i86G.] 
AMERICAN AGRICtiLTURIST. 
4rl9 
3 'ard, see that the shed is dry, well roofed, and if 
possible board np the front in part, and put up feed 
racks. Put balls or boards on the horns of the 
“ bullies ” and of quarrelsome ones. It is said that 
corn nubbins fed to cows on the ground is a preven¬ 
tive of abortion. If there be any virtue in it, it 
probably lies in the cows’ picking aip some earth 
wifli the corn. It is well to give occasionally a 
handful of wood ashes, and if a cow’s breath is not 
quite sweet, give pulverized charcoal and a table¬ 
spoonful of nitre (saltpeter) in her food. 
Hogs .—Towards the last part of the fattening 
season, hogs gain slowly. As a general rule, feed¬ 
ing hogs is said to pay as long as they gain daily 
half of one per cent. That is, when a 200 pound 
hog gains a pound. Even that depends altogether 
on the price of corn and pork, and changes in the 
market may make it pay to feed hogs some weeks 
even, though they gain nothing at all. Slaughter 
hogs for family use in the coldest weather before 
Christmas. A friend of experience who advocates 
shooting hogs, fears that the recommendation of a 
correspondent to shoot a wooden plug into the 
forehead, would not be effective, unless with a 
pretty good charge of powder. He prefers shoot¬ 
ing with a ball through the temples. A little ex¬ 
perience will settle the question, and enable every 
one to avoid all music on slaughtering day. 
Forulth-y .—After the hogs are killed, the poultry 
will receive unsalted scraps and swill not fit for 
cows, and it will promote a tendency to commence 
laying, if they have warm quarters. Those who 
breed for prizes will take care to provide warm 
sunny rooms, and keep them warm even by arti¬ 
ficial heat, so as to get out a clutch or two of chicks 
of each breed they fancy, as early as the first 
week in February if possible. It will pay to take 
great care of fowls for eggs only, when they sell 
for four ®r five cents a piece, as they do now at 
retail in New York City markets. 
Manure .—See hints in former numbers. “We do 
not approve of hauling out manure in the winter, 
and spreading it, or leaving it in heaps on the land. 
It may be moved to distant fields when the shed¬ 
ding is good, and there laid in large compact heaps 
trodden down, and if possible covered with dirt. 
Wood Onttmg., Getting out Fence Striff) etc., will oc¬ 
cupy the attention of many fixrmers, and at the 
South, fence making is the order of the day as soon 
as plowing is finished. The time is now to provide 
dry fire-wood for a year hence, and posts and rails 
for next spring’s setting, and use in fence-mending. 
TJie Ice Hai'vcst comes rarely in December, but it 
is well to be rcadj'. If the ice-house is empty, 
have it cleared out, the straw dried, and renewed if 
too much broken ; take out the sawdust altogether. 
The first ice is usually the purest and most free 
from bubbles, and it is great good luck to get 
one’s ice all stored before the “ January thaw.” 
©rclaard anti IVuvsery. 
In December there is little to add to the notes 
for November. Whenever the weather will al¬ 
low the work there indicated to be done, do it. 
In mild seasons, or in Southern localities, ground 
for the orchard may be plowed and subsoiled. If 
nothing can be done to facilitate spring operations, 
see that no harm comes to trees already planted. 
Fences and Oates must be looked after, and put 
in a condition to keep domestic animals out 
of young orchards. They will either browse or 
bark the trees, and do more damage in a few hours 
than will be regained in all of next year’s growth. 
flabbits and Mice, among wild animals, often do 
serious damage. The best way to keep off rabbits 
is, to sprinkle blood upon the trees. Leave no rub¬ 
bish near young trees to harbor mice, and trample 
snow down so hard that they can not work under it. 
Cions may be cut whenever the wood is not 
frozen. Saw-dust or damp moss are better packing 
than sand, for the reason that they come out free 
from grit. The object should be to preserve the 
natural moisture, and not keep them any damper 
or dryer than they would be if left upon the tree. 
Manure often benefits an old orchard wonderful¬ 
ly. It may be carted out while the ground is frozen. 
Fruit in the fruit room will need looking at oc¬ 
casional!}'. Keep the fruit room and fruit cellar at 
a low and uniform temperature. Send choice speci¬ 
mens to market just before the holidays. In the 
Nursery the heading back and shaping of young 
trees is carried on in mild weather, and when the 
weather is inclement, the hands are occupied in¬ 
doors in root grafting. In grafting, too much care 
cannot be exercised, and it is well to work at only 
one variety at a time to avoid all possibility of mix¬ 
ing kinds. See that surface drains are opened to 
carry water away from young trees, and that no 
water stands around stocks that have been heeled-in. 
Fruit Garden. 
Where an open month allows, ground may be 
manured, plowed or spaded for spring planting. 
Trees in the garden will need the same precau¬ 
tions against animals, as noted under Orchard. If 
light snows accumulate in the heads of trees, shake 
it out before it becomes icy. 
Manure may be spread around trees and shrubs. 
Fnining of small wood on trees may be done, 
and currant and other bushes trimmed in a mild 
time, as may any neglected 
Grape Vines ; and if the wood is wanted for pro¬ 
pagation, eut it into suitable lengths, tie it in 
bundles and bury it, upper end down, in a dry 
place, and cover the spot with leaves or litter. 
Cuttings treated thus will often callus nicely and 
be ready to make roots when set out in spring. If 
Strawberry Beds have not yet been covered, do it 
before the ground is frozen and thawed many times. 
Straw, leaves, or corn stalks, will answer. Do not 
cover the crowns too much ; the roots rather than 
the tops need protection from freezing and thawing. 
KiteSien Garden, 
The .amount of out of door work will depend 
upon the weather. If the ground is not frozen 
bard, it will benefit stiff soils to throw them up in 
ridges, th.at they m.ay receive the .amelior.ating in¬ 
fluences of the frost. Clean up all rubbish; lay 
drains if the season permits, and do everything 
th.at will s.ave a day’s work in spring. 
Roots, Celery, etc., stored in pits or trenches, .as 
heretofore advised, will need gr.adual covering as 
the cold increases. Recollect th.at such things suf¬ 
fer more from covering too soon and heating than 
they do from freezing. Do not put on the fin.al 
covering until winter has fairly set in. 
Cellars, where roots are stored, should for the 
s.ame reason be kept open as long as can s.afely be 
done without freezing the contents. 
■ Cold Frames, in which cabbages, cauliflowers .and 
lettuce are wintered, should be daily aired when¬ 
ever the thermometer is above freezing. The great 
point is, to keep the plants hardy, .and this is done 
by preserving a low .and uniform temperature. 
Cauliflowers are more tender than the others, and 
in very severe we.ather the glass should be covered 
with mats or shutters. Poison or trap every mouse. 
Hot-beds will be wanted in February and March. 
H.ave the sashes and frames in readiness now that 
there is leisure. Paint, re-glaze, and have all in 
working order. Accumul.ate a supply of 
Manure for hot-beds ; the best is that from horse 
stables, long and short together. Manure for plow¬ 
ing and spading in should be looked out for, and 
all available materials, whether from the house, 
privies, stables, piggeries, or hen-houses, should be 
saved. Look around in the neighborhood for any 
miner.al, .anim.al or vegetable material, going to 
w.aste, that maybe profitabl}'secured as a fertilizer. 
Seeds should be overhauled, and those of doubt¬ 
ful vitality rejected. If uncertain as to the value of 
a lot, plant a few in a s.aucer or other dish of earth; 
keep moist in a warm place. Order seeds early. 
Tools should be looked over and repaired as 
needed. Paint all parts that need it, and supply 
deficiencies by purchase. 
Flower Garden and. I.awn. 
Plan in winter that whieh is to be executed in 
spring. If the weather serves, something can be 
done towards iaying out walks, and in making other 
improvements. If 
Tender Shrubs or other plants are without winter 
protection, give it before severe freezing comes on. 
Climbers, such as Wistarias, climbing roses, etc., 
will in very cold localities do much better if laid 
down and covered with a little e.arth. 
Lawns will appreciate a good dressing of com¬ 
posted manure, which may be applied any time in 
winter. Do not let 
Evergreens nor close shrubs be broken by accu¬ 
mulated snow. Shake it out before it becomes ice. 
Rustic Baskets, vases, se.ats, etc., may be made in¬ 
doors. Branches of Cedar, Laurel, Wild Grape, 
and many other things may be used for the purpose. 
Greesa amd Hot-IIoiises. 
In green-houses, which are only to preserve things 
for the winter, all will go well if the thermometer 
does not go below 40°, but if flowers are wanted, it 
must be about 60°. That of the hot-house must be 
governed by the character of the collections. Ven¬ 
tilation must be properly attended to. Bring for¬ 
ward pots of 
Bulbs, a few at a time, so as to h.ave a succession 
of bloom, and when the flowers are past their 
prime, cut away the stalk and allow the leaves to 
grow to perfect the bulb. 
Camellias need to be kept cool, and the atmos¬ 
phere moist by free use of the syringe. 
Cacti need but very little water, except the Epi- 
phyllums th.at are now blooming. 
Pelargoniums should be put where they have 
plenty of light. 
Insects will require attention. Tobacco smoke 
quickly does for the green fly, and a moist atmos¬ 
phere is destructive to the red spider. 
Cold Griapery. 
Do not let the house get too warm, but open the 
ventil.ators on warm days and close them at nights, 
.and on cloudy and cold days. The vines should be 
laid down and covered. They m.ay bo bound up 
with straw, or a board part up in front of them on 
edge, supported by stakes, .and the vine covered 
with forest leaves. It has been recommended to 
paint over the vines with a mixture of whale oil 
soap 3^ lb., sulphur 4 lbs., tobacco lb., and 
powdered nux vomica 1 oz. These are to have a 
gallon of boiling water poured over them and stir¬ 
red well together. When cold, apply to the vines 
with a brush to destroy the larvie and eggs of in¬ 
sects. In laying down the vines, be careful not to 
make too short a bend. 
'I’Ise Apisiry fbv B^eceinl>ei".—Those 
having bees will doubtless find in this month the 
most leisure to repair old or m.ake new hives and 
honey boxes. In view of which, if the number of 
sw.arms admit, it would be advisable to build a 
small house, say 10x12 feet, placing it near to the 
api.ary, in which to make, repair, and paint hives, as 
well as for storing them, straining and storing 
honey. It is a convenient place into which to re¬ 
move a colony for any operation that may be desir¬ 
able or neeessary. Bees being more easily handled 
if removed from their accustomed stand, the other 
hives being less disturbed, will less .annoy you. A 
house can be easily and cheaply made, requiring 
but a door in one end .and a window in the other, a 
work bench on one side, space for hives opposite, 
.and for boxes overhead, a barrel, containing a basket 
set in one corner, into which to throw broken 
honey combs for str.aining, a shelf under the bench 
with paints and brushes, 2 planes, 1 square, a ham¬ 
mer, a saw and nails above. Thus furnished, all is 
ready for work at .any and all times. If your time 
or skill will not enable you to make good hives, 
the better you get them made, the less repairs 
