93 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[April, 
Calendar of Operations for April, I860- 
[We note down sundry kinds of work to be done during 
tlie month, to call to mind the various operations to beat- 
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. 
Explanations,— f indicates the first ; m the middle ; 
and l the last of the month.—Doubling the letters thus:.#', 
or mm, or It, gives particular emphasis to the period indi¬ 
cated. —Two letters placed together, as fin or ml, signify 
that the work may be done ill either or ill 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.] 
IV, E5,—In cold northern climates, where winter still 
hangs on, some of the hints below, especially those re¬ 
ferring to putting out plants, etc., will necessarily be de¬ 
layed to May. Nothing is gained by working land that is 
etill coid and saturated with water. 
Fanil. 
During this month, active operations fairly commence. 
Fencing, draining, manuring, plowing and sowing, and 
other work require immediate attention. Every day lost 
now, will count two before the Summer is over, in extra 
work to be done hurriedly and out of season, and may be 
severely felt in lighter returns at harvest. 
In soil culture especially, a liberal policy pays best. It 
lias been proved a thousand times that fifty acres proper¬ 
ly drained and plowed, abundantly manured, not stinted 
in seeding, and thoroughly worked throughout the sea¬ 
son, v' ill fill a larger purse at the year’s end, than twice 
that amount carelessly prepared, sparingly enriched, 
stingily seeded, and half tilled, from mistaken economy in 
employment of help and other indispensable outlay. 
Let the rule be, Do well, what is to be done, and “well 
done ” will ultimately be written all over the fields, in the 
golden letters of a full harvest, and in lines of satisfac¬ 
tion on the face of the successful cultivator. 
Bees should receive attention to prepare them for 
their Summer’s work, so freely and cheerfully performed. 
Very full directions on the Spring treatment of bees were 
given in the “Apiary” last month ; and under the same 
head in this paper. 
Buildings—Clear out all accumulations of rubbish from 
barns and sheds. Allow no fermenting manures to rot 
liic sills or boarding. Keep in order, and paint where 
needed. Cleanse and paint, or whitewash wood-houses, 
poultry houses, and other out-buildings where vermin 
breed readily. A scratch in time saves nine. A good 
w hilt-.wash for out-doors is made by adding 5 to 7 ounces 
„! t.il.ovv or oilier grease to each peck of iime dissolved, 
‘ ■.bting the grease upon the slaking lime, and stirring it 
in thoroughly while the lime is still hot or warm. 
Cabbages—Set ff, m, in well manured and finely pul- 
tt rized soil, 2! feet apart. Watch carefully for and des¬ 
troy the cut worm, resetting any plants eaten off. 
Calves— Carefully select from the best for raising, al¬ 
though the butcher may offer tempting prices. Teach 
them !o drink from the stait. Feed them with plenty 
of new milk for the first few weeks, after which mix 
in skim-milk and a little oatmeal or shorts, increasing 
the quantity daily, until they will readily oat only 
meal and water. To cure scours, mix w heat flour with 
the feed. 
Carrots are of high value for feeding cattle and horses, 
and yield largely. Plow or dig deep, manure heavily, 
reduce Hie soil lo a fine tilth and sow, II, in drills sixteen 
inches apart. Put in seed as soon as ground is prepared, 
before it becomes lumpy. 
Cattle in this latitude will require feeding at the barn 
most of this month. Too early turning out, is injurious to 
I he pastures ( and the animals themseives are checked in 
their grow th, as the young grass though insufficient for 
their wants, spoils their appetite for hay. Keep them 
from the mowing grounds ; all the growth there, is needed 
fur the hay crops. Breeding animals need especial care. 
As their time approaches, they Should be separated from 
the rest of ihe herd. Give working oxen a daily feed of 
potatoes or other roots together with grain ; card and 
b ush them frequently. 
Cellars—Cleanse thoroughly from decayed vegetables 
and litter; whitewash Ihe" walls ; remove boxes, barrels, 
loose boards, eic., not in use. Lime sprinkled whero 
x«„etabies have decayed, will destroy impurities that 
might taint the air and injure the flavor of milk and but¬ 
ter if kept in the cellar. Give free ventilation. 
ctover may still be sown on winter grain, ff. Use not 
1,-ss than six quarts per acre, and in many instances a 
. ,-i-k would be profitable, especially where it is intended 
lo plow in green for manure. Sow upon a light snow, so 
that the seed may be carried down into the soil. This 
,jk the practice of many good farmers. When sown on 
sr.ow , il -s easy see whether the seed falls evenly. Our 
own experience is decidedly in favor of sowing clover on 
wheat or rye towards the end of the freezing season. A 
still morning is chosen wHen the ground is frozen an inch 
or two in depth, leaving it full of interstices or cracks, 
into which the seed rolls, and is covered on thawing. 
When sown too early, the young germs may be killed by 
frost. When used with Spring grain, sow and work in 
with a light brush harrow after the grain is finished. 
Corn—If old roots were not harrowed out last month, 
attend to them ff. Procure seed and test it, ff, if not al¬ 
ready done ; provide an extra supply to replant if the first 
fails. Manure, and when dry enough plow grounds for 
planting next month. If in heavy sod, turn it well over, 
then spread the manure, and before planting, cross-plow 
very lightly, and harrow well,to mix the top dressing with 
the soil but not to disturb the sods below. Their ferment¬ 
ing and decay will warm the surface and enrich the deep¬ 
er layer, and prepare it for the future wants of the roots. 
Cranberries—For particular directions see page 115. 
Door Yards—Clean up all rubbish, chip-dirt, ash-heaps, 
and other litter, and remove them to the compost heap. 
Make convenient raised walks of brick, plank, or coal 
cinders. Place foot scrapers near the outer gale, to pre¬ 
vent accumulation of dirt around the doorstep. 
Draining—Nothing is more impoitant for half the soils 
in the country. Crops on well-drained lands are almost 
independent of rains and drouths. With blind drains 
deep below the surface, the surplus water of a wet season 
runs off; and the roots of plants go so far down into a 
well-drained soili that they bring up sap in the dryest sea¬ 
son from a point below the sun’s parching effects. Deep¬ 
ly drained soils are warmer, and can be worked much 
earlier in the Spring. Drain all the land you can every 
year, and especially this year. Do it thoroughly, for all 
time, as far as you go. Put the drains three, or better, 
four feet below the surface, and near enough together to 
thoroughly remove water from the space between the 
drains. Dig trial holes four feet deep, and wherever you 
find water standing in them three days after a rain, that 
soil will pay for drainage. Stones or tiles are best in all 
cases. Where tiles are accessible, the less digging re¬ 
quired will usually pay for the extra cost over stones near 
at hand. Where stones are in excess, the best way to get 
rid of them is to bury them in the form of drains. A mass 
of stones thrown into a drain answers a tolerable purpose 
for a time at least, but it is always better to lay them so 
that there shall be a continuous passage for water. Leave 
no stones within 18 inches of the surface to be disturbed 
by the plow. You will surely have the plow and subsoil 
plow- down to that depth in less than ten years—if you 
continue to read the Agriculturist -Any form of tile may 
be used, but the round tubes are cheaper, and are quite as 
good as the horse-shoe tiles with soles. In laying the tiles 
be sure to have them on a hard smooth bottom, and the 
ends exactly meeting. In a loose muck or bog soil, put 
down Ihin rough boards or slabs of some durable timber 
to lay the tiles upon. The boards will last many years, 
and when they finally rot, the soil around the tiles will 
have become so compact as to keep them in their places. 
Run drains down hills, and not around their sides. This 
subject is fully discussed in Yol. XVT, at pages 54, 97, 
101, 125 and 149. 
Fences—Have as few ns the farm will admit of, and 
keep them in the best repair. Where stones are plen¬ 
ty, use them for walls. In wet locaMons, make ditches 
along the fence lines to prevent heaving by frost. Make 
gates for all entrances frequently used. Sods from salt 
marshes may be used to good.advantage for fencing. 
See directions for building on page 110. Plant hedges, 
f, m, 1, of Osage Orange, Buckthorn or Honey Locust. 
Read article headed “ Vicious Cattle ” on page 110. 
Feet—To avoid colds, chills, and agues, keep the feet 
dry and warm. Leave the upper leather without oil or 
grease, except an inch or so above the soles. Grease this 
part and the soles well. This keeps out moisture from 
the ground, but allows the prespiration to escape from 
above. The feet are thus kept dry and warm. Good, 
thick, large “cow-hides” conduce to health and comfort- 
let the Chinese, and fashionable people, and fools, wear 
the small and thin shoes — Changing the socks at noon, 
and especially when work is over, takes but little time, 
and conduces greatly to comfort and health. 
Grain Fields—Keep all stock from feeding or trampling 
upon Winter grain. Open drain furrows that have been 
filled during Winter. Re-sow bare spots with Spring 
varieties. 
Hedge rows and bushy clumps near fences, or scattered 
about the fields, disfigure the farm, occupy valuable space, 
and shelter vermin; root them out, and sow will) grass 
seed if not wanted to plow. 
Hired Help — Plenty of good help is cheap fit any price— 
and poor help is dear at any price. You have your men, 
and women too, to board any way, and lo wear out and 
break things generally. Two or Ihree dollars more per 
month for good help is well made up. The cheapest 
farm hand we ever had, we paid $20 a month and hoard. 
I!e was worth two twclve-dollar men in well-directed effi¬ 
cient labor, worth another one in the caie he took of im¬ 
plements and animals, and in keeping an eye to things 
generally ; and it cost no more to board him Ilian one 
poor laborer. 
Horses, if properly cared for, need not be reduced by 
Spring work Work them gradually at first, until har¬ 
dened to it, and give more grain, with carrots lo keep up 
their appetite. Grooming them thoroughly every night, 
brushing and rubbing don n well, will prevent or alleviate 
soreness of muscles. A loose layer of leather under ihe 
collar will prevent galls. Breeding mares require moder¬ 
ate exercise daily, arid roomy stalls vrhen'ncar foaling. 
Lime is useful on cold sour land, and wherever there 
is undecaying vegetable matter in the soil. 15 lo 4x1 or 50 
bushels to the afire may be used, according to the degree 
of coldness. On light land, 10 to 20 bushels is an abund¬ 
ance for one application ; too much lime speedily de¬ 
stroys the entire organic matter, making it what is com¬ 
monly, though not correctly called “lime sick.” Sow the 
freshly slaked lime upon the surface and harrow it in, at 
almost any lime before or after seeding, but not after the 
seeds begin lo sprout. 
Lucerne—In dry calcareous (limestone) soils, and on 
deep sandy loam, this plant may be valuable for soiling. 
Soxv on well prepared ground, m, 1. 
Manure stored and prepared by composting, is nox-v 
wanted in the fields. It will he much more beneficial to 
the growing crops if finely divided and well mixed with 
Ihe soil. Working the heap over, and adding muck, lime 
and plaster, will thus improve it. Avoid purchasing fer¬ 
tilizers until every resource for manufacture upon the 
premises is exhausted. Beware of high sounding names 
and spreading advertisements. 
Meadoxvs—Go over with a “maul” and beat up Ihe 
sca’tering lumps of manure dropped by the cattle. Gath¬ 
er all loose stones, and dig out, blast, or sink large ones, 
working them into fences. Top dress bare spots liberally 
with yard manure and sow grass seed. It is also well to 
go over such places with a heavy harrow, scatter seed and 
roll smooth. 
Oats—Soxv, hi, to 1, on ground used fur hoed crops last 
year. Manure is belter applied to the previous crop. If 
used very freely in Spring on good ground, tho crop runs 
to straw, and is likely to lodge. 
Onions if properly caret! for are Very profitable, Make 
the seed bed deep, rich, mellow, and free from stones, and 
lumps. Sow, m, 1, in drills twelve inches apart, and cov¬ 
er lightly. 
Plaster may be tried upon various crops, using from 
200 to 500 lbs. to the acre, where it does not cost over $7 
to $10 per tun. There is no guide for its use, but a trial, 
for, while on many soils it is very efficacious, on some 
others it is of little benefit, and no certain reason can be 
assigned. Sow it broadcast over vx heat fields, especially 
where clover seed is put on. Sow it also on ground for 
Spring grains and other crops, and harrow it in before 
seeding, or with the seed. It so often proves valuable, 
that it is worth trying w here this lias not been already- 
done thoroughly. To test plaster, pour vinegar, or some 
stronger acid upon a little of it; if it ferments greatly, it 
contains considerable carbonate of lime, and is not pure 
plaster. 
Flowing should not be'entrusted to careless hands 
Deepen the soil gradually, say an inch at each plowing. 
Where the center of a field has been hollowed, and l lie 
sides thrown into a ridge by plowing around the field year 
after year, remedy this by back furrowing until u is prop¬ 
erly leveled. Read article on page 107. 
Potatoes—Early varieties are most valuable where a 
good market is easily accefsjhle. Plant, m, I, on rich I 
mellow soil. Use those of medium size for seed, planting 1 
in row s 3 feet apart, two eyes to a piece, dropped one foot 
apart in Ihe rows. Try an experimental plot, varying ihe | 
amount and kind of seed used. 
Poultry are now singing their Spring lai/i. Supply 
them with plenty of lime to work up into egg shells. .ami ] 
with grain and refuse meat to fill the shells witii. Set ihe I 
liens, fl', for early chickens. Supply clean straw and 1 
fresh whitewashed boxes f-r nests for selling hens. , 
Tobacco stalks and leaves mixed with the sjruw are 
recommended to expel vermin. Feed the chickens with 
corn cracked fine and boiled, which is preferable In 
meal; increasing the size as they grow older. D n r- 
min infest the liens, grease them (-lightly under Ihe 
wings when they leave the nest. 
live — Sow Spring variety, in, I, using two bushels of 
seed per acre, on clover sod, or following a hoed crop the 
previous year, which is preferable if the land is in good 
condition. 
Sheep— Keep separate from cattle. Give warm slieltei 
at night to breeding ewes, now dropping their lambs. II 
any refuse to own their lambs, shut them by themselves 
