526 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[December, 
Contents of this Number. 
Among tno Faimois.. 543 
Animals, Feeding and Care of. 'i Illustrations.. 542 
Apples, Do, Hurl Cows ?.. 533 
Apples, The Exportation of. 534 
Ashes and Manure. 544 
Banks of Streams, Care of.. H Illustrations.. 539 
Baskets, Hanging. . . 547 
Bee Notes for December. Illustrated.. 527 
Boys’ and Girls’ Columns: 
Tne Doctor’s Talks. 4. Illustrations.. 550 
Christmas Surprises. 550 
An old Puzzle. Illustrated.. 550 
The Rock Kangaroo. Illustrated.. 550 
Square Puzzle. Illustrated.. 551 
’Wing Poo's Christmas Tree. Illustrated.. 551 
Cabbages, What to do with?.528 
Camellias. 537 
Capons, Why?. 528 
Carrots, Wild, How to Exterminate. 529 
Cattle, Connecticut Red. Illustrated... 541 
Cholera, Hog and Corn . 533 
Chrysanthemums as Window 'S\a.\\X%..Z Illustrations.. 538 
Clyster, Apparatus for. Illustrated.. 543 
Cottage, A, Costing $1,500. i Illustrations.. 536 
Cuttings in Window Garden. Illustrated.. 540 
Bakota, What Can be Raised in. 536 
December Days. Illustrated.. 539 
Derrick, A Fixed Boom. H Illustrations.. 529 
Ducks, Pekin. 542 
Evergreens, Broad-leaved, etc. 535 
Earmers, Among the.543 
Farm Work for December. 526 
Fertilizers, Scattering by Hand. 540 
Food, Cooking for Swine. 527 
Frost and Snow. Illustrated.. 537 
Garden, Flower and Lawn..;.527 
Garden, Starting a Farm. 547 
Gas Tar and Its Uses. 538 
Grain, Does it Pay to Griiid ?. 539 
Grape, The New White—The Niagara.. .Illustrated.. 547 
Green, Seth—His Ways and Works. 544 
Greenhouse and Window Plants. 527 
Hens, A Good Ration for.;.. . 529 
Hooks, Hay and Straw..... Z Illustrations.. 531 
Horse Physiognomy. i Illustrations.. 534 
Horses, Getting into Condition. 543 
Household : 
Notes of Fashion. 548 
Slipper Case, An Ornamental. Illustrated.. 548 
Secretary, A Cheap Home-made. Illustrated.. 548 
Cards, Christmas, Made at Home.548 
Scarf, A Piano. Illustrated.. 548 
Syrup, Delicious Lemon.548 
Christmas Tree, How to Dress the.549 
Table Cover, An Inexpensive. Illustrated.. 549 
Christmas Decorations.549 
Panels, Birch Bark. Illustrated.. 549 
Hydrangeas, Blue. 540 
Insect, New to New York State . .2 Illustrations.. 531 
Ivies, Growing and Training. 540 
Eand, Renting on Shares. 535 
Light in Winter Quarters. 542 
Manure for Potatoes..533 
Milk-Fever, How to Prevent...-. 528 
Mule-Raising, A New Departure in. Illustrated.. 528 
Mutton and Milk. Illustrated.. 531 
Nitrate of Soda.546 
Notes of a Trip West.553 
Nut, A New Pecan.2 Illustrations. 546 
Onions, The Cultivation of. 547 
Oxen, Connecticut Red. Illustrated.. 541 
Barks, Public,—The Crotoua. Illustrated.. 535 
Passages iu Wire Fences. Illustrated.. 545 
Pear, A New Seedling. 534 
Pigs, Keep the. Warm. H Illustrations.. 528 
Plants for-Wiudow Culture. 538 
Poultry, Feeding and Care of ... . Z Illustrations.. 542 
Poultry, Provide Green Food for. 
Praise, High, from a High Quarter. 
I I'i a frta n is 
541 
.537 
Presents, About Boys’Christmas. Illustrated.. 538 
Products, Finished . 5-33 
Bust and Mildew of Wheat. i Illustrations.. 544 
Soap, Vegetable and Horse-hair. Illustrated.. 545 
Stand, A Simple Plant. Illustrated.. 545 
Stiles and Gate. Z Illustrations.. 53-3 
Swine, Cooking Food for .527 
Swine-Farming.529 
Swine, Litter Lightly.53.) 
Xable, A Convenient Assorting . Illustrated.. 543 
Teasels and their Culture. . 5:34 
Types of Animal Excellence. ‘i Illustralions . . 530 
Tie, Improved Cattle. Illustrated.. 542 
■^Valks and Talks on the Farm . 532 
Walks, Straight or Curved. h Illustrations. . 546 
Wardian Cases, Jardinieres, etc . 540 
Wheat and Meat—A Conversation.••••/••■.. 
Wheat Rust and Mildew. 4. Illustrations 544 
Worm, The Fall Army. Illustrated.. 5,31 
Winter in theConntry. Illustrated.. 52.'> 
. . Z Illustrations .. 529 
For Editorial Correspondence, Cliats 
witH Headers, Humbug Exposures, BooK 
Beviews^ and otlier interesting matter, 
see page 553 and onward to the end. 
December. 
Announced by all the trumpets of the sky. 
Arrives the snow, and driving o’er the fields. 
Seems nowhere to alight; the whited air 
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven. 
And veils the farm-house at the garden-gate. 
— Emerson. 
-^|cWEIiC0JIE3!e^ 
0IiDvFl^IEl^Dgv§v]^EW! 
Your Subscription Expires. 
Every subscriber of the American Agriculturist, 
whose subscription expires with the December 
number, is reminded of the fact by a notice printed 
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for next year, so that your name may be entered 
correctly upon our books, before the rush and hurry 
of the closing days of the year are upon us ? 
Every subscriber to the American 
Agriculturist, every canvasser, every 
club raiser, and every one generally, who is in¬ 
terested in its prosperity, will ]>lea.«^e turn 
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Will all the subscribers to the American Agricul¬ 
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November numbers, please hand them to friends 
and neighbors. 
A Supplemental Premium List. 
We presented our readers, in connection with 
the October number, the most artistic, attrac¬ 
tive, and freshest Premium List ever issued. Not¬ 
withstanding the articles were so numerous and 
adapted to every taste, we now, with this Decem¬ 
ber issue, add two more pages of desirable premi¬ 
ums for those who secure subscribers to the 
American Agriculturist. Like those contained in 
the October Supplement, these new premiums 
have been selected with great care, and our readers 
can rely upon their being as represented ; they 
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plement. If any of our readers have mislaid the 
latter, they can send stamp for mailing another. 
Our Family Cyclopaedia. 
Read elsewhere the gratifying testimonials re¬ 
garding the Family Cyclopsedia, presented to sub¬ 
scribers of the American Agriculturist for 1885. 
Boiled small potatoes, mixed with meal, wiU 
cause pigs to grow and fatten. Give horses cut 
feed in the winter. Cut the hay and oat-straw to¬ 
gether, and sprinkle on the meal; it saves the hay, 
utilizes the straw, and the meal itself does better 
service. Corn stalks should be cut for cattle. If 
you own an old horse, that has barely lived through 
the summer, it would be an act of mercy to put 
him out of the way now. He would otherwise eat 
a ton or more of hay before spring opens, and 
then be worthless. Keep salt before the cattle, or 
at least so convenient to them, that regular “ salt¬ 
ing” will not be forgotten. Farmersshould.make a 
careful study of the feeding of store cattle. They 
make a mistake who feed simply to keep the animal 
alive through the winter. It requires two-thirds of a 
full ration to sustain life without growth, whereas 
the other third will produce growth, and yield a 
profit on all the feed. The animal, which comes 
out in good condition in the spring, has a long 
way the start of one that, from insufficient food, 
must take a month on grass to get thrifty again. 
Do not delay filling the Ice-honse, for a single 
day, after the ice is six inches thick and of good 
quality. Get out the year’s supply of fire wood, 
and any logs needed for timber, lumber, etc. 
Orcltsii**! a,ii«l 
Gather up all stakes, labels, boxes, and store 
whatever may be of future use, and make kindling 
wood of the rest_Surface drainage should be 
provided to carry off water from rains and thaws. 
_Young trees planted last fall or spring, need a 
mound of earth at the base of the trunk, to steady 
them against the heavy blows, and also help to 
keep off mice_Cut cions in mild weather, al¬ 
ways taking vigorous last season’s shoots. Pack 
with sawdust or moss, first carefully labelling 
them... .Strawberry beds, if not yet protected, 
should be covered with straw, bog hay, or leaves_ 
Prune in mild spells, currants, gooseberries, grape¬ 
vines, etc_If trees or small fruits are to be 
planted next spring, decide upon kinds, where 
they are to be bought, and order early_Fruit, 
if stored in the house cellar in large quantities, may 
give off so much carbonic acid as to contaminate 
the air of the rooms above. Provide ventilation, 
connecting with a chimney if possible. Keep a 
thermometer in the fruit cellar to aid in maintain¬ 
ing a low temperature—just above freezing.... 
Manure should be drawn to the orchard while the 
ground is frozen, ready for spreading in early 
spring_Gates and fences should be iu condition 
to keep out animals_Rabbits are most readily 
kept from young trees, by sprinkling the trunks 
with blood. Set traps_The eggs of the tent 
caterpillar, which are glued to the twigs in a band 
near their ends, should be cut off and destroyed. 
I'lie Kitclieii siiicl IVlm’kct C<3ii*dc». 
In most localities the weather has been favorable 
for doing spring work iu the fall. Continue in 
mild spells, to do whatever will save time in the busy 
days of next spring_Cold frames, in a mild win¬ 
ter, require close watching. If the temperature is 
but slightly below freezing, air must be given 
