356 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Calendar of Operations for Dec. 1858. 
[We note down sundry kinds of work to be done during 
tile month, not so much to afford instruction to practical 
men, as to call to mind tire 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 tile 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, earlier for 
the North, later for the South. 
This table will be much fuller, and more important, 
during the planting season when there is a greater variety 
of worn to be done. 
Explanations .—f indicates the first; m the middle ; 
and l the last ol the month.—Doubling the letters thus:.#', 
or mm, or ll, gives particular emphasis lo the period indi¬ 
cated.—Two letters placed together, as fm or ml, signifies 
that the work may be done ill either or m botli periods in¬ 
dicated ; thus, work marked fm. indicates that it is to he 
attended to from the first lo the middle of the month.'] 
Farm. 
Review the full direclions given last month and com¬ 
plete any operations omitted until now. Hard frosts and 
northern snows are near at hand, for both of which the 
thrifty farmer is about prepared, having his Autumnal 
work so done up that he sleeps sweetly at night, undis¬ 
turbed by fear of snow before morning, upon an acre of 
turnips still unharvested. 
Tlie close of the year is an appropriate season for bal¬ 
ancing the accounts of the farm. It is well to make an 
inventory each season. Any permanent improvements 
should, of couise, be considered as enhancing the value 
of the farm and placed to its credit. Live slock, hay, 
gram and other provisions on hand should be summed 
up, the outstanding debts taken account of, and, by com¬ 
paring the statement with the previous year, one can 
readily conclude whether he makes his farming opera- 
lions pay. 
If the merchant takes an exact account of stock each 
year 10 ascertain his standing, w hy should not the farm¬ 
er f It need take very little time except a few of the 
Winter evenings. 
The present comparative leisure will afford a g op¬ 
portunity to re-read the back numbers of the Agricultur¬ 
ist, some of which were received at too busy a season to 
give them all the thought they deserve. Mature early all 
your plans for next season, deciding what fields to plant, 
what to sow. how many drains shall be dug, and where 
young orchards shall be planted. 
Some of the surplus produce may now be marketed and 
the grocer’s and other outstanding accounts liquidated. 
Resolve that during the coming year you will “ pay-as- 
you-go,” rather ttian run up lengthy accounts like those 
you now find it difficult to pay off. Keep a strict expense 
and cash account, taking and filing away receipts, winch, 
besides saving many disputes, and sometimes paying bills 
twice will enable you to discover where some of the 
leaks are, and if created by the purchases of those things 
you would be better off without, resolve to stop them at 
once. Remember that the apparently small sum of six 
cents per day spent for drink or tobacco, will, during the 
next ten years, amount to over $300, to say nothing of the 
time spent in getting it and the constitution injured by its 
use. But moralizing aside, Ictus look over the farm, and 
especially at the 
Buildings for both man and beast, to see that they are 
as comfortable as possible. If not already storm proof 
make them so, If. 
Cattle come in for a large share of attention now. 
Complete fattening the beeves as early as may be, keep 
up the flow of milk by giving cows the remaining pump¬ 
kins, turnip and cabbage tops, with cut feed and Indian 
meal, or shorts ; supply full feed to young stock that they 
suft'er no check in their grow th; have working oxen 
sharp shod where ihe ground is frozen or icy ; and see 
that all tlie stock is sheltered at night, well supplied with 
water and salt, or salt hay given them once a week. 
Cellars may need additional protection to keep out 
frosts. 
Christmas-May it be a merry one to all, and a feast of 
fat things, in which the poor are not forgotten. 
Drains may still be made where tlie ground is not too 
wet or frozen. 
Fencing—Get materials from the woods and swamps 
and split a full supply of rails, and prepare posts against 
the busy season of next Spring. 
Fodder—Do not waste it about the barn, but run it 
through a stiaw or hay cutler and add some kind of 
ground feed. Use racks in the yards to keep it from be¬ 
ing trodden under foot. See illustrations elsewhere. 
Forest Leaves—Large quantities of these are still blow- 
ng about the roadsides and wood borders. They make 
excellent bedd ng, manure and hot-bed materials. Shall 
a few loads be secured under cover, before it is too late ? 
Hedges—Plant, ff, at the South, and where the ground 
will admit of working. 
Hogs—Complete fattening, ff, those intended for killing. 
Keep their pens and yards well supplied with muck and 
other manure agents and absorbents. Have an eyetoihe 
increase of stock, and turn the male among your breed 
ing sows, ff, if early pigs are wanted. 
Horses and Mules—With grain feed, give a portion of 
carrots, and see that their stalls are warm and well bed¬ 
ded at night. Ventilate their stables and use absorbents 
or deodorizers to take up the gasses which are unhealthy 
to breathe but valuable when fixed in the compost heap. 
Keep horses well shod. 
Ice Houses—Fill with the first firm, thick ice, which is 
usually the best of the season. Houses may still be built. 
Manures—Push the manufacture of these at this sea- 
son. Use muck, loam, leaves and straw to absorb all the 
liquids of the yards and stable. Cart a large heap of 
muck from the sw amp to the stables for Winter use. A 
free bedding of it under horses to absorb the urine, will 
make twice as much manure as would be saved where 
all the liquids were allowed to run to waste, with no 
absorbent. 
Plowing during open weather may still be continued on 
clayey soils when sufficiently dry. 
Poultry—Give warm quarters, plenty of food and drink, 
with gravel, lime and meat, and you may expect eggs in 
the Winter season. Clean roosts often, barreling the 
contents for an excellent home-made guano. 
Schools are now in session in most districts. Let the 
children attend as steadily as possible, and show them, 
by frequent visits, that you take a lively interest in their 
success. 
Sheep—Provide racks for, and feed under cover during 
storms. Keep horned cattle and horses from them. 
Give turnips or carrots, instead of all dry feed. See that 
they are supplied with salt, aim piovided with a good 
buck, of an improved breed, if possible. 
Tools—Look over, during the stormy days of this 
month, and if any need repairing you can better afford the 
time now than when they are wanted for use at a busy 
season. New ones of domestic manufacture, sucli as 
harrows, ox yokes, bows, hoe, fork and ax handles, wood 
sleds, &c., may also be made. Don’t let a snow storm 
bury the plow in one place, harrow in another, the ox- 
yokes here, and chains, axes, &c., somewhere else. They 
should be housed every night. 
Turnips—Harvest, ff, any still in the ground. Give pits 
an additional covering and close the ventilators at nigiit 
if there is danger of freezing. 
Water Pipes and Pumps—See that they are sufficiently 
protected f om frosts. 
Winter Grain—Allow nothing to graze upon the fields 
during the present month. Water should not be allowed 
to stand in little ponds upon them. 
Wood—Commence early to get up the Winter supply. 
At the North where abundance of snow falls it is better 
to cut and draw together as much as possible before the 
deep Winter snows fall. Early snows usually make the 
best sledding to draw it home upon. A year’s supply 
should oe brougi.t to the house, cut and stored under 
cov« some time during the Winter, the earlier the bet¬ 
ter 
©rcEsavd and Mnrsery. 
There is comparatively little to do in the Orchard and 
Nurseiy the present month. In the orchard, unless dis¬ 
lodged last month search out the 
Borers w hich have ensconced themselves in their Win¬ 
ter quarters. A piece of whalebone or bent wire will 
usually finish their career if thrust into their holes near 
the root of the tree. 
Labels and Stakes—Prepare a full supply for Spring use 
in the nursery. See that labels on standard trees are 
sufficiently firm to stand the Winter. They should be 
attached by cropper wire which can be lengthened as the 
tree irtreases in size. Loosen any which are cutting into 
the bsik. 
Mice—Where snow covers the ground, it is well to 
trample it down after each fall, to form an icy mass which 
they will find it difficult to pass in attempting to gnaw 
trees above ground. If the ground is not frozen, bank up 
about each tree, removing the earth in the Spring. 
Nursery Rows—Plow them out before the ground closes, 
turning the furrows towards tlie trees and opening drains 
between the rows to pass off the surplus water. 
Old trees may now have the loose rough bark and moss 
removed lo good advantage. Many insects which have 
harbored there will thus be destroyed. Where the ground 
is not frozen better manure now in preference to leaving 
it till Spring. 
Pruning, omitted at the appropriate season last Sum¬ 
mer, is better done now than in tlie Spring. It is not well 
however, to leave fresh wounds subject to the freezings 
and thawings they must soon receive. 
Scions—Cut, ff, in, for Spring grafting. Guard against 
any mistake as to kinds. 
Seed and Pits for Fall Planting—If any of these are 
still out of ground, put them in at once according to di 
rections previously given in this Calendar. 
Shrubs —These may still be transplanted during open 
weather. Tender varieties will require some nrotectioo 
as referred to under “ Flower Garden and Lawn.” 
Transplanting—Continue, ff, during open weather 
Never allow the roots to freeze during the operation. 
Evergreens and tender stone fruits do better when set 
out in the Spring. 
Trench or subsoil grounds that are intended for early 
planting next Spring. Besides greatly improving the land 
it will render it warm and dry, and capable of being work 
ed much earlier in the Spring. 
HiJelien and Frast Garden. 
Very little gardening can be done during this month at 
tlie North, but at the South the soil may be manured, 
plowed and laid out, and many of the early vegetables 
sown on warm, dry grounds. In this latitude, however, 
possibly some of the November work was omitted and 
needs early attention now. Read directions on page 369 
for putting the grounds in a neat condilion for Winter, 
and ridgmg heavy soils so that frost may act upon them. 
Asparagus beds not covered last month should receive 
a coating of coarse manure, ff. Spread the old stalks, 
and the vines of the garden over the manure, which will 
protect from frost and cause an early start in the Spring. 
New beds may still be made where tlie ground is open. 
Bean and Hop Poles, Raspberry stakes and Pea brush 
may be collected from the frozen swamps and stored away 
for the more busy season of planting. 
Cabbages and Cauliflowers—If any are still in the gar¬ 
dens, put them in Winter quarters, ff, as directed in the 
November number. Those in frames require air at all 
suitable times. See under Cold Frames. 
Celery—Harvest, ff any remaining in the ground, and 
put in trenches, covering with boards or straw to keep 
out frost. 
Cold Frames—Air these at all suitable times. Wnen 
the weather w ill not admit of removing the sash entirely, 
raise the upper portion on the back side a little. Pick off 
all decaying leaves before they taint tlie atmosphere. 
Upon the approach of severe weather, bank up with ma¬ 
nure and cover with straw and mats to exclude the frost. 
Compost and Manures—Now is the time to make and 
collect these. Keep every receptacle or manufactory at 
work by supplying the hogs, cattle, horses, sheep, poultry 
and privies with material to absorb the liquid and gasses. 
Too much muck can scarcely be used for these purposes. 
Decayed leaves also form an excellent ingredient in gar¬ 
den soils. Prepare materials lor early hot beds. 
Currants and Gooseberries—Read the article upon cur¬ 
rant bush insects on page 368, and try the plan there re¬ 
commended to destroy them Cuttings may still be made, 
ff, when the branches are not frozen. 
Fig Trees—Surround with evergreens, straw, or mats, 
or lay small ones upon the ground and bury them. 
Fruit on Shelves, or m the Fruit Room, will need ex¬ 
amining often. Keep moderately cool and not too dry. 
Fruit Borders—Cover with a mulch of coarse manuie 
to protect from severe freezing and enrich ihe earih. An 
embankment about each tree will ofien prevent its being 
girdled by mice. Trees may be set, ff, on warm soils, as 
long as they are not frozen. 
Grapes—Lay tender varieties upon the ground, ff if not 
already done. A moderate covering of earth is best for 
Hamburgs and other house grapes which have been grow¬ 
ing out doors. Even Isabellas and Catawbas are better, 
in northern latitudes, for a slight Winter protection. Cut¬ 
tings may still be made, ff. 
Hot Beds—Collect materials such as leaves, tan bark, 
&c., and have a quantity of stable manure and prepared 
earth in readiness for early beds. Prepare frames and 
sash that there be no delay w hen they are wanted for use. 
Mu; broom Beds—Keep from fiost and cold rains. They 
will continue to bear when properly managed. 
Paisncps—Bury a few in sand, in the cellar, to draw 
upon when tlie main crop is frozen in the ground. 
Pruning of grapes and small fruits may still be doBS, 
ff if i ■milted last month. 
Raspberries—If not covered in November attend to 
them, ff, as directed elsewhere. (See page 369 ) Plant3 
may still be set out where tlie ground is not frozen. 
Rhubarb—Cover as Asparagus. 
Seeds—See directions of last month. 
Spinach—Cover, ff any neglected last month. 
Stiawberries—If not already protected, spread over a 
light covering of straw, coarse manure or leaves. 
Turnips—Harvest and store, ff, any still in tlie ground. 
Look to those covered pits and bank up as the wealhej 
demands, closing the ventilators at the top. 
Flower Garden and Fawn. 
If these grounds were well cared for last month, ten 
dor plants taken in or protected, rubbish gathered up 
