1876.] 
AMERICAN AG- RIC ULTURIST. 
283 
ble to a bed in a bare pasture field, for a bard worked 
team. If, however, there is a good piece of pasture 
handy, and the stable is neither clean nor cool, the 
pasture is to be preferred. But horses need their 
usual feed before being turned out. They can not 
live and work without sleep, nor sleep if the}- must 
pick a bellyful from the fence corners at night. 
Horse’s feet and legs should be washed every night. 
(See preceding remarks upon flies). 
Cows.— The yield of milk will fall off now without 
some fresh succulent feed. The suckers from the 
com field ; leaves from mangels, soft headed cab¬ 
bages, or best of all, some especially provided corn- 
fodder, or oats and peas mixed, will be useful to 
keep up the supply of milk. Next month's butter 
is only second in quality to June butter, and to 
keep up the supply of milk is important, and 
easier to do than to restore it after it has fallen off. 
Sheep .—For early lambs some of the most forward 
ewes may now be selected from the flock and kept 
with the ram, being all fed a pint of mixed bran 
and linseed or cotton seed cake meal per day, to 
hasten the breeding season. Thin ew r es that have 
sucking lambs, should now r be separated from the 
lambs by day, and the lambs weaned. Those ewes 
that have much milk should be closely watched, and 
their milk drawn if needed, to avoid swollen and 
inflamed udders. Sheep and lambs with filthy hind 
parts, should be closely clipped, lest they may be¬ 
come fly-blown. Now is the time to select a good 
thoroughbred young ram, for needed improvement 
of the flock. In choosing the breed it is well to 
study the prices of long and short wools. The 
Cotswold is the most promising and useful long- 
wool sheep we have, and is now perfectly acclimated 
here, several of our native bred flocks being as 
good as any imported ones. 
Water. —This is a dry month, and stock may easi¬ 
ly suffer for want of water. Want of water is pro¬ 
ductive of much suffering, which results in disease 
and death. See that every animal is well supplied 
with pure water in abundance. Ponds, sloughs, 
and foul spring holes are not fit to supply stock 
water, and wells or cisterns only should be used. 
There are as many hogs die every year of disease 
resulting from want of pure water, as would pay 
for a well upon every western farm, and yet this 
loss is submitted to year after year. This is one 
reason why farming does not pay with some farmers. 
Swine.— Pork is still high enough to leave a good 
profit to feeders. With the present promise of the 
corn crop, a reduction in the value of pork at some 
time seems inevitable. It will therefore be entirely 
safe to make the pork as cheaply as possible. This 
can be done by feeding well and marketing early. 
A bushel, of corn fed in August or September, will 
make twice as much pork as a bushel fed in Novem¬ 
ber and December. To provide dry, clean feeding 
pens, will also lessen the cost of the pork, because 
it will encourage the growth of the swine. 
Boot Crops need to be thinned out and kept free 
from weeds. As soon as the leaves meet across the 
rows, the hoe may be laid aside. When thinning 
the crop, fill blank spaces by transplanting with a 
common garden trowel. This may be done at any¬ 
time, without putting the plants back in the least. 
Pastures. —Old worn pastures may be renewed by 
harrowing the mossy spots, or the places covered 
with sorrel, dressing them well with plaster, and 
sowing fresh grass seed. A light dressing of guano, 
superphosphate of lime, or nitrate of soda, will 
greatly help to restore a worn meadow, and bring 
in a fine growth of grass'. The droppings of the 
cattle should be broken up and scattered occasion¬ 
ally upon both pastures and meadows that have 
been pastured. Pasturing meadows is not profita¬ 
ble, unless there is a heavy aftermath, and then 
cows will do less injury than horses or sheep. 
Fattening Animals.—“ An animal well summered 
is half wintered,” so with animals to be fed for the 
butcher, every pound of flesh made now, mil cost 
but a fourth, or less, of that made in the winter; 
besides the growth of an animal increases in pro¬ 
portion to its size, up to a certain limit, and the 
heavier it is made now, the greater its future 
increase. Therefore sheep, pigs, or beeves, should 
be pushed forwared now as rapidly as possible. Do 
not forget that water is food as well as solid mat¬ 
ter, and should be given with as much regularity. 
Work in the Horticultural Departments. 
August generally affords the gardener a brief 
breathing spell in which a few days of leisure can 
be enjoyed. Make a visit to the mountains or sea¬ 
side with the family, and return refreshed by the 
change of air and scene, and ready to resume the 
usual work with new vigor. During the dry sea¬ 
son make preparations for laying drains where they 
are needed. Do up all little jobs now, and where 
brush and briars have been allowed to grow, cut 
and as soon as dry enough burn. 
Orchard stud 3iiirscryo 
The harvest of early apples, pears, and peaches, 
now demands attention, and the prices received will 
depend largely upon the manner of packing and 
assorting. If good, well colored fruit in conve¬ 
nient sized packages is received in good order, it 
will bring at any time more than enough extra 
price to pay for the extra care. Have all baskets, 
crates, and other needed packages, ready for use 
when wanted. The name of the grower should be 
placed on every package as a guarantee that the 
quality is as represented, and in a short time such 
packages will be sought after by buyers and dealers. 
Prying .—Do not allow a surplus of any fruit to 
waste, preserve it by drying either in the sun or by 
fire heat. We have given in previous volumes va¬ 
rious methods of drying which may be consulted. 
Insects .—Examine the trees carefully to see that 
no late worms, caterpillars, or borers are at work. 
Borers should be probed out with a wire. In peach 
orchards as soon as the fruit is off, all hands are 
set at “ worming,” as this is called. 
Budding will in many eases be performed during 
the present month. The proper time is when the 
bark of the- stock lifts readily and well formed 
buds can be had. Directions for budding have 
been given in previous volumes, and with a little 
instruction and practice, any intelligent boy can 
learn to do it successfully. 
Thinning .—It is not yet too late to thin out fruit 
where the branches are too heavily loaded. If not 
thinned, some will break down. 
Seedlings will require shade if they are exisected 
to endure the hot, dry weather of this month. See 
last month’s notes. 
Weeds can only be kept down by frequently stir¬ 
ring the soil; if neglected, the labor is greatly in¬ 
creased. A horse with a cultivator or a harrow, 
can easily keep the weeds down in an orchard ex¬ 
cept immediately around the trees, where it will 
be necessary to use the hoe. 
Seeds .—Gather tree seeds as they ripen, and store 
in.earth or sand to keep from drying out. 
- - - 
iFVsiit, CjSardeji. 
Blackberries will be just in their prime in the 
Northern States. If more are raised than can be 
used in the family, or sold, a supply should be 
dried or canned for winter. Never pick until fully 
ripe, as some varieties turn black long before they 
are fit to eat. - 
Dwarf Trees .—Pinch into shape and thin out the 
fruit when it is too thick. 
Grapes.—it the canes have been properly tied up 
and pinched back, they will not require much at 
tention now- except a little pinching off of the lat 
erals and the ends of the growing canes. If mildew 
makes its appearance, dust the vines with sulphur, 
j T-Iand-pick caterpillars and other insects. If fine 
bunches are desired for exhibition, remove all im¬ 
perfect berries and thin the others with a pair of 
sharp-pointed scissors. Young vines should be 
kept tied to stakes or trellises, and all surplus 
shoots removed. 
Raspberries that have done bearing should have 
the old fruiting canes cut out and burned; leave 
but 3 or 4 of the new canes, which should be cut 
back at the bight of 4 or 5 feet, and the lat¬ 
erals to 18 inches. 
Strawberries.—Sat out new beds with runners that 
have been struck in pots, and keep the old beds 
clear of weeds. Where young plants are not need¬ 
ed, cut the runners as often as necessarv. 
SSilelceaj dsirtleii. 
By this month almost everything will be planted, 
and the chief work is to keep the growing crops 
free from weeds. This is so easily done that there 
is no excuse for a weedy garden. Keep the horse 
and cultivator in frequent use among the larger 
growing crops, and the hoe and various hand-weed- 
ers among the others. Save seeds as fast as they 
ripen, selecting only the best and earliest for seed. 
Asparagus. —All that can be done to this crop is 
to puli out the larger weeds that appear. 
Beans. —Plant- a few rows for late use and for 
salting down for winter. Limas need pinching 
when they reach the top of the poles. If the crop 
is larger than can boused, shell and dry for winter. 
Beets. —Thin and keep the weeds down and loosen 
the soil with the hoe or hand cultivator. 
Cabbages.—Ho crop better repays good cultiva¬ 
tion ; hoe often. 
Carrots. —Thin and weed the late sowings. 
Corn. —Save the earliest and best ears for seed. 
Cultivate and hoe as often as necessary. 
Cucumbers for pickles need to be gathered every¬ 
day, and salted down or sold. For the market as¬ 
sort them into three sizes, rejecting all over 3 
or 4 inches long. Save seeds from the earliest. 
Egg Plants. —Cultivate often, and go over daily 
and destroy the potato beetle. Place a shingle or 
handful of hay under the fruits, to keep them from 
the ground. 
Herbs. —Cut as soon as in flower, tie in small 
bunches, and hang where they will dry. 
Melons. —Pinch back the ends of rampant vines, 
and remove all fruit not likely to ripen. Those 
about ripening will be better if turned occasionally. 
Onions. —Harvest as soon as the tops fall over ; 
store.in thin layers in a dry airy loft. If they can 
be marketed at paying prices now, it will be better 
than storing. 
Peas. —Clear up the ground occupied by late 2>eas, 
and plant with flat turnips. 
Potatoes. —D’g r.s wanted, and either bury the 
tops in the rows, or take to the pig pen to be made 
into manure. 
Squashes. —Treat the same as melons, and hand¬ 
pick the squash-bug. When the leaves wilt, look 
for the borer, and cut it out with a sharp knife. 
Sweet Potatoes.— Do not allow the vines to root at 
the joints, but move every week, and keep the 
weeds out. 
Tomatoes.- —Keep tied to the- trellises, and thin out 
surplus shoots. Destroy the large .green worm. 
Turnips. —Sow flat sorts in vacant spots," and thin 
out ruta-bagas. 
Fiawcr CaairnILess. asadl Ukavvia. 
The dry weather of early summer has in many 
places told severely on lawns, and in many the 
grass lias turned a sickly yellow. It is better not 
to cut the grass in such places, but leave it to pro¬ 
tect the roots. 
Dahlias, and other tall-growing plants will require 
stakes, as sudden wind and heavy rain storms will 
greatly injure the plants. 
Layers of shrubs may be made for increasing the 
stock of such as do not readily root from cuttings. 
Seeds. —Save the seeds of any desirable kinds. 
| Many perennials only succeed when sown as soon 
as ripe, .or at least after the intense heats are over. 
Bedding Plants. —Keep these in shape by pinch¬ 
ing, and keep clear of weeds. 
Potted Plants set on the lawn or piazza, should be 
watered whenever they need it, else they will 
soon lose their healthy appearance. 
