AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
51 
CALENDAR OE OPERATIONS. 
MARCH, 1857. 
[We put down here a summary of various operations, 
many of them very common ones, it is true, but a simple 
catalogue like this will often suggest a piece of work that 
would, otherwise be forgotten. The Calendar is adapted 
to the latitudes of 41° to 42». A little allowance must be 
made for each degree of latitude—later north—earlier 
south. This table will be made out anew every month 
and adapted to the season of each year. It will also be 
greatly enlarged at the planting and sowing seasons. 
Explanations.— The letters f. m. 1. refer to first , mid¬ 
dle , and last of the month. 
Doubling the letters thus: ff., mm., or 11., gives emphasi- 
to the particular period indicated.] 
FARM. 
The chiefbusiness for this month will be to prepare 
for the operations of April and May, two months which 
should be relieved of every possible burden. 
Cattle—These shduld have special care at the present 
season. A little neglect now, will often produce debility 
which a whole summer may not recover. 
Cows—Treat those 4 coming in ’ with suitable nourish¬ 
ing food, giving roots or meal with cut fodder, unless there 
is a predisposition to excess of milk, or milk fever. Give 
plenty of pure water. Provide those about calving with 
plenty of stable room. 
Cellars—Clean early, removing all decaying vegetables 
and after washing, whitewash the walls and ceiling, ven¬ 
tilating freely. 
Clover—Sow m. to 1., either on a light snow, or better 
when the ground is frozen on a calm morning. 
Draining wet or stiff soils—Commence as soon as the 
frost is out of the ground—see article. 
Fences—Repair as early as may be, collecting posts, 
rails and stakes for future use. Have a good pile of 
each finished and packed away, under cover, it possible. 
Fodder—Preserve due economy in feeding, using racks 
if given in the yards. If cut, and a little meal strewed 
over, wetting enough for it to adhere, cattle will eat what 
they otherwise refuse. 
Fowls—Provide with lime or powdered oyster shells, 
and animal food. See that plenty of good nests are 
made. Artificial eggs are very convenient when severe 
frosts occur. Those of poicelain or white glass are 
now sold quite low. 
Grain for Seed—Procure a full supply of all that will be 
needed and thoroughly cleanse it for use. Test if neces¬ 
sary as described elsewhere. 
Harrow out old corn roots f. to m. or as soon as the 
frost is out. 
Hogs—Continue to make all the manure possible, using 
muck, leaves and straw. Give extra food to sows with 
young pigs, adding a little animal food and salt occasion¬ 
ally. 
Horses—Have in good working order, mixing or alter¬ 
nating their grain with carrots. 
Manures—Continue to make under cover. Cart from 
the yards and pens to large heaps where it is to be used 
at a distance, keeping them covered with muck or 
plaster. 
Mowing Lands and Winter Grain—Do not allow cattle 
or sheep to trample them over. 
Oxen—See that they are well kept and in working order. 
Plowing may be done as soon as the frost is out and the 
ground dry. Better defer for a few' days however, than 
turn over a heavy wet soil to bake in the sun. 
Potatoes—Select for seed, and sort over those for fami¬ 
ly use keeping them as much as possible from warmth, air 
and light. 
Sheep and Lambs—Require much care at this season. 
Feed well, and keep ewes with lamb away from cattle— 
indeed sheep should always be kept by themselves. Give 
salt, or feed salt hay occasionally. 
Sugar Maples—Tap ff. and attend to daily. See Work 
for the Month. 
Tools—Look over, and if any are wanted, procure them 
before you are hurried. Repair old ones and see that the 
plowdng gear is in readiness. 
Wood—Complete the preparation of, for summer use 
ff., that no future delays may be necessary on this ac¬ 
count. See article on former page relative to “ Forests.” 
Young Stock—See that it comes through the winter in 
good condition. Do not turn out to pasture too early. 
ORCHARD AND NURSERY. 
Apples—Plant as soon as the ground can be worked. 
Apricots—Plant f. m. 1. 
Blackberries—Plant m. 1. 
Cherries—Plant early and graft m. 1. See article on 
grafting. 
Currants—Set out and putin cuttings f. m.l. 
Digging Trees and shrubs in Nursery—Attend to during 
t he month putting them in trenches for spring use or sales. 
Figs—Plant, layer, and put in cuttings m. 1. 
Fruit and Deciduous Ornamental Trees—Transplant 
and plant out, both in Orchard and Nursery, f. m.l. 
Gooseberries—Plant and put in cuttings m. 1. 
Grafting—Perform on cherry trees in mild weather m. 1. 
See article. Apples and Pears may be grafted 11. 
Grapes—Prune ff, if not done. See article. 
Mice-girdled Trees—Cover with grafting wax or clay 
and bank the earth up about them. See notes to corre¬ 
spondents. 
Mulch newly planted trees. 
Nectarines—Plant m. 1. 
Packing Nursery Trees—Perform with care, using 
moss for the roots, covering with mats, and straw up the 
bodies. 
Peaches—Plant and head back m. 1. Examine for 
borers, cutting them out with a knife whenever found. 
Pears—Plant both Dwarf and Standards m. 1. 
Planting Seedlings and Stocks—Follow diligently be¬ 
fore the rush of business comes on. Early planting is 
much preferable, especially in dry seasons. 
Pruning—We advise doing but little more than re¬ 
moving injured branches. See article on page 27. 
Quinces—Plant m. 1. 
Raspberries—Uncover 11. if the weather is quite settled. 
Plant hardy varieties m. 1. 
Scions for Grafting—Cutff. See article. 
Shrubs—Transplant early blooming varieties f. m. 1. 
Strawberries—Uncover and dress, making new plots 1. 
Trench or subsoil, when ground is dry enough, and 
manure heavily grounds which are to be planted with 
nursery stock. It is better to prepare the soil to produce 
a crop of trees without much after manuring. 
Vines—Prune, layer, make cuttings and plant f. m.l. 
Walnuts, Chestnuts, and any other seeds including ap¬ 
ple, pear, quince and peach put, in boxes last fall—should 
be planted out if. to m. 
KITCHEN AND FRUIT GARDEN. 
The operations in these must necessarily be governed 
by the forwardness or backwardness of the season. Gen¬ 
erally it. is not best to put many seeds into the open 
ground until the weather is somewhat settled and the soil 
both w«rm and dry. As most vegetables are more tender 
and of superior flavor when grow n quickly, it is better to 
sow at such times as they will come rapidly forward 
which th*y can not do, during the changeable weather of 
early spring. The planting of all the vegetables mention¬ 
ed below may be deferred until April, in this latitude, and 
may be necessarily so, but as that will be a very busy 
month, if the ground will admit of working, it is better to 
forward the operations by planting some of the more 
hardy varieties during this month. From present appear¬ 
ances we have the promise of an early spring, and vary 
the Calendar a little in accordance. 
Artichokes-Jerusalem—Dress and plant m. to 1. 
Asparagus—Uncover old beds 11. removing the coarse 
litter and forking in plenty of manure, taking caie not to 
injure the crowns of young plants. Sow seed and plant 
out new beds, trenching the soil and manuring heavily. 
Blackberries—Plant 11. if on light, warm, dry soil. 
Borecole or Kale—Sow 11. 
Cabbages—Sow and plant out from cold frames 11. Set 
out stumps for early greens m.to 1. Sow in Hot Beds ff. 
Cardoon and Caraway—Sow 11 
Cauliflower—Sow f. in Hot Beds, and 11. in open ground 
pricking out those in cold frames 11. if the weather appears 
settled. 
Celery—Sow in Hot Beds f. 
Cold Frames—Air freely each day, sowing seeds ff. to 
take the place of plants to be pricked out 11. 
Compost for hot beds and general use—Prepare ff. and 
cart to grounds where it is to be used. Turn over those 
heaps carted out last month and which are now ferment¬ 
ing, fixing the escaping gases'by charcoal dust, plaster, 
or muck thrown over the whole heap. 
Cress—Sow 11. 
Currants—Plant and put in cuttings as soon as the 
ground is in working order. 
Egg Plants—Sow ff. in Hot Beds. 
Fruit Trees trained as espalier—Regulate and fasten to 
trellises ff. 
Garlic—Plant 1. 
Gooseberries—Plant as currants, which see. 
Grape Vines—Prune ff. if neglected, see article on 
another page. 
Grounds—Level those ridged up last fall and plow and 
manure lands for early planting. 
Horse Radish—Plant m. to 1. 
Hot Beds—Makeff. See article in present number. 
Kidney Beans—Force m. to 1. « 
Leeks—Sow m. tol. 
Lettuce sow ff. in Hot Beds ; pick out from frames and 
sow in open grounds 11. 
Liquorice—Plant m. to 1. 
Manure—See compost. 
Mustard—Sow m. to 1. 
Onions—Sow and put out sets for rareripes 11. 
Parsley—Sow 1. 
Peas—Sow m. to 11. on warm dry soil. 
Plow deep and trench soils for early planting. 
Potatoes—Plant early, 11. or sprout in a manure heap 
f. to m. See article. 
Radishes—Sow ff. in Hot Bed and 11. for open culture. 
Raspberries—Uncover buried vines 11., if the weather 
appears settled, tying to stakes at. the same time. Plant¬ 
ing may also be done, but this may be deferred quite as 
well to the first of next month, except south of this lati¬ 
tude. 
Rhubarb—Remove covering 11. and fork in a good dres¬ 
sing of manure. Set out new crow ns and sow seed as 
soon as the ground,can be worked. 
Sage—Sow and transplant 11. 
Seeds—Procure full supply and test ff. See article on 
proving seeds. 
Shallots—Plant 1. 
Spinach—Sowm. to 1. and uncover any protected dur¬ 
ing the winter. 
Strawberries—Uncover beds 11. and unless the protec¬ 
tion was coarse manure, give a moderate coating of fine. 
See strawberry article on another page. 
Tomatoes—Sow in Hot Beds ff. and in boxes m. to 1 to 
be carried in during cold nights. 
Tools—Procure and repair ff., mm., II. 
Trellises—Construct and repair f. m. 1. 
Turnips—Sow a few 11. for early use. 
FLOWER GARDEN AND LAWN. 
Annuals—Plant or sow hardy varieties on warm bor¬ 
ders 11. Those less hardy wanted to bioom early, sow in 
hot bed f. to m. 
Asters, balsams, clarkias, hibiscus, petunias, phloxes, 
portulacas, verbenas, &c.— Sow ff. tom, in mild hot-beds 
for early flowering. 
Box edgings—Plant m. to 11., or as soon as the ground 
can be worked, clinping both top and roots. 
Bulbs covered according to the directions given last 
fall—Remove leaves, tan or litter, and stir the surface oi 
the soil gently, without injuring the young shoots. Cover 
with mats those springing up, should there be heavy frosts. 
Carnations, pinks, daisies, &e., in frames—Give plenty 
of air, shifting to larger pots as needful. Remove any 
decayed leaves, and water lightly. 
Chrysanthemums—Transplant 11., dividing into single 
roots, or at most so that only three stems will shoot up 
They will flower much better than large stools. 
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs—Transplant m. to I. 
Early planting is much the best, especially for early 
flowering shrubs. 
Grass Edging—Trim with edging knife, replacing with 
fresh turf any defective places. Make new ones with 
sod from close, fine pastures. 
Gravel Walks—Dig up, or hoe and rake off tout ones, 
covering with fresh gravel, rolling smoethly. 
Lawn—Rake off old leaves and grass m. to 1., sowing 
seed on bare spots, or fresh turf may be cut to fill (hem. 
Guano water, [say 1 lb. to 10 gallons, and 2 lbs. to a 
square rod] given through a sprinkler, or watering pot, or 
mixed with earth and sown over before a rain, is a good 
dressing. 
Manure—Give to old grounds, spading in thoroughly. 
Trench or plow in a good supply on grounds to be laid out. 
Perennials—Propagate from offsets and by dividing the 
roots. 
Roses—The last of this month is the best time to trans¬ 
plant these. They will bloom more freely and succeed 
better every way if planted early. 
Stock Gillies, Collinsia, mignonette, &c..—Sow'in hot 
beds f. to m. and in warm borders 11. 
Tender Plants protected during the Winter—Remove 
corering from, 11., unbinding those which were strawed 
up, or drawn in as protection against snow. 
GREEN HOUSE. 
Air—Admit each day if possible. 
Bulbs in flower—Keep near the glass, watering sparing¬ 
ly. Change the water often where they are in hand 
glasses. 
Camellias are still in flower—Wash the leaves but do 
not wet the flowers. Water as needful. Inarching may 
be commenced 11. 
Clirysanthemums—Water freely as they begin to push 
into growth. 
Cuttings—Put in any which yet remain oi last autumn’s 
making. 
Geraniums—Keep in airy situations, guarding against 
green fly by fumigations. 
Insects—Destroy by Tobacco fumes, washing with soap 
suds, &c., before they have made a vigorous growth. 
Orangey Lemons, Oleanders, &c.—Water as necessary, 
and cleanse those affected with scale. 
Pot off plants sown last month. 
Seeds—Sow for Hot and Green house ami tender an 
nuals for the flower border. 
Temperature—Fire heat may be dispensed with except 
in cool weather. Bv putting the shutters on at night, the 
sun heat may be kept above 35° tn ordinary weather. 
Water—Give more freely now tnat plants are in a grow 
ing state. 
