194 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
Calendar of Operations for July 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¬ 
gest 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, iater for the North. 
Explanations .—f indicates the first; m the middle; 
and l the last of the month.—Doubling the letters thus:./?', 
or mm, or ll, gives particular emphasis to the period indi¬ 
cated—-Two letters placed together, as fin or ml, signifies 
that the work may be done in either or in both periods in¬ 
dicated ; thus, work marked, fin. indicates that it is to be 
attended to from the Jirst to the middle of the month.] 
Farm. 
July offers little leisure to the farmer who must be 
“making hay while the sun shines.’’ The hay and grain 
fields remind him that he must push on his harvest, while 
the buckwheat and turnip patches are still to be manured, 
plowed and sown. These will afford sufficient employ¬ 
ment during fair weather, and the work-shop, barn, 
stables and manure cellars or sheds should be provided 
with work for rainy days. Care will be needful during 
this very hot weather not to overheat the system, and 
moderation and temperance are requisite in eating and 
drinking. Farmers, and particularly farmers’ boys are 
accustomed to bathe frequently at this season. They 
shouid not go from the hay fields and plunge into a cool 
stream while enervated by hard work, and dripping with 
perspiration. Morning is the best time for bathing. 
Many of the directions of last month are applicable to 
the first weeks of July. Read them again and attend to 
any of the operations not yet completed. 
Bark of Hemlock and Oak will “run” during most of 
July, and may be peeled for tanners, at any leisure time 
during dull weather. Pile up the former peelings. 
Buckwheat—Sow, fif, to m, just before or after a rain, 
if possible. Read article elsewhere. 
Buildings, Yards, &c.—Keep everything about them 
clean and neat. Leave nothing to ferment and breed dis¬ 
tempers. Chloride of lime, or copperas dissolved in wa¬ 
ter will fix the noxious gases escaping from the privy and 
sink-drain, or spout. 
Butter and Cheese making are the heavy labors of in¬ 
door work. Many useful hints will be found in the series 
of articles now being published in the Agriculturist. 
Cabbages—The lute crop may still be planted, ff, among 
early' potatoes, peas or other crops ready to harvest. 
Corn for soiling may be drilled in or sown broadcast, ff. 
It will form a good succession wilii the earlier plantings. 
Hoeing and weeding may still be needful among the early 
plantings. 
Fences should not be overlooked in the press of work. 
Haying is the important work of July, but with a good 
mowing machine on smooth ground, a boy and team of 
horses can perform the heaviest labor, and do it at the 
proper time, neither too early nor too late, or when wet 
with dews and rains. Use the hay caps when necessary, 
and do not burn the hay up with a hot sun. 
Hoeing will be a secondary operation this month, but 
the cultivator or horse-hoc should be run through the corn 
in the morning while the dew is on the grass and grain. 
Manures—Attend to as last month. 
Millet or “ Hungarian Grass ” may still be sown, ff, 
for a successive soiling crop. 
Oats will require cutting, 11. They should not be al¬ 
lowed to become over ripe. 
Pastures—See that the grass is sufficient for the grazing 
stock. A scant feed now will soon be seen in a diminish¬ 
ed supply of milk, and slow growth of young stock. 
Poultry require the same treatment as last month. 
Potatoes—Early crops will be ready for harvesting and 
marketing during the month, and the ground may now be 
appropriated to late cabbages or turnips. 
$ Rye—That sown last Fall is now ready to cut, ff. Se¬ 
cure it from storms as soon as it will answer. 
Seed Wheat, rye, and other grain should be allowed to 
fully ripen before cutting. If mixed, or containing foul 
stufl', go over and pick out the foreign substances as soon 
as cut by the grain-cradle or machine. 
Sheep are apt to be worried, and killed even, by dogs, 
at this season. A few small bells placed upon the necks 
of several of the flock will usually help protect them. Give 
salt each week. 
Sugar Cane—Sow, ff, In drills, or broadcast for cattle 
' and hog feed, both green and cured. Keep the early 
crops for manufacturing well cultivated. 
Timber, for fencing or building of any kind is much 
more durable when cut in July and August, than in the 
Winter season. This is particularly the ease with the 
hard wood kinds abounding in sap. This sap lias now 
parted with its watery portions and is forming an outer 
flayer of new wood. 
Tools— Keep.the scythes and mowing machine knives 
sharp, and the bearings well oiled. In short have all tools, 
machines, and farm gear in prime order. Repairs can be 
made during rainy days. 
Turnips—Sow for full crop, f, mm, and even, 1. New¬ 
ly plowed rich soil is best. See article elsewhere. 
Wheat—Do not delay the cutting a single day after it 
is sufficiently ripe. A storm may beat it down and ma¬ 
terially injure it. Cut, dry, bind and “stook” it up as fast 
as possible. See article on the proper time for cutting. 
Young Stock—Give them especial care at this season. 
A calf or colt whose growth is checked now, seldom does 
as well afterwards. 
©rcHaai’c! stml Nursery. 
Fruit growers are now rejoicing over some of the earlier 
fruits with a fair prospect of a good yield of later kinds. 
This is the more welcome from having had a short sup¬ 
ply for several years past. The most important work in 
the orchard for this month is pruning. 
Budding also comes in for a large share of the tree 
grower’s time. Plum, cherry, and pear stocks will 
be ready for the operation by the middle of July—even 
earlier in some localities. See full chapter with illustra¬ 
tions on page 161, Vol. XVI. 
Cherries—The late varieties are now ready for picking 
and marketing, drying or putting up in cans and bottles. 
A good supply of the bottled fruit will not come amiss 
next Winter. Save pits of cherries for planting and put 
them in boxes of earth before they become dry. 
Grafts—Loosen any bandages which cut into the stock ; 
replace wax or cement that has fallen off, and rub super¬ 
fluous shoots from the stock. 
Iloe grounds often both to keep down weeds and pro¬ 
mote moisture. Let neither grass nor weeds rob the new¬ 
ly planted trees of food or drink. 
Inarching, or grafting by approach may now be done on 
both deciduous and evergreen trees. 
Insects—Destroy the late broods of caterpillars ; hang 
up open bottles of sweetened water, and kindle bonfires 
for the apple worm miller ; pick up wormy plums arid 
apples, and feed out, or cook to destroy the insects ; dust 
pear and cherry trees with lime, or syringe with whale- 
oil soap and water to destroy slugs ; and make use of the 
borer preventives treated of on a subsequent page. 
Layer nursery stools kept for propagation. The growth 
of the present season may now be laid dowm. Grape 
vines and flowering shrubs can also be layerea now. 
Manure, ff, trees bearing heavy crops. Procure a good 
supply of muck during dry weather, for use another sea¬ 
son. Lime and ashes are also tery valuable for trees. 
Pinching, or shortening in of the Summer growth of 
small trees can now be done to advantage. See article. 
Plow or run the horse-hoe or cultivator between the 
nursery rows as often as the weeds appear. 
Pruning—This is the appropriate season for pruning, 
which is discussed at length on a subsequent page. 
Thin Fruit, especially on young trees. Those set out 
this season should not be allowed to ripen fruit. Many 
trees are seriously injured by permitting them to ripen an 
over crop. By removing a portion of the fruit on older 
trees, the remainder will be much finer. 
Weeds are easiest kept down by not permitting them to 
get a start. 
Mitclaena aud Firaatt Gardena. 
One of the first things requiring attention now is to see 
that all vacant spots are planted with late vegetables. 
Some of the early crops are ready for use or for market, 
and after clearing the ground, giving a coat of manure and 
a deep spading or plowing, it is all ready for a second 
planting. Hoeing and weeding will come in for a large 
share of the work of July, and as a general thing those 
vegetables will do best which receive the most frequent 
hoeings. 
Asparagus should be cut no longer. Give it an oppor¬ 
tunity to develop itself and acquire strength for another 
year, but allow no weeds to grow in the bed. 
Beans—A few of the quick growing kinds, as early Val¬ 
entine, Refugee and China may still be planted, ff. 
Beets for Winter use do well if sown, ff. Stir the ground 
among former plantings. Some of the early beds will now 
yield a supply for the table. Thin out to 8 or 10 inches 
in the row. The plants pulled up make good greens, 
cooking tops and roots. 
Blackberries—See that canes and heavily loaded 
branches are tied up so as not to bend over or split down 
under the weight of fruit. Keep hoed or mulched. 
Cabbages and , Cauliflowers—Set out the remaining 
plants, ff, m. Water the beds before taking them up, and 
the plants after setting—always retaining as much earth 
about the roots as possible when transplanting them. 
Set in the afternoon unless a cloudy or damp day be 
chosen. The crop of early cabbages is now ready for 
market, leaving the ground for late plants. 
Celery—Plant out the late crop in recently prepared 
trenches, ff, watering and shading with a board shelving 
over them, unless set in cloudy weather. Hoe often. 
Corn—Plant sweet varieties, ff, for final crop, which 
with that planted the middle of June will give a good and 
prolonged succession for table use, and for drying or 
putting up in cans or bottles. 
Cucumbers and Gherkins may still be planted, ff, m, 
for pickles. Keep former plantings well hoed. 
Egg Plants—A few may still be put out, ff. If on good 
soil and well tended they will yield a fair crop. 
Endive—Set out, ff, for late use, and sow seed at the 
same time for Winter crop. 
Grapes.—Continue to nip in the bearing shoots, leaving 
but four or five leaves beyond the bunches. Rub off un¬ 
necessary shoots, but allow the renewal growth to extend 
itself for future bearing. 
Herbs ate mostly in flower, ff, and should be cut for dry¬ 
ing or distilling. Gather them in the early stages of bloom, 
dry in the shade and rub off the flowers, putting in cans 
or bottles, so as to keep from the air. Rose leaves may bo 
preserved in like manner, or immediately distilled. 
Hoe often during this month, using labor saving and 
soil loosening implements wherever practicable. The 
ground should never be allowed to bake, and thus shut 
out air and turn off water. Hoeing invites moisture from 
the air, to say nothing of destroying weeds. 
Insects still require looking after. Make friends of birds 
and toads. The spotted squash bug is especially trouble¬ 
some at this season unless kept in check by hand picking. 
An application of salt to land about to be set out to late 
cabbages will be useful in keeping off insects and worms. 
Lettuce—Plant for a constant supply, f, m, 1. Sow the 
Silesian lettuce for late use. 
Melons—Plant., ff, for mangoes. Hoe those planted early 
Mushrooms—Begin to collect spawn materials, m, 11, for 
Autumn beds. 
Onions—Keep w r ell hoed. Sow, 11, for “ pips ” to put 
out next season. 
Peas—Those sown, ff, will be little troubled with wee¬ 
vil, and it is not too late to sow for good succession of 
green peas. 
Potatoes—Early cops will soon be ready to 'harvest 
See that the land is occupied for the rest of the season by 
turnips. Unless gathered for early use or marketing 
better leave potatoes in the ground. 
Preserving Fruits and Vegetables—Now, while the ta 
ble is abundantly provided with these, remember the 
dearth of the winter season, and put up a good supply ot 
fruits. See page 214. 
Radishes—Scatter a few seed among other crops, ff, m, 
for late use. 
Raspberries are now in the liight of bearing and require 
daily picking. 
Rhubarb is still in good eating condition when pulled 
from near the centre of the plant. Dry or put in cans or 
jars a quantity for Winter use. 
Seeds—Gather Turnip, Cabbage and other seed now 
ripening. Dry with care, and label for another year. 
Turnip seed of this season’s growth will answer for sow¬ 
ing now. 
Spinach—Sow, ff, m, for late use. Save some of the 
early sowings for seed. 
Strawberries ate now pushing out their runners in all 
directions. We prefer clipping, and confining them to 
hill culture, except where new plants are wanted. Keep 
well hoed, unless a mulch lias been used. 
Thinning both fruit and vegetables may still be neces¬ 
sary. Give both plenty of room. 
Tomatoes—Set late plants, ff, for a Fall supply. Sup¬ 
port the early vines by stakes, trellises or bushes. 
Transplant vegetables of all kinds with care at this 
season. The hot dry weather renders them less liable 
to live. Water the seed bed thoroughly before taking up 
plants, and set out in the evening or during dull weather, 
shading from the sun a day or two. 
Turnips—Sow the main crop for Winter use, f, m, or 
even 1, in southern latitudes. Seed may be scattered 
among corn and other crops which will come off early 
There are usually many vacant spots about a garden 
where a few turnips may be grown with very little ex¬ 
pense. 
Weeds—Compost or give them to the hogs if they have 
been permitted to grow at all. 
Winter Cherries—Though rather late, they may still be 
planted out with a prospect of ripening. 
Flower GaraleEit aiad ILsawsi. 
These grounds, if heretofore kept in good order, should 
now be very attractive, affording an occular demonstra- 
ion of taste, order and neatness on the part of the house¬ 
hold, and inviting frequent visits of both family and 
friends. A well arranged and well kept flower garden is 
a place all like to frequent, and enjoy a little relaxationol 
care in breathing the sweet odors of flowers, admiring 
their beauty, and listening to the songs of the birds among 
the shrubs and trees. A rustic arbor or seat beneath 
some noble tree upon the lawn, forms a cool and attrac¬ 
tive resting place in the heat of the day and during twi 
