146 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
thing needful for the farm. With fertile 
acres, the tiller of the soil is master of his 
position, and can do what he likes. The 
machine will work, and turn out goods to 
order, and enrich its owner. Without it, 
the soil is his master, and he is but a slave. 
The more of it he owns the poorer he is. 
It is but a millstone, to drag him down into 
the depths of poverty. The poor cultiva¬ 
tion of his poor acres, makes him a poor man. 
Fertility has become a prime necessity, and 
better methods are resorted to, to save what 
falls from the stock, and to increase these 
by all the vegetable and animal wastes of 
the farm. Barn-cellars and sheds, are now 
the adjuncts of most new barns, and are 
often affixed to old ones. The stock are 
stabled, not .to shelter them and save fodder, 
but to save manure. The mines of the muck 
swamp are opened, and freely used to the 
joy of many a sandy plain and gravelly 
knoll. Old wastes and pastures are not 
only reclaimed, but are made more fertile 
and productive than they ever were in their 
best days. Art has done what it always 
ought to do, improved upon nature. 
These are some of the things that cheer 
us in our work as journalists, the co-laborers 
of the tillers of the soil. It is good to know 
that this paper, as it visits the lumberman 
in the pine woods of Maine, the fruit grow¬ 
ers, and the gardeners in the vicinity of the 
Metropolis, the plantations of the South, 
and the prairie farms of the West, is fulfill¬ 
ing its mission. The seed it has sown in 
years gone by, is springing up, and bearing 
its appropriate fruits. The tiller of the soil 
works more skillfully, and finds a better re¬ 
ward for his labor. 
And now what word of counsel shall we 
offer, as we approach this fervid month, 
when work is a burden, and to sit still and 
see Nature work is the boon we covet. 
“ The plants around 
Feel the too potent fervors; the tall maize 
Rolls up its long green leaves ; the clover droops 
Its tender foliage, and declines its blooms. 
But far in the fierce sunshine towereth hills 
With all their growth of woods, silent and stern, . 
As if the scorching heat and dazzling light, 
Were but an element they loved.” 
But the husbandman must needs pursue 
his labors even in this noontide heat of the 
season. The gr-sin and hay harvests are to 
be gathered, and there is strong temptation, 
under the pressure, to overtask the strength. 
But this should not be allowed, and, thanks 
to the inventive genius of our countrymen, 
the temptation will soon be removed. 
THE MOWERS AND REAPERS, 
moved by horse power, are rapidly multiply¬ 
ing, and every year gains new triumphs. 
See how majestically they sweep down the 
waving grain, and the tall grass ! Why 
should you still put your strength against 
that of your horse, and swelter in the noon¬ 
day sun 1 Has not the time come, on this 
Fourth of July, when you may celebrate 
your independence of the scythe and the 
cradle, and henceforth tax horse-flesh to cut 
your hay and grain ? 
PROVIDE HAY CAPS. 
These are not only a safeguard against 
wet hay, but against over-taxing your 
strength. There is then no need of haste in 
raking or pitching hay. Put' up in cock, the 
hay will wait in safety for the sunshine, to 
go into the barn. 
DO NOT MAKE YOUR HAY TOO MUCH. 
Many err in this respect, and waste the 
sweetness of the grass upon the desert air. 
Clover is particularly damaged by too much 
sun. Cut it in the morning, and let it lie in 
the swath until the middle of the afternoon. 
Then turn it upside down. The next after¬ 
noon gather it, with a three-tine fork, into 
cocks, and let it remain two nights more, 
when it will be well cured, without losing 
the leaves from the stem. Clover, cured in 
this way, is more nutritious, and better rel¬ 
ished by cattle. Read, however, the special 
chapter on “ Hay Caps.” 
DO NOT FORGET TILLAGE 
in the midst of the hay harvest. The corn 
and potato crops are very much increased by 
frequent hoeings. Improve cloudy days to 
run the cultivator between the rows, until 
the corn gets too large to admit the horse. 
The fourth and fifth hoeings of the corn-field 
pay as well as the second and third. You 
will have extra grain to pay for the labor. 
SOWING TURNIPS. 
You remember the old adage— 
“ the 25th of July 
Sow turnips wet or dry.” 
We should omit the dry, and sow any wet 
spell, a little before or after. In moist sea¬ 
sons, turnips are a good crop, and are usual¬ 
ly produced with less labor than most other 
roots. Do not fail to sow the seed of the 
flat or cow-horn turnip, at the last hoeing 
among the corn.' The shade of the corn will 
give them a good start, and if the com be 
cut up by the middle of September, you will 
have roots cheaper than by any other pro 
cess.___ 
ABSORBENTS FOB PUTRID SUBSTANCES. 
At this season of the year, when various 
animal and vegetable substances, in a state 
of decomposition, accumulate about one’s 
premises, it is ^important to have some 
means at hand to deodorize them. For sink 
drains, cess-pools, and the like, lime an¬ 
swers a good purpose. We, however, pre¬ 
fer powdered charcoal on some accounts 
especially if it is desired to absorb and pre¬ 
serve the fertilizing properties of the offen¬ 
sive substances. If the soap-suds, dish¬ 
water, chamber-slops, and all the refuse 
matters commonly thrown out the back-door, 
could be carried into a vat and saved, the 
manure so made annually, would be of great 
value. To absorb the liquids, and prevent 
unpleasant smells, the vat should have at 
the bottom a layer of peat or dried turf; af¬ 
ter this has become well saturated, a coat¬ 
ing of pulverized charcoal should be added. 
In a short time, another layer of peat should 
be thrown in. Plaster may also be added, 
and if this does not absorb all the odors, the 
compost should receive an occasional sprink¬ 
ling of chloride of lime, and as a last resort, 
lime itself. __ 
Keep all kinds of plants under glass, as close 
as possible to the light. 
CALENDAR OE OPERATIONS. 
july, 1857. 
[We note down a summary of various operations, 
manv 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 40° to 43«. 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 yeaf. 
Explanations.— The letters, f. m. 1., refer to Jirst, mid¬ 
dle, and last of the month. 
Doubling the letters thus: if., mm., or 11., gives emphasis 
to the particular period-indicated.! 
FARM. 
We have now come to one of the most hurrying months 
of the year. Not only are our labors heavy, but the hot 
weather is relaxing and depressing to our spirits and 
health. Caution, moderation and temperance in labor, 
food and drink, should be observed, while engaged in the 
“hay and harvest fields. We have elsewhere recommend¬ 
ed horse power to cut the hay and grain on large farms, 
where practicable. One man with a good machine and a 
pair of horses, can cut more than six men during the 
same time, to say nothing of the spreading. Scythes and 
cradles will not, however, wholly yield to machines for 
a few years to come. Although the chief business will be 
harvesting hay and grain, there are other things which 
need looking after upon thefarm, foremost among which is 
Buckwheat, to be sown early this month, which is the 
best time to ensure entire safety from frost. See article 
on another page. 
Bark for Tanners will continue to “ run,” and may be 
peeled at any leisure time during the early part of the 
month. Cord or pile up former peelings now dry. 
Hees—Watch late swarms, and in most cases return 
those coming out this month to the parent stock. Read 
Apiary ” and “ Wonders of the Bee-Hive ” in the pres¬ 
ent number. 
Butter and Cheese—Read chapters on another page. 
Cabbages for Winter may be planted in the field at al¬ 
most any time during the month, but better by the middle. 
Put them out among early potatoes, and after the first 
crop of peas. Hoe former plantings, and make good any 
failures. 
Com—Sow or drill fif- for soiling. Plow or use the 
horse hoe among early plantings if. See work for the 
month. 
Cotton at the South will receive its last working pre¬ 
vious to harvest. 
Fences—Have an eye to them, before cattle discover 
the “ weak points.” 
Haying is the work of this month at the North. See 
several articles on the subject in this number. 
Hay Caps—Provide ff. if not on hand. See article. 
Hoeing should not be neglected, although other work 
will take the precedence. Hoes may be plied during 
cloudy days, and while the mowing machine is at work in 
the morning. Remember that weeds will still start up 
and ripen seed if not “ nipt i’ the bud.” 
Hogs—Keep from streets, roads and yards. They may 
properly have the range of an orchard or small pasture. 
Where shut up, give grass and weeds, keeping their pens 
supplied with muck, turf, &c., and let them help pay their 
way by making manure. 
Manures—Continue to increase these not only in the 
hog pens, but in cow yards and compost heaps, by adding 
muck or swamp mud with a little plaster. Scrape the 
droppings inthe stalls and cow-yards each morning and 
compost with muck under cover. Keep the yards and 
heaps free from weeds going to seed. Wet down, or fork 
over the pile, mixing plenty of muck if there is fire-fang. 
Millet—Sow if. m. for soiling. 
Oats—Cut 11. if ripe. Bind and house or stack without 
their getting wet, if possible. The straw will make val¬ 
uable fodder. If left in the field long, the “ hay caps ” 
will be highly useful in preserving the straw. 
Pastures—Change from cattl’e to sheep and horses often. 
See that they are not fed too close. 
Poultry—Give them a yard if not a wider range, as they 
will not do much mischief this month, except among the 
smaller fruits of the garden, and in the grain fields, from 
which they should be excluded. Read article upon vari¬ 
eties on another page. 
Potatoes—Keep free from weeds. Early plantings will 
be ready for use m. 1., and the ground may be sown to tur¬ 
nips or planted with cabbages. 
Rye— Cut f. m., or as ripe. 
S he ep_Guard from dogs by pasturing with one or two 
horned cattle, which will often keep dogs from the lot. 
Better, however, put a small bell upon several animals, 
the sheep killing dogs prefer to take their meals in quiet, 
and fear the call of bells. Supply sheep with salt once a 
"sugar Cane-Seed of the Chinese may still be sown flf. 
for forage. Cultivate and hoe former plantings. 
