130 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[May, 
Remember tlie wants of the boys now, and 
they will not forget yours in after years. 
Broom Corn .— Prepare the ground by heavy 
manuring and thorough pulverization. Plant 
at the same time as for Indian corn, in drills 
four feet apart, or three feet for the dwarfish 
varieties. Thin to about eight inches in the 
row, at the first hoeing, and weed thoroughly. 
Buildings .— Keep in good repair and well 
painted. A cheap paint for rough work is 
made of water-lime (hydraulic cement) mixed 
with skimmed milk, and colored with ochre, 
umber, or other materials to suit the fancy. 
Cabbages are a profitable field crop in the 
vicinity of ready markets, and also valuable for 
an occasional change of diet for stock in Win¬ 
ter. New land is best for these plants, which 
need deep soil and abundant manuring. We 
have had excellent results on sandy soil with a 
liberal dressing of muck and ashes. For very 
early, the plants should be started in a hot-bed: 
for medium early, sow in the open ground as 
soon as it is fit to work, and for the late or 
main crop from the first to the middle of June. 
As soon as the plants are well up, apply a 
dressing of ashes and plaster, or air-slaked lime, 
to prevent the attacks of the fly. The plants 
may be set out as soon as they are about three 
inches high. The smaller kinds may be 2 feet, 
and the larger sorts 3 or 4 feet apart, each way. 
In taking up the plants for transplanting, sepa¬ 
rate them all and dip the roots in a thin mud 
made of soil and water mixed to the con¬ 
sistence of cream; this will prevent the delicate 
fibers from drying. It is better to set out just 
before a rain, but if the plants are ready and no 
prospect of rain, make holes with a trowel, put 
a pint or more of water in each, and after it has 
soaked away put out the plant, pressing the 
earth well around the roots. The varieties are 
numerous, and new ones are originated every 
year. Early York, Sugar-Loaf and Ox-Heart 
are good early sorts. Winningstadt is good me¬ 
dium—in fact good at any time. If we were 
confined to one sort it would be the Winning¬ 
stadt. Marblehead Mammoth, Stone Mason, 
Late Drumhead, and Bergen, are all good Win¬ 
ter sorts. The Red Dutch is prized for pickles, 
though it is apt to be small, and slow in head¬ 
ing. The Savoys are, though small, fine for 
Winter. They are almost as rich as a Cauli¬ 
flower, perfectly hardy, and good keepers. 
Calves .— Read directions in April Calendar. 
Castrate at four weeks old. Feed with sweet, 
fine hay when they are turned out to graze. A 
few oats occasionally will not hurt them. 
Carrots .— Sow as early as possible, if not al¬ 
ready done. See directions in April Calendar. 
Cattle .— Feed with hay and roots until grass 
is abundant. Rye-bran mash is valuable for 
milch cows. Give a daily allowance of grain 
to working oxen, and card and brush them 
when returned from the labors of the field. 
Accustom them to obey the voice without con¬ 
stant use of the whip. Prevent young cattle 
from becoming unruly by keeping the fences 
good. Never allow cattle to jump over one or 
two bars in passing to or from the pasture, or 
they will soon learn to jump the whole fence. 
Cellars .— Keep clean and well ventilated, es¬ 
pecially if milk be kept there. A cement floor 
will be a great improvement. Whitewash walls. 
Chimneys .— Where wood is burned, chimneys 
should be occasionally burned out, or otherwise 
cleansed to prevent danger of talcing fire in 
windy weather. Choose a wet, still day and 
fire them below with a bundle of straw. 
Clothing .— Study appropriateness and econo¬ 
my. A loose-fitting blouse or overshirt is 
preferable to a coat and vest, for most out-door 
work. It is cheaper, allows more freedom of 
motion, and better preserves the under-clothing 
from being soiled. 
Clover may still be sown; some prefer to de¬ 
lay it until May. Read article on page 142. 
Corn .—Nothing is gained by too early plant¬ 
ing. The soil should be dry and warm, and the 
weather settled before putting in the crop. Much 
after-culture will be saved by thorough tillage at 
the first. It is well to allow grass and weeds a 
slight start, and then destroy them by a good har¬ 
rowing before marking out and planting. Either of 
the corn-markers' described in previous numbers, 
this year, will save much labor ou smooth land. 
Read article on page 140. 
Cotton was profitably raised, last year, as high as 
latitude 89°, owing to the extraordinary price: 
usually other crops would pay better. Prepare a 
warm soil as for corn, and plant early in rows 3)4 
feet apart, and 16 inches distant in the row. 
Cranberries may still be planted. The best loca¬ 
tion is ou swampy land, near the sea-shore, where 
muck and sand abound. Practical directions for 
managing this crop were given in the Agriculturist , 
Vol. XIX, pages 115, 142, (April and May, 1860.) 
Dairy .—The first essentials are good cows and 
rich feed. The labors of this department will be 
greatly lightened by a conveniently-arranged milk= 
room. It should be cool, well ventilated, free from 
dust and offensive odors, and if possible, con¬ 
venient to water. A well-stored ice-house is a 
valuable accessory, for securing proper tempera¬ 
ture for cream and butter. Cleanliness in every 
department should he the first and constant rule. 
Have tubs and pails for marketing neatly painted 
and plainly marked. Cheese-making can be 
profitably conducted on a large scale by a union 
factory to be supplied with milk from surrounding 
farms, the producers to share the returns. 
Debts.— Avoid contracting large debts while 
present high prices are maintained. Improve the 
present favorable opportunity for reducing the 
amount owed. Better pay off mortgages than buy 
new carriages or more showy furniture. To buy 
for cash and sell to safe buyers on time and on 
interest, is the surest method of accumulating. 
Draining .—Observe where the soil remains 
longest unfit for cultivating on account of water, 
and prepare for draining when circumstances will 
admit. Examine outlets of underground drains, 
and keep them in working order. Keep sluice¬ 
ways from the road open to convey their rich 
deposits to the fields. 
Experiments .—The cultivator’s own interest and 
that of the whole farming community will be pro¬ 
moted by carefully conducted experiments in the 
various departments of husbandry. If, for ex¬ 
ample, one thousand parties iu different sections 
should this year endeavor to ascertain the relative 
merits of planting potatoes in hills or iu rows, and 
report their success, the question might be almost 
infallibly settled. So of different modes of treat¬ 
ment of other crops, various manures, etc. Such 
trials need not be upon a large scale in any in¬ 
dividual case. Experiment upon some point 
connected with agriculture, carefully note all the 
circumstances, and communicate for the benefit of 
the community. A strip of land through every 
crop left unmanured, and another doubly manured, 
for comparison, will often afford much information. 
So of other experiments in preparing seed by some 
special process, etc. 
Fences .—Are all in order, particularly on boun¬ 
dary-lines ? Putting up a rail may save a lawsuit. 
Flax should be sown as early this month as the 
weather will admit. The “Notes on Flax-Culture” 
in previous numbers, this year, give full practical 
directions. There is a fair prospect that well- 
cultivated crops of this staple will be remunerative. 
Oates properly made and hung, are cheaper than 
bars, where entrances are in frequent use. See 
plan of a cheaply made one on page 141. 
• Grass-Seed may still be sown on grain-fields and 
on bare spots in meadows. Rolling, and top-dress¬ 
ing with fine manure, will help to ensure its growth. 
Health is more frequently lost by neglect and 
overwork than by contagious diseases. Have the 
meals regular and of various diet. Severe exertion 
after a full meal is injurious. Take plenty of time 
for sleep. Be punctual in all natural habits. Avoid 
cool drafts when heated. Have help enough to 
avoid overwork. Keeping a good temper and a 
good conscience, tends to promote health and vigor 
Hired Help .—Remember that they are men, while 
requiring them to he faithful. A good table, liberal 
noonings, and judicious commendation for work 
well done, will be well repaid by tlieir increased 
cheerfulness and activity. 
Home should be the most attractive spot ou 
earth. Surround it with pleasant objects. Cul¬ 
tivate a kindly temper in the household, and allow 
all reasonable privileges to the younger members 
of thefamily. Mingle commendation with discipline. 
Horses should be kept stabled during the work¬ 
ing season. Feed with grain according to amount 
of labor performed. If lameness or other ailment 
occur, give rest, and proper attention. A little 
neglect may result in permanent unsoundness. 
Lime .—A top-dressing of 20 to 50 bushels per 
acre, after plowing, will usually he advantageous 
on wet, heavy soils. Read again the chapter last 
month, page 107. Keep a constant supply on hand 
for composting with muck for the manure-heap. 
Manures are best applied on corn land, or in top¬ 
dressing meadows. Their value is greatly increased 
by finely dividing and thoroughly mixing them 
with the soil. Leave none in the barn-yard, 
pig-sty, poultry-house, privy, nor in any place 
where it cannot be made useful. A handful of 
ashes or dissolved bones mixed with earth and 
slightly covered in the hill, before planting, will 
give the young corn a vigorous start. It should 
never be in immediate contact with the seed. 
Markets .—Part of the advantages enjoyed by 
those living near cities may be secured by the 
institution of Market Fairs to be held monthly or 
often er as may he desirable. Read article on this 
subject on page 106, (April Agriculturist.) 
Meadows .—Allow no stock to graze or trample 
them. While waiting for plowing grounds to dry, 
time may be profitably employed in taking out 
weeds, bushes, etc., from mowing lands. A dress¬ 
ing of lime will aid in eradicating moss and five- 
finger, and give grass a vigorous start. Harrow and 
reseed bare spots, top-dressing with fine manure. 
Millet .—If a scarcity of pasture he apprehended, 
sow an acre or two of millet late in the month, to 
be cut and fed to cattle during the Summer. The 
variety known as Hungarian Grass is good. The 
Mammoth Millet gives a larger yield. 
Oats are best sown in April. For seeding down 
to grass they may be put in early this month, and 
be cut and cured as hay, if not likely to mature. 
Onions .—Read article on page 142 of this number. 
Pastures .—Where 6traw is plenty it may be 
turned to good account in mulching thin spots iu 
pasture-grounds. Sheep properly mauaged are the 
best fertilizers of pastures. Attract them to un¬ 
productive knolls by scattering salt. They will 
leave a valuable deposit. Never allow the grass to 
bo gnawed down more than one inch below the surface I 
Parsnips are valuable food for milch cows in 
Winter. Sow on rich, deeply-worked ground, in 
drills half an inch deep, and 2)4 feet apart. 
Peas .—A low-growing variety, as the Early 
Washington, sown with oats early this mouth, will 
make valuable feed for hogs and sheep. 
Plowing sward for corn should be performed 
by a skillful hand. The furrow should be laid 
smoothly. A dressing of lime before plowing will 
hasten the decay of vegetable matter, and thus 
give ample nourishment to the early growth. 
Potatoes should be put in as early as practicable. 
The yield will usually be better from rows than from 
hills. Read notes on selection for seed on page 147- 
