AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
S3 
Contents for January, 1876. 
Agriculture, Southern.. 14 
Apples, Keeping. 19 
Bee Notes for January.5 Illustrations.. S 
Boys and Girls’ Columns—Pishing in Winter—Story 
of General—Aunt Sue’s Puzzle Box—Aunt Sue’s 
Chats—Doctor’s Talks—Poor Puss.12 111. .25-2S 
Business Habits. 14 
Cattle for Beef, Exportation to Great Britain. 11 
Cattle, Importation of Jersey.II 
Clethra-like Loosestrife. Illustrated.. 21 
Cow, Jersey, “Maggie Mitchell”. Illustrated.. 13 
Eggs, How to Get in Winter... 11 
Extricate a Mired Animal, How to. Illustrated.. 19 
Fashion in Stock Matters, Effect of. 15 
Feed Measuring Box. Illustrated.. 1G 
Fertilizers, Use of Artificial. IS 
Flower-Garden and Lawn for January. 4 
Fox, Hunting the. Illustrated.. 2 
Fruit Garden for January. 3 
Greenhouse and Window Plants for January. 4 
Hams and Pork, Curing. 18 
Hens, Plastic Instinct of. 18 
Hints for the Workshop .8 Illustrations.. 16 
Horticultural Notes for the Southern States. 4 
Household Department—Home Topics—Home-Made 
Furniture—Household Notes and Queries.6 
Illustrations .23-25 
House Plan. .4 Illustrations.. 9 
How Flowers are Fertilized. 4 Illustrations.. 22 
Ice-Hook, Convenient. ..Illustrated.. 19 
Iron in Agriculture. 18 
Kitchen Garden for January. 3 
Land, Waste of. 11 
Market Report for January. 4 
Mills, to Steady Portable. Illustrated.. 11 
Mules vs. Horses for Two-wheeled Carts or Trucks... 11 
Notes from the Pines. Illustrated. '. 22 
Ogden Farm Papers, No. 11 — Sink Drain-Deep 
Setting of Milk—Jersey Cattle.4 Illustrations.. 12 
Oleo-Margarine, End of. . 18 
Orchard and Nursery for January. 3 
Plantain. 19 
Potato Beetles in Winter Quarters. 18 
Potatoes Fine, A Fine Crop of. Illustrated.. S 
Science Applied to Farming. 10 
Screen for Dairy Windows. Illustrated.. 11 
Sheep, Black-Faced Scotch. Illustrated.. 13 
Shepherds, School of. 15 
Shrubby St. John's Wort. Illustrated.. 20 
Stone Picker . Illustrated.. 1G 
Straw, How to Get Rid of. 19 
Tie for use in Stables .. Illustrated.. 14 
Trap for Sheep-Killing Dogs. Illustrated.. 15 
Wages, Cheaper. 11 
Wheat, Yield of. 14 
Winter Wheats and Other Grains.— 10 
Wire Grass of the Southern States. Illustrated.. 20 
Work, Hints About. 2 
INDEX TO “ BASKET,” OR SHORTER ARTICLES. 
American Agriculturist 
in New Zealand. 
Am. Dairymen’s Ass’n.. 
Bone Fertilizers, Manu¬ 
facturing . 
Bones, Grinding. 
Bricks for a Cistern, How 
Many. 
Camp Life in Florida.... 
Cart, Manure. 
Catalogues. 
Cattle and Horses, Feed¬ 
ing Together. 
Cattle Tick, Texas. 
Colt with Bad Habit. 
Corn-Sheller, Cheap. 
Cot ton-seed,Decorticated 
Cotton-seed,to Use whole 
Cotton-seed, Value of... 
Cow, Value of One. 
Cows, Steaming Feed for 
Dairymen’s Association, 
New York State. 
Ducks, Pekin. 
Essex Pig, Heavy. 
“Everlasting,” to De¬ 
stroy.. 
Farming, Learning. 
Farming, Long Island... 
Feeding Coarse Hay, etc. 
Fence, Patent. 
Fowls, Game. 
Free—Free. 
“ Garden,” Notice to the 
Geography, Crooked. 
Glanders. 
Good Things Free. 
Guano, Effect of. 
Harness for a Bull. 
Hernia, Umbilical. 
Homesteads. . 
Hoofs, Brittle. 
Horticultural Ass’n, N.Y. 
Horticultural Soct’y, N. J 
Horticultural Society, 
Western New York ... 
Houses, Concrete. 
jlce, Gathering. 
6 Mangels, a Crop of. 
7 Manure, Storing. 
Milk. Carrying. 
35 Milk for Butter. 
33 Milk, Rich Jersey. 
Milk, Setting. 
35 Milk, to Keep Sweet.... 
5;Namc and Address in 
34 Full. 
6 North Carolina. 
Oyster Shells, Draining 
331 with. 
34 Paper, the, and Its Cover 
8 Plow, Mole. 
1 Potatoes.Planting Whole 
31 and Cut. 
35 Poultry Ass’n, L. I. 
34 Poultry, Book on. 
Poultry, Profit in 
Pumpkin Seeds, Effects 
of. 
Rifle-Shooting N8tes.... 
Sheep in Warm Climates 
Sheep or Cattle. 
Sheep-Raising and Wool- 
Growing . 
Sheath, Foul. 
Short-horn Breeders' 
Convention 
35 Shucks, Value of. 
35 Sow Eating Her Pigs_ 
6 Sow’s Condition, to Re- 
341 duce. 
34|Stock, Blooded.. . 
35,Subsoiling Loose Land.. 
7 Sundry Humbugs. 
35 Swine. Poland-China- 
34 Tomato Leaves and Plant 
35 Lice. 
34 Tree, a Highly Honored. 
35 Washer, the Little. 
5 Wells, Boring with Au- 
tt gers . 
Wheat Crops. English... 
6 White Speck in the Eye. 
7 Windgalls . 
Calendar for January. 
Boston. N Eng¬ 
land. N. York 
State , Michi¬ 
gan , Wiscon¬ 
sin. Iowa, and 
Oregon. 
H.M 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 80 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 30 
7 29 
7 29 
7 29 
7 28 
7 28 
7 27 
7 27 
7 26 
7 26 
7 25 
7 24 
7 23 
7 22 
7 22 
7 21 
7 20 
7 20 
7 19 
7 18 
7 17 
7 16 
7 15 
H.M 
4 38 
4 39 
4 40 
4 41 
4 42 
4 43 
4 44 
4 45 
4 46 
4 4 
4 48 
4 49 
4 50 
4 51 
4 53 
4 54 
4 55 
4 56 
4 58 
4 59 
0 
1 
3 
4 
5 
6 
9 
10 
11 
13 
A. Y.City, Cl., 
Philadelphia, 
New Jersey, 
Penn.. Ohio. 
Indiana, and 
Illinois. 
Washington, 
J [ary land. 
Virginia.Ken¬ 
tucky, Missou¬ 
ri, and Cali¬ 
fornia. 
* 
5 <v 
<* 
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£ 
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n 
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II 
.31 
II 
.31 
H. 
3r. 
9 
37 
7 
24 
4 
41 
9 
39 
19 
4 
49 
9 
41 
10 
43 
7 
24 
4 
45 
10 
43 
7 
19 
4 
50 
10 
44 
11 
50 
7 
24 
4 
40 
a 
49 
7 
19 
4 
51 
11 
49 
morn 
7 
24 
4 
47 
morn 
7 
19 
4 
morn 
0 
57 
7 
24 
4 
48 
0 
55 
7 
19 
4 
53 
0 
53 
2 
11 
7 
24 
4 
49 
2 
7 
7 
19 
4 
54 
2 
4 
3 
30 
7 
24 
4 
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3 
21 
7 
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4 
58 
6 
59 
rises 
7 
23 
1 
51 
rises 
7 
18 
4 
59 
rises 
6 
41 
7 
23 
4 
55 
0 
45 
7 
18 
5 
0 
6 
49 
7 
57 
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23 
4 
50 
7 
59 
7 
IS 
5 
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0 4 
9 
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3 
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7 
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11 
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7 
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18 
morn 
7 
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0 
morn 
7 
10 
5 
0 
morn 
0 
2G 
7 
21 
5 
1 
0 
24 
7 
16 
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1 
29 
7 
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3 
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4 
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set 
7 
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sets 
7 
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sets. 
6 
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40 
PHASES OF THE MOON. 
MOON. 
BOSTON. 
N. 
YORK. 
\VASH’N.| 
cha’s 
TON [CHICAGO. 
n. 
n. 
M. 
H. 
3T 
H. 
31. 
ir. 3i. 
ir. 
3r. 
1st Quart 
4 
10 
40 1110. 
10 
28 
mo. 
10 
16 mo 
10 4 
mo. 
9 
34 mo. 
Full M’n 
10 
1 
39 mo. 
1 
27 
mo. 
1 
15 mo 
1 3 
mo. 
0 
33 mo. 
3d Quart. 
18 
4 
5 mo. 
3 
:>D 
mo. 
3 
41 mo 
3 29 
mo. 
2 
59 mo. 
New M’n 
26 
8 
58 mo. 
8 
46 
mo. 
8 
SI mo 
4 22 
mo. 
3 
52 mo. 
A M E II Id AIV A G It ! C U LT 51511 S!. 
NEW YORK, JANUARY, 1876. 
In this Centennial Year comparisons are being 
drawn between the present condition of tbe coun¬ 
try and its industries, and their condition'a hundred 
years ago. As compared with many other in¬ 
dustries, agriculture does not show a correspond¬ 
ing advance, either in its methods, or its profits. It 
costs about as much to raise a bushel of com or 
wheat to-day, as it did a century ago, and we raise 
less upon an acre of ground than formerly. On the 
other hand, a shoe now made wholly by machinery, 
from the tanning of the hide up to the polishing of 
the sole, and putting in the eyelets, is produced 
with very much less labor than a few years ago. 
But it costs as much to the wearer ; the saving is 
distributed among, the thousands of people, whose 
labor all goes to help in producing the shoe, and 
they are better oil in consequence. The farmer 
who gets the same price for his wheat that he did 
many years agp, and does not raise it for any less, 
is no better off. The world is vastly richer than it 
was a hundred years ago, but the wealth is not in 
farmers’ hands. It is doubtful if there is a farmer 
in the world who is worth a million dollars, or a 
tenth of that sum, who has made it by farming. 
But there are thousands of persons who have made 
fortunes by manufactures and trade. The labor of 
the steam-engine has made the hulk of the wealth 
of the world. Steam is everywhere, except on the 
farm. The steam-engine, the silent, but very valu¬ 
able labors of chemistry, and scores of other helps 
in producing wealth, and lessening manual labor, 
are at work everywhere hut there. It may be that 
this cannot be helped, hut it would he strange if 
every other industry, except farming, is'capable of 
improvement, and that this is bound to stay where 
it is, if it does not even go backward. It is a fact 
that farmers are not sufficiently well paid for their 
labor. The reason, or one reason, must be, that 
their labor is not good enough, or sufficiently in¬ 
telligent. A man who dow makes shoes by hand, 
is a poor man, and must remain so. He can not 
stand the competition with machinery. The farmer 
works too much with his hands, and he suffers in 
competition with other industries, in which hand¬ 
work is superseded by steam or other power. What 
is the remedy ?—It can not come in a day. It must 
come only through greater intelligence and enter¬ 
prise. These are gained by reading, 6tudy, and 
education. Farmers, as a general thing, do not 
read as much as mechanics. But one in a hundred 
reads a really good, trustworthy, agricultural pa- 
pei, or meets in a farmers’ club, to discuss ques¬ 
tions of practical interest to him. The rest are not 
well versed in matters pertaining to their own 
business. They have not faith in it. They have 
not yet learned that there is a better method of in¬ 
vesting their savings than in the bank and in stocks, 
and that it would be far better to invest it in mak¬ 
ing their land more fertile, in draining and enrich¬ 
ing their fields, and that it is far cheaper and bet¬ 
ter for them to raise forty bushels of wheat from 
an acre of ground, than to get the same quantity 
from three acres. It is not by fighting against, or 
opposing the advances of other industries, but in 
making their own less laborious and more profit¬ 
able, that farmers can hope to improve their own 
condition. We believe the future to he full of 
promise. There are thousands of the better class 
of farmers, intelligent and earnest in their work, 
who are in comfortable circumstances, if they are 
not what is called rich. Year by year their crops 
grow larger, and their farms better and more .valu¬ 
able, and their example and influence benefits and 
stimulates others. It is a good time just now to 
study, how we can make our woVlc more profitable, 
remembering that it is only work thoroughly well 
done that can be well paid for, and that only is well 
done, which is done in the best and cheapest man¬ 
ner. But a farmer who keeps no accounts, works 
in the dark, and can not tell whether he is doing 
good or profitable work, or not, and now is a good 
time to begin to keep accounts. 
Mints si thereat Woa-lf. 
An Account should be opened with every field 
upon the farm, and with every kind of stock kept, 
commencing with the first of the year. Each field 
should be numbered or named, and whatever labor, 
seed, or manure, goes into or upon that field, should 
be charged at fair prices, just as if it were sold to 
a neighbor. When the crop is sold or used, the 
proceeds should be credited to the field just as if it 
had been received in payment from a neighbor. If 
some of it is fed to stock, the stock should be 
charged with the value, as if it had been bought 
for them, and the field credited with the amount. 
To commence the accounts, an inventory should he 
made, and the value of everything fairly estimated 
and put down. If any work has already been done 
upon a field, that should be charged to it. It may 
not he very easy at first, but very soon will be, and 
when once it has been begun it will be kept up. Do 
not mind some mistakes at first. 
Feeding Stock .—Stock should be well fed at this 
season. Do not spare feed, but do not waste any, 
It is easier to keep flesh on an animal now than to 
put it on in March. 
Buildings .—Perfect cleanliness should he the rule 
in all stables, pens, and sheds. Filth is the most 
frequent cause of disease. Too much warmth is 
not healthful. Pure air, dry beds, and clean skins, 
will keep well fed animals in sleek condition. 
Paths and Roads .—Icy paths and roads are dan.- 
gerous to man and beast. After every fall of snow 
the roads should be broken down by a snow-plow 
or a stone-boat, and the paths shoveled out or 
packed down in a similar manner. A heavy plank 
drawn along the paths will clear off or pack down 
the snow. Coal ashes or sand are the best materi¬ 
als to scatter upon roads and paths when they be¬ 
come smooth and slippery. In the south, where 
mud prevails at this season, dry paths and drained 
yards will he a great addition to comfort. 
Horses .—Work horses should he either sharp-shod 
or qirotected in some secure manner against slip¬ 
ping upon icy roads. Sharp calks are dangerous, 
and many horses are badly blemished by them. We 
have used the Goodenough shoe with a piece of 
rubber beneath it- for this purpose. The rubber 
over-shoe is an excellent device. Either of these 
are effective preventives against hailing or slipping. 
We do. not advise the use of sharp calks when 
these cau be procured. 
Cows. —In-coming cows should be well cared for. 
