AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
FOR THE 
JTar-iii, Grardexi, and ITouseliokl. 
“AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST HEALTHFUL, MOST USEFUL, ASlt MOST NOBLE EMPLOYMENT OF MAN.”— W»bhikot«m. 
ORAtf^lE JUDD, A.FI., 
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. 
Office, 41 Parle Row, (Times Buildings.) 
ESTABLISHED IN 1842. 
Published both ill English and German. 
$1.00 PEB ANNUM, IN ADVANCE 
SINGLE NUMBER, 10 CENTS. 
For Contents, Terms, etc., see page 32. 
VOLUME XXIII—No. 1. 
NEW-YORK, JANUARY, 1864. 
NEW SERIES—No. 204. 
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1S63, by 
Orange Juj>d, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of 
the United States for the Southern District of New-York: 
tW Other Journals are invited to copy desirable articles 
freely, if each article be credited to American Agriculturist. 
American Agriculturist in German. 
Each number of this Journal is published in both 
the English and German Languages. Both Editions 
are of the same size, and contain, as nearly as possible, 
the same Articles and Illustrations. The German Edition 
is furnished at the same rates as the English, singly or in 
clubs. A club may be part English, and part German. 
Notes and Suggestions for January. 
It is with no empty words that we wish our 
largely increased circle of readers A Happy 
New-Yeak. Believing that earthly enjoyment 
can nowhere he attained more certainly, or in 
higher degree, than in the peaceful avocations 
of Agriculture, and feeling assured that its intel¬ 
ligent pursuit will bring added pleasure, we may 
confidently expect that our efforts to gather and 
impart information in this sphere will tend to 
make it a happy year. Cheerfully then we com¬ 
mence another volume, the more so because 
past efforts have met such generous apprecia¬ 
tion... .Winter, no less than Summer, has its 
husbandry. The growths of this season, though 
not so attractive as the foliage which orna¬ 
ments the landscape under a more fervid sun, 
are as marvelous, and, to the close observer of 
Nature, as interesting as the productions of 
Summer. What can surpass the work of the 
frost during a single night ? The blade of grass, 
the forest leaf, and the gay flower, require days 
and weeks for their development; but now, 
a single hour will call forth myriads of forms 
which the most exquisite art can scarcely imi¬ 
tate. Jewels sparkle upon every tree and shrub 
and spire of withered grass, needle-like crystals 
of delicate proportions adorn even the way- 
side pools, and fairy creations which no human 
artist could ever imitate, decorate with lavish 
profusion the window pane of the humblest cab¬ 
in. These productions of Winter require no 
oversight from man, except to limit their develop¬ 
ment. He must fortify himself and his surround¬ 
ings against the benumbing cold, and wait the 
more propitious days of the advancing year be¬ 
fore commencing operations in the field. But 
this freedom from pressing out-door employ¬ 
ment gives opportunity for culture that may 
yield a richer harvest than was ever gathered 
with sickle or reaper. It is the season for the 
thought-crop—for collecting stores of knowl¬ 
edge, for enlarging the mind’s wealth by gather¬ 
ing the recorded experiences of others, and for in¬ 
creasing executive power by carefully digesting 
the facts and observations found in appropriate 
books and journals. The files of the American 
Agriculturist will well repay a second reading, 
by recalling forgotten topics, or presenting facts 
unnoticed during the busy season of out-door 
operations. Facts gathered in reading will be 
better appreciated and longer remembered, by 
discussing them with others. New light will be 
thrown on a subject when viewed by different 
minds, and one’s own apprehension will be 
quickened by friendly conversation. To this 
end the Farmers’ Club is a most valuable insti¬ 
tution, which should be kept up in every School 
District throughout the country. Were these 
clubs properly maintained, and concert of ac¬ 
tion secured among them, Agriculture would 
he advanced witli incalculable rapidity. In¬ 
formation could at once be had of the adap¬ 
tation of different crops, fruits, methods of cul¬ 
ture, etc., to different localities; decisive exper¬ 
iments on important subjects might he made; 
reliable statistics of crops gathered for the com¬ 
mon use; and many other benefits which will 
suggest themselves to the thoughtful mind, he 
derived by such general organization. As the 
first step in this direction, let every reader of 
these pages become a self appointed commit¬ 
tee to sustain the club in his own neighbor¬ 
hood ; when a sufficient number are in opera¬ 
tion, it will he comparatively easy to bring the 
separate societies into one great circle. Even if 
the latter result be not attained in many years, 
every neighborhood will be amply repaid for 
sustaining such au institution, in the immediate 
results to those who take part iu it. 
Work for the Farm, Barn, and Stock Yard. 
Accounts , Inventory. —It matters little whether 
one is familiar with book-keeping or not—the 
accounts may still be correct: every man knows 
the difference between money spent and money 
received, between that due him and that winch 
he owes. Let these differences be set down in 
a perfectly clear manner, and be able at any 
time to foot up these four columns. Besides, it 
is necessary to know what one is likely to re¬ 
ceive, the expenses soon to be incurred, and obli¬ 
gations to be met. Every man should have a 
full memorandum of these tilings, and in order 
to begin the year well in a business point of 
view, every fanpor should take an inventory of 
all his property. This will enable him to keep 
ail future accounts much more satisfactorily. 
Agricultural Reading .—At least one good agri¬ 
cultural journal should he received in every 
farmer’s family. There are many new books, 
and old ones too, which every reading farmer 
should have. Several were noticed the past 
year in the Agriculturist. See list on another page. 
Buildings .—Keep tidy; consider plans for im¬ 
provements ; paint in warm, dry spells, and do 
not neglect or defer little repairs which save the 
expense of greater ones. A stitcli in time, etc. 
Cellars. —Exclude the frost by hanking up ad¬ 
ditional earth around the foundation walls. 
Open them on warm dry days to change the air. 
Coivs .—Feed well and give warm shelter, es¬ 
pecially to cows in calf. Dry off before the new 
milk springs. Occasionally dean the skin and 
coat witli card and brush. See December notes. 
Dairy .—Propose the subject of Associated 
Dairies in the Farmers’ Club. See page 15. Care 
and carrots will make winter butter yellow. 
Debts and Dues .—Collect dues and pay debts. 
Remember that the best time to pay off debts 
and mortgages is when the currency is inflated. 
Eaves. —There is often a deposit of leaves and 
dirt in eaves troughs. This is loosened up 
by the frosts, and during a “ January thaw ” 
will be washed into the cistern if not removed. 
Farmers' Clubs. —There is an old proverb, that 
“ two heads are better than one.” Did farmers 
only realize how much a general improvement 
in agriculture in their own neighborhood would 
promote their own personal advantage, they 
would put their heads together much more 
than they do, and each School District would 
sustain an active Farmers’ Club. 
Fencing stuff is best cut when the sap is in, from 
June to September. The Winter is the proper 
time to work up the logs into rails, posts, etc. 
Frost. —Pumps and hydrants may he kept 
from freezing in the severest weather, by setting 
a headless barrel around them, and filling it 
with horse dung, mixed as usual with some 
strawy litter. Fence posts, etc., will he less 
heaved by frost, if a handful of salt be sprinkled 
around each, on the surface of the ground. 
Grain.— Have all grain early thrashed and stor¬ 
ed in clean, dry, rat-proof granaries. Clear out 
rats and mice from granaries by phosphoric salve 
or other poison. Corn keeps best in the ear 
Harness. —Overhaul harness on damp days, 
especially after it has been wet. First wash 
with Castile soap; then grease witli neats-foot 
oil. Treat carriage tops in the same manner. 
Horses. —All in use should be well shod and 
sharp. Be very careful if mares in foal are al¬ 
lowed to leave the stable in slippery weather. 
Many a fine mare has been spoiled by slipping 
down. A foot of light snow offers a good 
opportunity to break a fractious colt to saddle. 
