4.2 
/AMERICAN AGRICULTURI«T. 
[Fkcruaiit, 
Contents for February, 1867. 
Animals—What Becomes of Dead.55 
Apiary for Febrnaiy.43 
Barn Door Fastenings . 3 Illustrations. .67 
Beavers. Illustrated. 
Bees—Impurities of Cross-bred Drones. 
Blackberries—Propagating.3 lUustrations . .dl 
Boys and Girls’ Columns — Eyes May Deceive — Curious 
Bouquet — New Plaything — Ants, Strong Little People 
Problems and Puzzles — Hare-brained Team—Master 
Workman’s Tools—Cotton on the Gallows—Curious 
Book-worm.6 Illustrations. .m-Q?, 
Cattle—Feeding at the Stack.5G 
Cattle Head of Calf.. Illustrated . . 60 
Cherries—Early May and RichSiond. 63 
Cows—Best Style for Family Use.53 
Farm Work in February. • . 43 
Farmers’ Club — Sense at. 53 
Flower Garden and Lawn in Febniary.4.3 
Flowers—How New York is Supplied........! ^ .59 
Fruit Garden in February..'. 43 
Garden—Kitchen in February. 43 
Green and Hot-Houses in February.43 
Hollies—American and European. lUmirated .64 
Horse Mangers—Hanging Followers... .3 .57 
Horses—Old Mares as Mule Breeders.55 
Horticultural Society, Indiana.,43 
Household Ornaments.5 Illustrations . .(S 
Housekeeper’s Diary—Prize Essay. Illustrated, .tlo 
Housekeeper’s Journal—Prize Essay.oq 
Land—Bringing up Worn-out. 54 
Manure—Night Soil for. .53 
Manures-Ho w and When Applied. 55 
Markets.' ^ .. 
Meadows—Reclaiming Swamp. 56 
Moles--Shrew and Star-nosed. ' .'iidustratiom" 
Pear—Beurre Clairgeau. lUustrated. .%Z 
Pear—Dana s Hovey.. 62 
Poultry Clubs—Dealing in Fancy!!!!!!”.54 
Premiums. . . . . aa 
Profits from Small Places . ....!.. . 63 
Pruning—Ways and Means. '.'.'.'.'.iUusirdted.m 
Rats—Finality on . 66 
Straw Beds in the Garden .!!.’.. 64 
Straw Covers for Hot-beds, etc. 63 
Swamp Meadows—Reclaiming .! .56 
Tim Blinker on the Food Question. ! .57 
Tree—“Big” of California. 64 
Trees-Cm-e of Young. y.y.mdstr'ated.'.m 
Violets-Old and New.. . Elustrated ..60 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. 3 S—Beans a Pavin<» 
Crop—Winter Fattening of Sheep —High Taxes-^ 
High Price of Cows—Future Prices of Produce- 
Winter Work on the Farm—Outlet for Drains—Wheat 
under Packed Snow—Benefits of Draining—Farmino- 
by City People.“. 
INPEX TO “basket,” os SHOKTEB AKTICLE3. 
Advertls«rs, Notice . 47 
Agricultural Annual. 46 
Ag’l Department Report. .50 
American Naturalist. 50 
Apple Pear Stocks. 4 f 
AMERIC-EV AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW-TORK, FEBRUARY, 1867. 
Authors, Notice to.4' 
Breck’s Flowers.47 
Cake, Molasses. 48 
Calves, Raising.49 
Carrots for Food.49 
Catalogues, Noteworthy. .60 
Catalogues Received. 50 
Chapped Hands, etc.49 
Clover Seed, Good. 48 
Contents, Look at. ,47 
Cooking Food for Stock. .49 
Corn Planter, etc. 49 
Cows in the Yoke. 49 
Door Mats. 48 
Draining, Book on. 47 
Dyeing Brown. 48 
Egypt Turnip.49 
Forty Pages.47 
Fruit Keeping House. 50 
Fuller’s Fruit Book.4' 
Gardening for Profit. 4 ’ 
Guano Supply.49 
Horses, Plowing with .!!!49 
Hops in California.4S 
Horticultural Annual. 46 
Humbugs, Sundry. 46 
Insects on Strawberries... 48 
Late Number. 46 
Live Stock Markets. 4 ' 
N. Y. Evening Post. 46 
Manure, Hen.49 
Manures, Manufactured... 
Muck Composts. 49 
Orchard, Setting out. 48 
Painting Floors_ ' .43 
Paper Cutter. Good_! 48 
Pears in California. 4 S 
Phrenology, etc... 46 
Pigs, Fattening.!!. !49 
Plants by Mail.50 
Pomologv, American.... 47 
Pom’l Soc’y, American.. .47 
Poultry Ailments.. 
Poultry. Meat for.. 
Prizes Awarded.... 
Publisher, Another 
Pudding, Rice. 
Shrub for Grave.... 
Seeds, American.... 
Slugs, Bait for. 
Sorghum Vinegar.!48 
|Stanchions, Patent.48 
Standard Dwarfs. 50 
Steers, Fine Devon. 49 
Sugar Cane, Brazilian...! !48 
Tree Peddlers. 50 
Tripe, Cooking.48 
Unwarranted Certificate.! 50 
Vineyard at Lakeview... .47 
Warts on Cows’ Teats... .49 
Warts on Hands.48 
Weeder, New.48 
Western Opportunities.. .60 
Wheat in Maine.49 
Wheat in Wisconsin. 49 
Wheat on New Land. !49 
Weeat, Winter in Spring.49 
Where to Buy. 50 
Whole or Half Sheets.!!! !60 
Back Volumes Supplied.— The back volumes 
of t!;e Agriculturist are very valuable. They contain 
information upon every tojric connected with rural life, 
out-door and in-door, and the last ten volumes make up 
a very complete library. Each volume has a full index 
for ready reference to any desired topic. We have on 
hand, and print from stereotype plates as wanted, all the 
numbers and volumes for ten years past, beginning with 
18o7—that is, Vol. 16 to Vol. 25, inclusive. Any of these 
voiumes sent complete (in numbers) at $1.75 each, post¬ 
paid (or $1 50 if taken at the office). The volumes 
neatly bound, are supplied for $2 each, or $2.50 if to be 
sent by mail. Any single numbers of the past ten 
years will be supplied, post-paid, for 15 cents each. 
We hope our readers will not think that we are 
unseasonably “harping upon one string,” when 
tve again insist upon the necessity of laying defi¬ 
nite pians for work to be done. This makes the 
difference between success and failure—between 
thrift and unthrift, provided of course, that such 
plans are made, as may be, and are, carried out. An 
old farmer knows by experience what may be done, 
by what has been, and it is well for t^e young farmer 
not to undertake too much. Depend upon it, time 
will not hang heavy on your hands. Do what you 
undertake, thoroughly well, but do not “putter” 
and fuss to no account. Especially regard four 
things: First-. “Your oytn health and that of the 
fomily, especially that of the good wife—relieving 
her in every possible way, by servants, by washing 
machine and wringer, by sewing machine, by your 
own helpful care, solicitude, and interest in her 
work and cares. Second—System : Having every 
thing go according to a preconcerted plan. Third- 
Time : Being prompt, up early, having chores done, 
breakfast ready at the moment, and the work of 
the day begun as nearly as possible at the 
same hour daily—and so through the day. Besides, 
allowing full resting spells, permit no loitering of 
men or teams. Fourth : If you employ one or 
more hands, impose a strict 7'esponsibility in regurd 
to certain work, and enforce the same. Thus things 
will go smoothly. 
There is one thing farmers are very apt to neg¬ 
lect, and that is, the Kitchen Garden—many of 
them hardly glance at the tiints in another column. 
A good vegetable garden is the most profitable 
part of any farm. Manure will pay best applied 
there, and labor will produce more comfort, food 
and gratification if expended in the garden than 
elsewhere. And in the neighborhood of villages 
there are always quick sales for fresh vegetabfes, 
and by the preparation of a little more ground and 
a small additional cost for seed and tillage, no in¬ 
considerable income may be derived. Think of this 
while making plans for March and April work. 
BSii&ts Woric. 
At the North we are pretty much cut off from 
proper field work, yet, as the Ayf-iculturist goes 
Southward, it soon comes upon hare fields and soil 
in which no frost remains long. There spring 
begins in good earnest a month or six weeks earlier 
than in our latitude (41°), and “ spring plowing,” 
etc., is there winter work. We adapt these 
hints to our own latitude, but are apt to anticipate 
a little, chiefiy in order to have plenty of leeway 
in case the season is especially early. 
Field Work. —Dead furrows in grain fields and 
furrows plowed for surface draining should be 
clear, so that the ground will not wash much in 
thaws. If grain is badly harmed by frost put on an 
even light dressing of muck or soil or simply roll. 
Gra.ss and Clover Seed may be sown if the ground 
is bare and the frost is out. It is best to be done on 
a very light snow in case the surface is not frozen. 
Anj^ kind of grass or clover seed may be sown. 
Manure may be hauled out to the distant 
fields when there is good sledding, but it should 
only be such as is well composed and which will 
neither wash nor deteriorate essentially by expo- 
Buie. It may easily be put in this condition 
by the use of muek, but very little that is hauled 
to the field iu the winter time is so protected 
from the action of the weather, and half to two- 
thirds is wasted. 
Fundings. —Timber may be prepared for any 
lepaiis, or for new buildings which may be de¬ 
sired. (Pine, Spruce, and Hemlock, may be cut at 
this season.) Stables and cellars should be opened 
and aired on warm dry days, A little salt sprinkled 
around posts, which form the foundations of corn 
cribs and similar structures will prevent their being 
harmed by the frost. This is true of gate posts. 
The IVood Lot affords jplenty of work in cutting 
fire wood, getting out framing stuff, cedar bean 
poles, stakes, and such things. Avoid cutting trees 
that are full of sap at this season, or as soon as the 
weather is warmer—as the maple, beach, etc. 
Ice. —Review what has previously been said about 
storing ice, it is not too late so long as good ice 
can be procured. Pack only solid ice, removing all 
the soft snow ice that may bo attached to the cakes. 
Secure Seed of each kind of grain it is proposed 
to sow this spring. If you can do so, select seed 
giain from a largo quantity by repeated winnow- 
ings. Send for catalogues of seedmen, study them, 
and order early. At the same time also 
Secure Good Farm Hands. —February is usually 
the time to make the best engagements. 
Working Stock, if not employed, should not be fed 
too much grain, but roots should be in a measure 
substituted, and if hard worked, feed accordingly. 
Horses ought to he kept sharp-caulked, as ice is 
moie dangeious if it exists only in spots than when 
it covers tlie ground. Feed four quarts of carrots 
with a handful of ashes and half as much ginger 
daily if they get “off their feed” for lack of ex¬ 
ercise. They are approaching the time when they 
shed their coats, and as they are then liable to take 
colds, they should be well fed and in good con¬ 
dition. The tax upon the system in renewing the 
coat is considerable. Brood mares, with foal,'need 
especial care, lest they slip and fall, or in playing 
strain themselves, or get kicked. 
Colts. When there is a foot of snow on tlie 
ground the time is particularly favorable to training 
and breaking colts to saddle and harness. Gentle¬ 
ness, firmness and sugar are the specifics, with the 
common sense use of which, we warrant it easy to 
break any colt not made vicious by had boys or men. 
Oxen should come out in fine condition for spring 
work on little besides corn stalks if these are 
properly prepared, namely: cut up, soaked and 
salted with a verj' little meal upon them. 
Eeef Stock may have a little increase of meal or 
oil cake wdien they begin to shed their coats. 
Cows that are giving milk may well have w'lieat 
bran and oil-cake meal on their cut and soaked 
stalks. The earlier they are dried off, the better 
will the calf be, in all likelihood, but if milked 
until nearly time for the new milk to “spring” a 
tendency to give much milk is increased. 
Calves intended for veal may very early he taught 
to nibble hay, and finally to eat a good deal, and 
with what skimmed milk they can get in then- 
boiled gruel, they w'ill make rapid progress. 
The Currycomb should not be neglected, its 
exercise on all kinds neat stock and horses is a 
great prevention of disease and vermin, and is 
productive of thrift. 
Sheep should be kept so assorted in flocks that all 
can get the proper allowance of feed. Provide a 
warm shed, feed straw and hay in racks, and grain 
in troughs ; of course, feed some roots, or hemlock 
boughs, or both. House ewes near yeaning time, 
where they will have room, warmth, and comfort. 
Visit all the stock personally the last thing at 
night and first thing in the morning. See that 
they have water enough, at least twice a day, better 
three times. Give salt frequently, and let them 
stand several hours in the yards every day if fair. 
Poultry.—B&t one or two clutches of the earliest 
eggs, mating the finest pullets with the best old 
cock, as early in the month as possible, provided 
you can furnish the chicks warm, dry, light quar¬ 
ters. Kept clean, and attended with care, they 
will make fine birds, either to improve your own 
flock, or for the fall shows. 
Am-w.—K eep the shoats at work at the manure. 
We often think of the saying of a Massachusetts 
farmer, that for corn, a cob that a hog had breathed 
on is worth a bushel of yard manure. Breeding 
sows near farrowing, should be well sheltered, and 
have warm nests away from other swine and be fed 
well, but not with heating food; a few raw pota¬ 
toes or other roots are proniotive of miik, and 
mak§ an excellent addition to their diet. 
