able 
to send away, blackberries, peaches, plums, cabbages, 
cauliflowers, potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, green corn, 
cucumbers, peas, beans, turnips, kohl rabi, &c., so that no 
day need pass without having something for sale. The 
soil from which these crops are taken should not be al¬ 
lowed to spend even the remainder of the season in idle¬ 
ness while there is an increasing demand for almost every 
cultivated vegetable production. A glance at the table 
below will call attention to most of the garden products 
commencing with the 
Asparagus Bed, which should not be given up to weeds 
now that its season for usefulness is over. Keep it as 
clean as heretofore for the future benefit of the bed. 
Beans—Early Kidneys may still be planted, ff, except 
at the far North. 
Beets—Thin those sown last month. Early ones are 
ready for use. Pull from the thickest parts of the bed. 
Blackberries are in the hight of bearing and require 
dailypicking. _ 
Cabbages—Cauliflowers and Brocoli—Plant, ff, for late 
use, if they were not all put in last month. Keep ground* 
well stirred about former plantings. Seed may be sown, 
f, m, for collards or greens for Fall use 
Celery—Put out the remaining crop, ff, wetting both the 
trenches and the plants after setting. The early plant¬ 
ings may be earthed up slightly, II. 
Corn—The early plantings should furnish a supply for 
the table, in, 11. Hoe often that which was planted last 
month. 
Corn Salad—Sow, 11, for Winter and Spring crop. 
Currants and G aoseberries—Prune, m, 1, cutting out old 
decaying wood Head back, and shape to a tree or good 
bush form. 
