122 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
out wetting anything but their hands and 
arms. In case of small streams the flume 
may be partly boarded up at the lower end, 
to increase the depth of the water. This 
confining the stream to a narrow passage 
greatly increases the current, and the 
filth in the wool is carried off more rap¬ 
idly. The building of the dam and flume is 
properly neighborhood work, and where it 
is shared by a dozen or more farmers, the 
expense is but trifling. 
SHEEP SHEARING 
requires some skill, and it is a barbarous 
practice to put fresh hands and boys to the 
work, unless they have a competent shear¬ 
er to instruct them. The education gener¬ 
ally costs the farmer much more than the 
service of shearing if he regard the thrift of 
his flocks. We have seen sheep that must 
have sat for Tusser’s picture, when he ad¬ 
vises 
“ Reward not thy sheep, when ye take off his coat, 
With twitches and patches, as broad as a groat; 
Let not such ungentleness happen to thine, 
Lest fly, with her gentils, do make it to pine.” 
Farmers certainly ought to be content with 
taking the wool, without drawing blood before 
the whole sheep is handed over to the butch¬ 
er. Flies frequently lay their eggs in these 
wounds, and the health of the sheep is se¬ 
riously impaired. All wounds should be 
smeared over with grease, or marking paint, 
to protect them from the weather. 
SPARE THE BEST LAMBS. 
In this month, the butcher will begin to 
cast an eye of cupidity upon your most 
thrifty lambs. He will praise the excellence 
of your mutton, and tell you how much the 
South Down lambs are prized in the sham¬ 
bles. He will remind you of former good 
bargains, and will probably give you your 
price for all the lambs you have to spare. 
But you should early select the best for your¬ 
self, and assume as a safe principle in sheep- 
husbandry, that they are worth more to you 
for feeding and improving your flock, than 
for meat. When you have selected these, 
make the remainder as fat and saleable as 
possible. 
We greatly need more mutton in our 
markets, and of much better quality, partic¬ 
ularly in the Spring of the year. It is gen¬ 
erally abundant and cheap enough in Fall 
and Winter, but now, legs, and saddles only 
smoke upon the tables of the rich. It is a 
wholesome meat, and can be raised, in most 
parts of the country, more cheaply than any 
other. 
NEW PLANTED TREES 
shouia receive careful attention this month. 
In all cases, they should be mulched. If 
starting well, they will grow more vigorous¬ 
ly for the mulch. If not yet put out in leaf, 
they may be saved perhaps by mulching and 
watering. 
EVERGREEN TREES. 
It is not too late to set these in nor¬ 
thern localities, the first of this month. It 
is generally admitted, that these do better 
when planted just as the buds are starting at 
the ends of the old wood. 
THE HOE 
is king this month, in field and garden, and 
just as it reigns lord of the soil will your 
crops be remunerative. Keep the surface 
of the ground scarified as much and as often 
as possible. Let the hoes be light and con¬ 
venient, and keep them well brightened 
with use. The horse hoes are coming into 
use rapidly, and will save much of the labor 
by hand. It matters little whether the 
ground be stirred by hand or horse power, 
if the work only be thoroughly done. Hoe¬ 
ing is to a certain extent a substitute for ma¬ 
nure. The more fine you make the tilth of 
the soil, and the more you increase its evap¬ 
orations by stirring the surface, the better 
will be your crops. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 
June, 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. 
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 emphasis 
to the particular period indicated.] 
FARM. 
Hoe, Hoe, Hoe, HOE, is the watchword for this month. 
If weeds get the start of growing crops now, they not only 
appropriate the fertilizing materials of the soil, and mon¬ 
opolize air and sun-light, but render the future labor of 
eradication much more difficult. Therefore keep the 
weeds down, and the soil loosened up, that the rootlets of 
plants may find permeable ground, air and moisture to 
grow in, and feed upon. Planting may still be done to 
some extent especially where failures have occurred. 
Bark—Many farmers do a small business at peeling 
bark for tanners. This may be commenced upon the 
Hemlock and Oak, 11., even if it does not happen to be 
li uponthe full of the moon.” After drying for a few days, 
with the rough side out, pile away and cover in such 
manner as to protect from rain. 
Barley may still be sown ff. 
Beans—Plant ff. among corn, or by themselves. 
Beets—Sow Sugar and Mangold Wurtzel for stock ff. 
Buckwheat—Sow 11., or better next month, unless north 
of this. A light soil is preferable to heavy loam for this 
crop. Green sward turned over this month will make a 
good ground work. 
Cabbages—Hoe early plantings f. m. and put out for late 
m. 1. among potatoes, or other crops soon to come off. 
Use tobacco dust, dry ashes or lime to drive away 
insects. 
Carrots—Hoe and thin m. 1. They may still be sown 
ff. and will make excellent winter feed for cattle and 
horses. It is to be hoped that a good plantation of them 
was made early last month. 
Clover—Plow in m. to manure the land, especially for 
wheat. 
Com may still be planted ff. at the north. Look to 
former plantings and make good any failures. Sow in 
drills m. for stock. Plow or cultivate and hoe m. 1. Pro¬ 
tect from crows by scattering upon the surface, corn 
soaked in strychnine water, by stretching lines, &c. 
Cotton—Work and hoe f. m. 
Draining—Continue as time will admit. 
Fences—Have an eye to, repairing upon the first ap¬ 
pearance of weakness or defect. 
Grain will not require cutting before next month ex¬ 
cept at the South. Go over the “ seed patch ” and pull 
out ‘cockle’ and foreign grain. 
Grass-Cutting of this will commence 11. Better be¬ 
gin a little early, especially if the weather is favorable 
and there is much to cut. The most suitable time for 
cutting Timothy is when the seed is in a dough state, and 
for clover just after the majority of heads are out of 
bloom. Anticipate a little, however, or some will get 
too dry before mowing. Look early into the feasibility 
of securing a mowing machine of the best kind. 
Hoeing and weeding are the most important operations 
of the month, consuming more time on the farm, if proper- 
erly done, than anything else. Assum ing that the ground 
was in good condition, and the seed properly put in, it 
would now be very poor economy to allow weeds to ap. 
propriate what should form food for the growing crops 
besides choking out the latter. Therefore let no rust 
collect upon the hoes this month. 
Hogs—Keep these from streets, highways, and even, 
your own yards, that they may annoy neither your¬ 
self or neighbor by constantly getting where they are not 
nrw I r .. .n I n»aT <ra inm la g,-iMi..n-.„r J i,rii aMB miuMwr S TfWw l ITT! 
wanted, to say.nothing of the loss of manure scattered 
about the premises. Breeders may properly have a mod¬ 
erate pasture or orchard range, but it is generally better 
to keep store hogs, and those for fattening in pens and 
yards making compost out of muck, woods and road 
scrapings, headlands, &c. 
Manures—Collect and prepare for autumn use. Scrape 
the barn yards and throw the droppings in heaps, under 
cover if possible, each morning, spreading of plenty muck 
and a little plaster over them. Don’t forget to embrace 
every opportunity to dig out and throw up to dry a large 
pile of muck or swamp mud for future use 
Millet—Sow ff m. for soiling. 
Moles—These are unjustly persecuted animals, whose 
motives and acts are too often misconstrued, They are 
insectivorous animals often making incursions into corn¬ 
field in pursuit of grubs and worms, and not to prey upon 
the com, as many suppose. They sometimes disturb the 
roots in their search for food, but the worms they de¬ 
stroy would injure the crop far more If, however, the 
farmer is bent upon their destruction, let him poison them, 
by collecting a few fresh worms and put a little strych¬ 
nine, or carbonate of barytes in powder upon them, keep¬ 
ing in a box for a few hours, when three or four of them 
may be laid in each mole run as it leaves the fence or 
hedge for the cultivated field. Repeat the dose as they 
are taken away, until the moles entirely disappear 
Pastures—Divide into medium sized lots, and alternate 
with cattle sheep and horses. The hurdle system is 
worth looking into. 
Peas—Sow ff. m. 
Potatoes may still be planted ff. at the North, although 
it is likely all were pul in by the first of May. Plow and 
hoe m. 
Pumpkins—Plant ff. for stock. New ground is prefer¬ 
able. They may be put among com or polatoes. This 
we have found a very profitable crop, especially on new 
ground. 
Sheep were probably washed last month, if not do it ff. 
Shear in a week or ten days after washing, according as 
the weather is warm and dry. Time should be given be¬ 
tween washing and shearing for the “yolk” or oil to 
give the wool a rich glossy appearance. Some shear as 
soon as dry, but we prefer giving them at least a week of 
good weather. Put them under cover after shearing, 
upon the approach of storms. Do not be too ambitious to 
take off a large number of fleeces in a day, at the risk of 
“nipping” the sheep here and there, making sores for 
flies to deposite their eggs in. A sore will often takeoff 
a dozen pounds of flesh or more. Cut the horns growing 
towards the head, and pare the hoofs if there is any ap¬ 
pearance of rot. 
Sugar Cane—Plant or drill the Chinese ff. m., for soiling. 
Where seed can be obtained, try a plot in comparison 
with corn for this purpose. Plow or cultivate, and hoe 
early plantings f. m. See two articles. 
Tobacco—Keep fields well hoed and free from weeds. 
Tools—See that those required for hay and harvest are 
in proper condition, such as mowing machines, scythes, 
cradles, forks, horse and hand rakes, racks, wagons, &c. 
If any of these are to be purchased, procure them before¬ 
hand, and put them in working order. If you have much 
hay and grain to cut, it is better to bring “ horse power ” 
to bear upon it. Purchase only those machines known to 
give good satisfaction. 
Turnips—Sow Ruta-bagas and Swedes 11. or better 
next month, except at the far North. White, flat varieties 
may be sown f. m. 1. for succession. 
ORCHARD AND NURSERY. 
There is but little to do in the Orchard at this season, 
save keeping the ground light about the trees, thinning 
fruit and killing caterpillars. Caterpillars and other in¬ 
sects neglected last month should by all means be looked 
at now. In some cases Summer pruning may commence 
the latter part of the month. 
The Nursery grounds will need frequent plowing and 
hoeing, together with oilier operations given below. 
Budding—Commence m. 1. Tie last year’s buds to the 
stock, to secure an upright growth. Rub off all super¬ 
fluous shoots. 
Caterpillars—Destroy any omitted last month. If on 
twigs we prefer cutting the whole off, but on larger 
limbs use a pole and brush to twist into the nest and pull 
it down. Crushing the nests with the hands is the most 
effectual method we have practiced. 
Evergreens— May be transplanted ff. to m and later if 
earth is taken up with the roots. 
Fruit—Thin where too abundant. Do not allow any 
to ripen on trees planted this season. One bushel of 
large fine perfect fruit of any kind, is better than twice 
that amount of small, poor, cracked, or prematurely ripen¬ 
ed fruit. 
Grafts—Look over and loosen any bandages which are 
binding the trees. 
Hoe among nursery rows, and keep grass and weeds 
from growing about the trunks of standards. 
