AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[FiiBai'.uir, 
hem for rmnual labor. It has only created a dis¬ 
gust for unprofitable labor. Education increases 
many fold, ihe power of the human body over its 
outward circumstances. It substitutes steel and 
the muscles of brutes for the sinews of man, 
and makes him a workman that need not be 
ashamed in the subduing of the earth. Let the 
boys and girls, then, make the most of the winter 
schools. Let it be your settled policy to make 
farming attractive to your children. Encourage 
them to make experiments, and furnish them with 
every facility to make the most of their labor. 
Especially lay out your skill and theirs on the gar¬ 
den and orchard, and rear a new Eden around 
your home. So shall you dwell there in peace, 
and your children not be driven out, leaving bit¬ 
ter memories behind them. 
Calendar of Operations for Feb. 1880. 
[We note down sundry kinds of work to be done during 
ttie 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, earlier for 
the South, later for the North. 
This table will be much fuller, and more important 
during the planting season when there is a greater variety 
of work to be done. 
Explanations,— / indicates the first ; m the middle-, 
and l the 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 ,/irst to the middle of the month.] 
Farm. 
February, though the shortest month of the year is at 
the North counted the most tedious by many. The ener¬ 
getic farmer wearies of the comparative inactivity of the 
season, and is in haste to start the plow ; the careless one 
finds his neglected stock rapidly losing in value, and is 
waiting anxiously for the first springing of the grass. 
The animals themselves grow restless under confinement. 
... .The main care required during this month will be 
additional attention to animals, to keep them “ in good 
heart,” that they may have no loss to recover when 
spring opens. Much preparatory work may also be done, 
plans of work completed, implements prepared, market¬ 
ing finished, and every thing made ready for a prompt 
beginning with the opening season. 
Buildings need frequent inspection to keep them from 
decay. Fasten all loose boards ; properly secure win¬ 
dows and doors; batten cracks, knot-holes, and other 
leaks where cold enters and hay is wasted. Get out 
timber for new buildings if needed. 
Cattle—Give frequent changes of food, allowing roots, 
bran mashes, a little grain, etc., with hay. Cut and 
cooked foods are most economical. Give plenty of litter. 
Keep cows about to calve, in separate stalls with ample 
room. 
Otliars—Protect from frost but provide for ventilation, 
especially where there is dampness. Sort out decaying 
vegetables ; allow no accumulation of refuse, but remove 
all to the compost heap. 
Corn Stalks still standing on fields to be plowed next 
Spring, may be leveled during open freezing weather, as 
described in Dec. No. p. 358, last Vol. This will greatly 
facilitate the plowing. 
Cotton—As soon as the season permits, prepare deep 
rich beds of fine tilth to bring forward the plants as early 
as may be. 
Drains- Remove obstructions of ice, etc., both around 
the buildings and in the field. 
Fencing—Materials may be got out, and prepared un¬ 
der cover. Build new and repair old, at the earliest avail¬ 
able time. 
Flax and Hemp—Finish dressing. 
Fuel—Be sure to provide a year’s supply, cut and stored 
before Spring. 
Grain should ali be threshed now—vermin are taking 
heavy toll : secure the bins from their entrance. Market 
whenever prices are remunerative. 
Grain and Clover Fields—Allow no stock to feed or 
trample the young growth. 
Help—Secure a full supply before choice hands arc all 
engaged. Read “ Talks by the Doctor” on page 51. 
Horses and Mules — Look well to lheir feet ; keep sharp- 
shod. and clean well after traveling. Give carrots arid 
cut feed. Keep them in comfortable stables'; blanket 
when excessively cold, and allow plenty of bedding. 
Hogs—Feed liberally, with warm, cooked food, with 
which mix charcoal and salt occasionally, especially for 
breeding sows. Keep pens well littered with leaves or 
short straw, to increase the stock of manure. 
Ice Houses—Complete filling; examine drainage and 
ventilation to secure perfect preservation. 
Manures—Depend on home manufacture, rather than 
the purchase of highly advertised compounds. Keep 
muck or plaster in all places where ammonia may be ab¬ 
sorbed. Cart out in open weather. Read articles now in 
course of publication on subsequent pages. 
Maple Sugar—Have all apparatus in readiness. Com¬ 
mence tapping as soon as sap will start. For large groves, 
an improved evaporator will pay. 
Potatoes—Secure the best for seed ; keep varieties 
separate. At the South plant early for northern market. 
Poultry w ill repay proper care. Read article on page 41. 
Sheep—Give potatoes, turnips and other roots cut fine, 
with hay, and a little grain for breeding ewes. Allow 
them warm sheds separate from other stock. Salt regu¬ 
larly and give plenty of water. 
Sweet Potatoes at the South may be bedded out for a 
supply of sets for transplanting. 
Tools—Repair all needing it; replace those lent, and 
return borrowed ; select new for coming season. Keep 
iron from rust with 3 parts lard and one of resin, melted 
together. Paint all wood-work needing it. 
©rclaard aiE4l Ntarsca-y, 
Unless the season is early enough to admit of trans¬ 
planting during the latter part of the month there will not 
be much work required here. Where trees are taken out 
early to be shipped South, great care is needed in packing, 
to guard against freezing. Those which are frozen, 
should be unpacked carefully and the roots buried in 
sand until thawed_Early planting in the nursery is de¬ 
sirable, and everything should be in readiness to com¬ 
mence work at the first favorable weather. Grafting is 
belter done here in March ; at the South February is fa¬ 
vorable. See article on Grafting knives on page 51. 
Cions—Cut any time this month. Label each sort dis¬ 
tinctly, and preserve as directed last month. 
Insects—Scale bug can now be readily destroyed by 
scraping Ihe trunk and main limbs, and scrubbing with 
whale oil soap or lye. Examine the forks and ends of 
limbs for cocoons and eggs of worms. 
Manure'is needed to promote fruitfulness m the orchard. 
Apply a heavy coat around each tree, of good compost, or 
decomposed mnek, spreading it well. 
Pruning—We advise late Summer or early Autumn for 
this work, but now is a better time than after the buds 
have swollen and the sap started. All dead wood may 
be removed without injury. 
Snow—Remove from the branches of low spreading 
trees, to prevent splitting of the limbs as it settles. 
Stakes, labels, tallies, packing bags, mats, etc.- Have a 
good stock in readiness for Spring use during the busy- 
season of nursery sales or planting. 
Transplanting may commence as soon as the frost is 
out of the ground, and the soil in working order. 
E&Iicthieiiii !tm«il Frcsit <CS:s,F«l<m. 
Active operations commence in this department this 
month at the South, particularly where produce is raised 
for northern markets. The earlier vegetables can be 
brought forward, the more remunerative are the prices. 
In this latitude, preparations can be made by planning the 
grounds, providing abundance of manure, putting imple¬ 
ments in order, and in the latter part of the month mak¬ 
ing hot-beds. 
Cold Frames—Air may be admitted during mild weath¬ 
er. If cold continues, do not remove the snow covering. 
During cold, open weather protect with mats or straw. 
Cuttings of Currants, Gooseberries and other fruits may 
be taken when the wood is not frozen. Keep them bur¬ 
ied in sand in the cellar or other secure place. 
Fences—Keep in repair, and prepare materials for new 
where wanted. 
Grape Vines may be pruned early this month. 
Hot-Beds—Nothing is gained by making them too early ; 
for family use, next month will he time enough. If the 
weather is sufficiently mild at the end of February, enough 
tomatoes, cabbage and lettuce, etc., may be sown for the 
earliest plantings of market gardeners. 
Manures—Lose no opportunity of collecting an ample 
store. The quantity may be increased and the quality 
improved for many uses, by cornposting with muck, leaves 
saw-dust, etc. 
Prune Currants and Gooseberries early if neglected un¬ 
til now. 
Rhubarb-Roots planted in boxes and set in the 
green-house or other place suitably warmed will come 
forward early. It may be hastened by surrounding the 
crown with manure Read article on page 50. 
Seeds—Select new and improved kinds from catalogues. 
Try samples before purchasing larefelv. They are easily 
sprouted, if good, by laying them on cotton in a dish of 
water placed near the stove. 
Tools-Have allin repair and procure new if needed. 
Trees and Vines—Cleanse from moss, insects, rough 
scaly bark, etc. 
Trellises and Arbors—Make necessary repairs, and 
erect new. Fruits and flowers are more attractive when 
trained on tasteful supports. 
FSotVCr £3 ail’d e 32 SU&d 
Although there is not much save the evergreens, to at¬ 
tract admiration upon the lawn, and the flowers are still 
out of sight, neatness and tidiness should be preserved. 
Remove all dead branches and scattering twigs which 
have fallen upon the walks or plats. If trees or shrubs 
have been thrown out of place by wind, brace them up, 
and confine with straw ropes or matting and twine, until 
they can be permanently righted. Allow no animals to 
invade the enclosure to destroy Ihe shrubbery. If the 
weatherbe sufficiently mild, new trees and shrubs may be 
planted. Further South, borders may be prepared and 
sown with annuals. 
Evergreens—Remove show that endangers the limbs. 
IIot-Bcds— Provide materials for, and make during the 
latter part of the month for early annuals, cuttings, etc. 
Manures—Collect a good supply of muck and stable 
manure for Spring use. A good dressing will promote a 
vigorous growth and a free bloom. 
Prune Altheas, Roses, Honeysuckles, etc., during the 
mild days of this month, unless.they were attended to last 
Fall. Save the cuttings for propagating a new stock. 
Transplanting- Hardy trees and shrubs may be set out 
during the latter part of the month if the frost will permit. 
G ce eat SS o a j §e s. 
Care will he requisite not lo overheat Ihe houses by too 
much fire upon cold days ; ventilation will also be required 
when the weather is mild, as Hie sun’s rays have now 
considerable pow-er. The plants should receive no chill 
by sudden changes. From 45° to 5b° should be maintain¬ 
ed, allowing the temperature to fall at night lo about 40°. 
Azaleas—Water more freely as they increase ingrowth. 
Cape Bulbs in pots requite plenty of light to ensure 
thrifty and hardy grovvlh. Sow seed and make cuttings ; 
give bottom heat lo those thus starting. 
Cuttings of Hydrangeas, Fuchsias, Myrtles, Pelargoni¬ 
ums, etc., may now be prepared to furnish supply for out¬ 
door planting. 
Decayed branches, leaves and all litter should be swept 
out often, refuse of every kind removed, and the air kept 
free from impurities ; want of cleanliness detracts greatly 
from the appearance of the green-house. 
Insects—Watch carefully against every species; keep 
them in chock by syringing and fumigations. A cat should 
be allowed free access, as mice often prove troublesome. 
Tnp dress unthrifty planls, and give a little manure 
water from lime to time. 
Water—Increase the amount as the plants push into 
grow th, but avoid an excess. Keep the drainage good 
SSoS-Iffotiiscs amid Coausei’vatoa’ies. 
Many ofthe directions of last month are still seasonable. 
The frequency of change in the weather makes great 
watchfulness necessary to regulate the fires. From 7(1° 
to 75° of heat should be maintained. If snow fills, the 
roof should be cleared lo admit the light which the rapid¬ 
ly growing plants now require. If from want of proper 
ventilation the condensed moisture gathers and drops 
upon tlte plants below, tin conductors should he suspend¬ 
ed to collect and carry it off. 
Air—Admit cautiously by the top sashes, as oft n as the 
weather will allow ; cold currents must be avoided, as 
a check now will retard the growth of many plants ui til 
late in the season. 
Azaleas, now in bloom, should be syringed freely. 
Bedding Plants—Insert, cuttings ami make layers for a 
good stock of Petunias, Pelargoniums, Verbenas, Dian- 
thus, Candytuft, Pansies, Dtcentras, Daisies, etc , for early 
planting in llie open border. 
Bulbs—Keep a succession of plants in bloom by bring¬ 
ing forward those kept in a cool room, or Ihe Grcen- 
IIouse. Change the water of those in glasses, about 
twice a week. 
Camellias—Syringe once or twice a week, but keep the 
water from falling on Hie flowers as it hastens theirfieoav. 
Examine the foliage for traces of llie red spider which 
injures many collections. If plants are affected^ wash 
each leaf with a sponge and soft waler, and syringe ihree 
or four times a week. 
Qtftnations-Increase slock by making layers and cat¬ 
lings. 
Cuttings may now be taken from many growing plants. 
Plunge them at once into prepared pots of soil and cover 
with glasses. 
Grapes require much care in the early houses this month 
