180 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
Calendar of Operations for May 1859- 
[We note down sundry kinds of work to be done during 
the month, not so much to afford instruction to practical 
men, as to call to mind the various operations to be at¬ 
tended to, A glance over a table like this will often sug- 
ge.-t some piece of work that, might otherwise be forgotten 
or neglected. Our remarks are more especially adapted 
to the latitudes of 38° to 45° ; but will be equally applica¬ 
ble to points further North and South by making due 
allowance for each degree of latitude, that is, earlier for 
the South, later for the North. 
Explanations,—/ indicates the first ; m the middle ; 
and l the last of the month.—Doutd'ing the letters thus:/’, 
or mm, or U, gives particular emphasis lo the period indi¬ 
cated.—Two letters placed together, as fm or ml, signifies 
that the work may be done in either or in both periods in¬ 
dicated ; thus, work marked/m. indicates that it is to be 
attended to from the first to the middle of the month.’] 
Farm. 
From the accounts thus far received from abroad, and 
our own observations about home, the past Winter appears 
to have been a favorable one for Winter crops. Grass 
and grain fields come out bright with very little winter- 
kill, and the continued damp weather brings them for¬ 
ward sufficiently rapid. 
The heavy rains of April have retarded some of the 
farm operations, so that a portion of the directions given 
last month have necessarily been retarded until now. 
Read the former calendar anew, and attend first to any 
work thus kept back. 
May is decidedly a working month, in which the hus¬ 
bandman must commit his seed to the earth in faith (not 
forgetting the “ works”) if he expects to reap a harvest in 
Autumn. In putting in seed, be it grain, corn, or roots, 
it is of the firat importance that it be well done, for no 
after labor, however thoroughly performed can wholly 
compensate for wrong planting. To do this properly pre¬ 
pare the ground by manuring well where needed, and 
with plow, subsoiler, and harrow, or cultivator, loosen 
and pulverize the soil deeply and thoroughly. If good 
seed be properly put in now, and the weeds kept down, 
failures will be comparatively few. 
But for the particular operations of the farmer in addi¬ 
tion to the work of last month, we have 
Beans to plant, ff, at the south, and, m, to 1, in this lat¬ 
itude and further north. They are easily injured by cold, 
and it is not best to plant very early. Cover lightly, say 
one-half to three-fourths of an inch. 
Broom Corn—Plant, f, m, as common corn, or in drills, 
4 feet apart and thin to 8 inches in Ihe row. 
Cabbages—See “Kitchen Garden.” 
Cattle still require feed in some localities. In others, 
all but working teams have been turned out to graze. 
Have the cows regularly and cleanly milked, if possible 
by the same person. Raise the likeliest calves and thus 
improve your stock. Confine working teams mainly to 
dry food until the heavy spring’s work is over. 
Cellars are supposed to be freed from all garbage and 
filth. Open the windows for ventilation. 
Clover may still be sown, ff, with Spring grain. 
Corn—Better let the ground be warm and dry before 
planting. It will come up stronger and succeed better. 
In this latitude we prefer from middle of May to the first 
of June. Let the ground be well plow ed and enriched. 
Test the seeds by sprouting before planting. Stretch 
white twine over the fields to scare the crows as soon as 
planted, and avoid leaving any corn uncovered to attract 
the birds. Twine strung around the field is very sugges¬ 
tive to them of snares, of which they are shy. If very 
troublesome soak some corn in strychnine water and scat¬ 
ter over the field. 
Cotton-Plant, ff, any omitted last month. Work out 
m, 1. 
Draining—Wet lands, is always in order until they are 
wholly reclaimed. 
Economy of the Farm—“ Witches work, while slug¬ 
gards sleep,” says the proverb, and the man who begins 
business late in the day, usually finds witch work enough 
before night. Be up then betimes. Lose no time in bor¬ 
rowing tools that you should own, and have your own 
where they may be found when wanted. Remove the 
stumps and stones that have so long annoyed you wffien 
piowing. Out with that old hedge row by the wall, and 
let grass or grain replace it. Read the article headed 
“ May Day for Tree planting,” and go and do likewise, so 
shall your memory be green in the future. 
Fences—Put them in complete order, ff. Poor fences 
make breac-hy cattle. 
Flax and Hemp do best sown, ff, m. 
Grain—Complete sowing, ff, m, any crops not’put in last 
month. Keep stock of all kinds from feeding upon fields 
sown last month and from the Winter grain. Go overthe 
latter and pull out cockle and other foul stuff which shows 
plainly at this season. 
Grass seed of all kinds may still be sown, ff, both with 
Spring grain and upon the Fall sown, although it should 
have been put in last month. " 
Hoeing will be in order during the latter part of the 
month, and even earlier at the south. Begin to workout 
the corn early, both to promote its growth and lighten 
future labor. 
Horse and Mule teams require good supplies of hard 
feed while going through the heavy Spring work. Treat 
them kindly and they will repay you. 
Hungarian Grass or Millet—Sow, ff, m, for main crop; 
and, m, 1, for soiling. It is not best to run crazy after this 
grain under the name of “ Honey Blade.” 
Lucern—Sow ff, m. In some localities this crop is 
gaining favor for the large amount of hay it yields per 
acre. 
Manures—Do not omit the manufacture of them, al¬ 
though the yai;ds have just been cleared. Cart in muck, 
saw-dust, tan, loam, etc., for a bedding, and to absorb all 
liquid or semi-liquid droppings of animals. 
Meadows—Keep Stock from tramping over or eating 
down. A top dressing of wood ashes, plaster or Peruvian 
guano sown over the fields, ff, will add materially to the 
crop of hay. 
Millet—See “ Hungarian Grass.” above. 
Onions—Read article on page 69, March number. If 
not sown as thoy should have been last month, put in, ff. 
Peas—See under “Kitchen Garden.” 
Plowing—Turn up the soil thoroughly and deeply, or 
at least a little deeper than ever before. If it is not prac¬ 
ticable to subsoil a whole field, try a portion of it and note 
the results. 
Potatoes—Plant, ff, any omitted last month. Where 
seed is scarce and costly cut to one or two eyes. We 
prefer sizeable potatoes cut in two or three pieces. Read 
article on page 70, (March No.) upon the marketable va¬ 
rieties. 
Poultry will require little care now if running at large. 
Where shut up it is well to let them out for awhile about 
sundown, otherwise the quantity of eggs will diminish. 
Eggs may still be set for late chickens. Where practi¬ 
cable place chicken coops under plum or cherry trees. 
Their keen eyes will allow few insects to escape from 
the ground to sting the fruit. 
Pumpkins—Plant, m, 1, among corn, potatoes, and by 
themselves. For family use we prefer the cheese variety. 
Root Crops—Sow, f, m, any carrots not putin; sow 
beets, m, 1, leave turnips, except for early market or 
family use, until June. Remember that one acre of roots 
will go further as stock feed, than several acres of hay. 
Let the soil be deeply and finely plowed and well sup¬ 
plied with rotten manure. 
Sheep require looking after at this season of increase. 
Wash, m, and shear, 11. 
Sorghum—Plant, f, m, for sugar and syrup, and, 11, for 
soiling. 
Swine—The pens should now be well filled with young 
porkers. Give the sows a full supply of food with plenty 
of drink, and a little salt occasionally. Keep from run¬ 
ning at large. 
Tobacco Beds—Keep well dressed and transplant from 
them, f, m. 
Tools, Machines, etc.—Now that mowing machines and 
reapers are coming into such general use, see if you had 
not better add one this season. Have carts, wagons and 
other gear in order, and purchase whatever hay and har¬ 
vest tools are wanted, early in the seagpn. 
©ffclaaircl aaad Mtarsery, 
It is not likely that the good planting weather of last 
month was unimproved by either orehardjst or nursery¬ 
man. Excepting with evergreen trees the planting should 
have been done in April, in this and southern latitudes. 
At the north it may still go on, although it is very desira¬ 
ble to set out fruit trees and deciduous shade trees also, 
as early in the Spring as possible, before the buds have 
started. 
The nurserymen have had a long and favorable season 
for their operations, and have doubtless so improved it as 
to be in readiness for the later labors of the present month. 
The cool weather of April checked the growth of trees 
and made a much longer season for transplanting and 
selling, than usual. 
Apple Trees may still be transplanted, ft’, if done with 
care. 
Budded Trees—Cut away the heads of seedlings budded 
last season, unless a failure is evident. Remove suckers, 
and lie up the new growth, 11, to the stubs left for that 
purpose. 
Evergreens—We regard the middle of May as the best 
time for planting. See article on page 144, of present 
number. 
Grafting may still be done, ff, if the scions were pre¬ 
viously cut, and are in good order. Rub off suckers, 11, 
so as to give the grafts all the sap. 
Iloe out nursery rows carefully, m, 1. 
Inarching may be done, f, m, on deciduous, and, 11, on 
evergreen trees. 
Insects—Destroy caterpillar nests m their early stages 
by using the spiral brush, or, what is equally effectual, 
use a sponge or rags dipped in whale oil soap apd tied to 
a long pole. The soap is pretty certain death to all cater¬ 
pillars which it reaches. Wash the trunks of all trees 
covered with scale or moss with the same mixture (1 lb. 
soap to 6 gallons of water), or common soap and water. 
Potash and water will answer the same purpose. Ex¬ 
amine peach and apple trees for borers. 
Layer, ff, m, the stools of quince trees and ornamental 
shrubs, digging about them thoroughly. 
Mulch newly planted trees, especially if the weather 
prove dry. This will often save valuable trees. 
Orchards— M anure and plow up the old orchard ground, 
not over s’x inches in depth. An occasional harrowing 
to keep down weeds is better than trying to crop the 
ground. Apply compost about the roots. Muck, lime 
and ashes are good for this purpose. Orchards recently 
set out may be kept in hoed crops, manuring heavily. Do 
not plow too closely to the trees, but hoe them like other 
plants. 
Peaches, apricots and other stone fruits should have 
been set out last month, but may be planted, ff. 
Pears may also be transplanted, ff, if neglected till now. 
Cut back a portion of last season’s growth to form a sort 
of compact head and to produce fruit spurs. Allow no 
fruit to mature on these, or oilier trees the first season. 
Plow often among nursery rows, turning a furrow to¬ 
wards the trees at onetime and from them at another. 
Plums may also be set out, ff. Cut out black warts, 
and begin the curculio remedies as soon as the trees are 
out of bloom. A poultry yard under the trees is the best 
remedy. See article on page 146. 
Seed Beds—Keep free from weeds, watering occasion¬ 
ally during dry weather. Shade from Ihe hot sun. 
Stocks should all be planted out, ff, if not already in. 
Water newly planted trees, if the ground should be drv. 
Weeds—Keep down in all parts of the nursery and 
about standard trees. 
EOtcikesi and. Frsait ©ardens. 
The cultivator of the smaller vegetable garden will have 
no time for idleness in May. It is one of his busiest 
month if he rightfully attends to all the appropriate 
labors. 
A good coat of manure, thorough and deep plowing, 
or spading, and properly putting in good seed w ill secure 
a good harvest, in more than nine cases out of ten. 
Except for early family use, or for early marketing, it 
is not advisable to hasten the planting until the ground is 
warm and tolerably dry. Nearly all vegetables are much 
better when quickly grown. Hence it is boiler to plant 
when the ground is in a condition to push them rapidly 
forward, to say nothing of the rotting of the seeds put 
in too early. There are a few exceptions to this rule as 
noted below. 
The gardener anxious to secure the largest returns 
from his land will so arrange that the same soil shall pro¬ 
duce tw'o or three crops, such as turnips after early peas, 
cabbages after potatoes, spinage and lettuce among run¬ 
ning vines, radishes with beets, etc., etc. 
Read again the directions of last month and completo 
any work which the cool and wet weather necessarily 
retarded. 
Asparagus beds have doubtless been manured and fork¬ 
ed over. Cutting will Begin, f, m. See article on cutting 
and putting it up for market on a following page. 
Beans—Plant pole and bush beans, m, 1. Set poles be¬ 
fore planting. Limas should be lightly covered with the 
eye set downwards. 
Beets—Sow, ff, m, for early use, and, 11, for Winter. 
The ground should be deeply worked. 
Blackberries may still be planted, ff, m. Stake up old 
plantations. See article on training them, p 147. 
Brussels Sprouts, Borecole, Broccoli and Kale—Sow, 
ff, m. Plant from cold frames and hot-beds, f. Culti¬ 
vate the same as cabbages. 
Cabbage and Cauliflower—Sow, f, m, for late use. Plant 
out, ff, m, from hot-beds and cold frames if any remain. 
Scatter dry ashes or lime over the seed rows to protect 
the plants from the garden ilea. Hoe former plantings 
and examine for cut worm. 
Carrots and Parsneps—Sow, ff. If not already in, on 
deeply trenched or subsoiled ground. 
Capsicums—Plant, f, m. 
Celery—Sow, ff, m, for late. Set early plants in pre¬ 
pared trenches, m, 1, watering and shading. 
Cold Frames-Set out any remaining plants, ff. m. 
Corn—Plant sweet varieties, f, m, 1, for a succession. 
Cucumbers—Plant, ff, m, for early, and, 1, for late use 
and pickling. Protect young plants from the striped bug, 
by frames, or dust with flour and black pepper, soot, guano 
lime, etc. 
Currants—Complete planting, ff, any omitted last-month. 
Use wash water and house ships upon old bushes. Cut 
out old and decaying wood. If trained to a tree form 
cut back a portion of last season’s growth. 
Egg Plants—Set out, f, m, or only when the weather 
has become settled warm. 
