PLANNING WORK 
I plan out my work. For the fall, I con¬ 
sider all that I ought to do before winter, and 
pen these several matters down on a loose 
sheet of paper. For several years I have 
followed this method, sometimes nailing the 
sheet containing the items on the kitchen 
door post, that all my hands might see it; 
and as fast as the several labors were dis¬ 
charged, they were crossed out. 
1. Cutting brush. X.Discharged. 
2. P)citing stone, X. 
3. Drawing manure, X.. 
i. Sowing gralo, X. “ 
fi. Cutting corn....To be performed. 
0. Picking appluH. ’* 
7. Digging potatoes..... 
8. Htisking corn.. 
0. Sluicing fence. “ 
10. Getting wood, Ac. “ 
Having planned my work, I used all the 
executive ability I possessed to perform it. 
niwstrial (Topics. 
FARMERS’ LIBRARIES. 
In the Rural of March 27,1869, there 
was an article by Horace Greeley, on the 
above subject, upon which I intended to 
have earlier offered some criticism ; but hav¬ 
ing been unable to do so, take up the subject 
now, believing that it is “ better late than 
never,” and knowing that the subject is one 
which will not spoil by keeping. I have no 
doubt that the list of hooks Mr. Greeley 
recommends—Webster’s Quarto Dictionary, 
Appleton’s American Cyclopedia, works on 
the natural sciences, geology, chemistry, 
botany, astronomy, etc.; a few volumes of 
poetry, and some standard histories, which 
he named—would make as good a general li¬ 
brary as can be purchased for the amount 
named, $800. But when he advises the 
farmer who has this amount to invest in 
books to procure “ two or three good practi¬ 
cal treatises on agriculture, one especially on 
draining,’’ 1 must ask if an expenditure of 
$5 out of $800 for agriculturar works, will 
make a library worth calling a “Farmer’s 
Library?” What would a lawyer think if 
Mr. Greeley should advise him, in procur¬ 
ing a library, to get “ two or three good prac¬ 
tical treatises ou ” Jaw ; or a physician the 
same number on medicine? The absurdity 
of the thing is apparent. Farming is just as 
much a profession as medicine, law, or di¬ 
vinity, and a complete professional library 
will be of as much benefit to the farmer as to 
the lawyer, doctor or clergyman if be gives 
it the same amount of study. 
In my view, a farmer should look upon a li¬ 
brary' of agricultural works as equally essen¬ 
tial in bis calling with the tools lie uses; in the 
one he will study his business as a science, 
with the others practice it as an art; and the 
highest degree of success is unattainable, ex¬ 
cept where study and practice are combined. 
This is too evident a truth to need demon¬ 
stration, and every farmer should realize and 
act upon it by providing himself with all the 
best treatises on tin; various branches of 
agriculture. I believe that, from $100 to 
$150 would secure a valuable library of agri¬ 
cultural books, containing all the most prac¬ 
tical works published. Even $20 would se¬ 
cure a collection of incalculable value to 
every farmer and make a promising begin¬ 
ning.' To the books at first purchased, 
others could be added, from time to time, as 
means and inclination might warrant, and 
in the course of a few years any farmer 
might, without fceH og-ibi rosclf one whit the 
poorer, become the ow ner of a full and com¬ 
plete library which would furnish him any 
desired information on all the various 
branches of husbandly. Is there at this 
period of the world’s history a single Ameri¬ 
can farmer who will not acknowledge that 
such a library is desirable and resolve to 
make himself the possessor of it,? The cost, 
whatever it may be, will, if it is studied, 
yield a larger interest than any bonds or 
stock into which his money might he con¬ 
verted, by the improved methods and better 
farming which must invariably follow. 
It is not, perhaps, surprising that “ Gentle¬ 
men Farmers," like Mr. Greeley, should 
make the blunder I have indicated, and pre¬ 
fer to see on their library shelves “The 
Idyls of the King” rather than “ Youatt on 
the Hog;” but those who expect to make 
their living by tilling the soil cannot afford 
to be quit© so fastidious, and must begin by 
occupying their leisure with the study of 
their own profession if they wish to eventu¬ 
ally obtain the means to enable them to in¬ 
dulge their tastes for general literature, 
poetry, history, natural science, etc. 
Agricola. 
Remarks. —The foregoing is sound doc¬ 
trine. A farmer ought to be professionally 
educated; and all the means attainable 
should be employed to this end. 
-- 
WHY DON’T FARMING PAY? 
When we see the village shoemaker, black¬ 
smith or carpenter indulge in a fancy turn¬ 
out of fine horses, plated harness and car¬ 
riage, we say of him that “ he is driving fast 
horses,” or, in other words, indulging in ex¬ 
travagance. Even the village merchant is 
looked upon a little suspiciously if he in¬ 
dulges in his horses and carriage. Why so ? 
Simply because, his income is not thought 
sufficient to warrant him in the expenditure. 
Yet there are plenty of young farmers who 
sport a fancy rig, and display themselves and 
families dressed to match. -Men who have 
but moderately profitable farms and only or¬ 
dinary skill in managing them, indulge in 
such a course of living as would be deemed 
ruinous for a thrifty mechanic or profession¬ 
al man. 
We often hear this class of farmers, with 
many others, say that “ farming does not 
pay.” Their practices and their statements 
seem to be at variance. Let them sell out 
their farms and engage in any other ordinary 
business, and they will soon realize the dif¬ 
ference. They will find none of the usual 
employments will support the course of liv¬ 
ing they have been used to. When on the 
farm the income furnished many extras— 
which they almost regarded as necessaries— 
which now to indulge in they find ruinous. 
Now they see where the screw was loose. 
The farm did pay , but they used up the in¬ 
come in luxurious living and display. 
Rolling Prairie, Wig. L. L. F. 
<tbc Apiarian. 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
Ventilation of nixes. —II. B. Rolfe, in the 
Rural of December 11, 1869, inquires: 
“ What ventilation do bees in Langstrolh 
hives, wintering in a dry cellar, require?” 
A hole Hi rough the bottom board, under 
the center of the hive. Make it at least two 
inches square. Of course there must be 
openings at, the top to let the moisture rise. 
Hives out-doors should have the top open, 
cover or super on, and stuffed with straw, 
and two or three holes to allow moisture to 
escape; but in the house, where the temper¬ 
ature is kept above the freezing point, this 
is not so important. If many arc kept in 
the same room openings must he made at 
top and bottom of the room for ventilation. 
Bo enreful to exclude every ray of light. 
Feeding Bees in the Cellar .—“ Can I suc¬ 
cessfully feed bees in the cellar ?” 
Yes. Lay empty combs on the top of the 
frames, and every day or two—as fast as the 
bees carry It down—pour in honey or sirup 
of sugar. They will crawl up and get it 
if they are warm enough. 
“ Will they Need Water ?''—I have never 
given it, in the winter, and do not think it 
necessary. 
Cleaning Bottom Board. — “ Shall I clean 
the bottom hoard ?’’ 
It is not commonly necessary. 
Exposing to Open Air .—“ In case the weath¬ 
er should become warm in January or Feb¬ 
ruary, silould they lie carried into the open 
air for the purpose of allowing them to dis¬ 
charge their faeces?” 
If the weather should be unusually warm 
and the bees much excited, it would be best, 
but such cases rarely occur. 
Cheap Sugar or Sirup .—“ Will not a cheap¬ 
er quality of sugar do for sirup to feed?” 
I would not choose to risk it, I have paid 
two cents more per pound—making a sum 
of $50 more—rather than do so. 
M. Quinby. 
| those near them, but that such is frequently 
the case. And the only way to make suc¬ 
cess certain in all cases is to control the 
mating of queens by selecting the drones 
for the purpose, and thus managing with 
bees as with any other farm 6tock. 
There are processes now well known to 
intelligent bee keepers, by which the blood 
of this valuable stock can be improved as 
much, and with as much certainty, as any 
other. Of this I may speak at another time; 
also, further concerning the moth. 
W. C. Condit. 
Howard Springs, Cumberland Co., Tenn. 
• -- 
BEES IN VERMONT. 
O. P. Codding, Waterville, Vt., wrote us 
Nov. 30 (we have not been able to give space 
to his note before,) as follows concerning the 
condition of bees in his neighborhood: 
“ Most of the bees around here came out 
in very poor condition last spring, — that is, 
with few bees and little honey. The season 
was so wet and cold that many of them did 
little more than to live through the honey 
season; and before Nov. 1st all in this con¬ 
dition were dead. Upon examination there 
was found to be a goodly number of bees, 
but no honey, some men losing all they had, 
others from one to one-half their swarms. 
Many of the swarms that have been taken 
up, both tame and wild, did not have honey 
enough to keep them alive two months. 
“Those that came out in better condition 
commenced breeding early, but the weather 
was so cold and wet that they did little until 
fruit blossoms; then we had a few days of 
fine weather which were improved by the 
little workers, and honey was gathered in 
abundance. The queens were stimulated, 
and filled the combs with eggs. Then came 
a long cold rain and the bees did not leave 
their hives for a number of days, ami of 
course breeding went on very slowly the rest 
of the season, as we had but a few warm 
days. 
“Now for the result. The poor swarms 
of bees are all dead. Those in better con¬ 
dition, that swarmed at all, swarmed late, 
but few swarms coming off before July 1st; 
therefore, this fall many of the new swarms 
did not have half honey enough to carry 
them through the winter. I took up five 
swarms, taking the weakest, and tlmy did 
not average eight pounds each. I shall have 
to feed liberally next spring." 
;ntomologinxl. 
CAUSE OF BEES DEGENERATING. TOMATO OR TOBACCO WORM. 
We frequently hear it said by old bee 
keepers of the conservative kind, that “ bees 
will do no good for them any more; that 
they formerly had good hick keeping them, 
hut of lute years the bees do not seem to 
work much, and the moth gets in, and they 
all die off.” I have had such remarks made 
to me scores of times, and those who make 
them seem to wonder why it is that they 
have no luck with bees. There may be 
various reasons for their bees running out, or 
dying off, but the main cause is that of in- 
and-in breeding. If farmers generally should 
take as little care to improve the blood of 
their horses, cattle and sheep, as they do of 
their bees, their stock would degenerate and 
“ run out ,” in as short a time as do the bees. 
The moth gets much blame that belongs 
to the bee keeper. It is a great enemy to the 
honey bee, but very harmless in the apiary 
of a careful breeder. Populous and healthy 
colonics of native bees are never destroyed 
by the bee moth, so long as they continue in 
a healthy condition. And the Italian bees 
are well known by those who have bred them, 
to be far more successful than the natives, in 
defending their homes from the ravages of 
their greatest enemy. 
Let us notice bow the farmer usually man¬ 
ages his bees. He obtains a colony in a box 
or gum, and sets it on a bench in his yard. 
There may be other bees near, or not It 
swarms, and the new swarm is hived and 
placed beside the parent colony. The old 
queen is in the new swarm, the young queen 
is mated with a drone from said old queen, or, 
in plain words, she is married to her brother. 
The following season the farmer has two 
colonies. The queens are mother and daugh¬ 
ter ; the drones are uncles and nephews— 
the nephews boiug the progeny of brother 
and sister. Now the virgin queens of this 
season are aunt and niece, and they proba¬ 
bly mate with brother, uncle, or nephew— 
all immediate blood relations. And so this 
process of in-and-in breeding continues for 
five, eight, or ten years,— the farmer in the 
meantime giving no thought to the blood of 
bis stock,—until tbe bees have become so 
much degenerated that they have not energy 
enough to expel the moth, or defend from 
robbers. The consequence is that the far¬ 
mer soon loses all his bees, and be can’t 
imagine why. 
I do not mean to say that queens always 
mate ’with drones of their own hive, or of 
They are the same. They are both batch¬ 
ed from the egg deposited by an insect near 
tbe size of a bumming bird. It has a long 
elastic bill, which it folds into a small roll 
o.i extends at. pleasure; with this it reaches 
the depths of flowers. It is quite fond of 
Jimpson or Jamestown weed, and is seen 
flying around them and other flowers in the 
dusk of the evening; through the day they 
hide in some thicket, of weeds or bushes. 1 
have frequently found them in their hiding 
places. Cutting them open I find them full 
of eggs; the eggs are the size of a common 
pin head, white with a greenish east, and 
can he found sticking on the under side of 
tobacco, tomato and potato leaves, one egg 
in a place. They hatch in twenty-four 
hours, and eat a small hole through the leaf 
and continue cutting this out larger and 
larger, always keeping on the under side of 
the leaf, and out of sight. They obtain full 
size in about ten days, and a few days after 
this go in the ground to burrow uut.il spring, 
when they can be seen in a chrysalis state. 
They are about the same size fall and spring, 
two or two aud a-half inches in length. In 
spring the long hill is laid close on the under 
side of the entire hotly, now they emerge 
from the ground and fly again. 
The worm uses its horn to defend itself 
against flies, throwing the hind part of its 
body around its head it scares them away, 
and it also throws juice from its mouth for 
the same purpose. I have helped to kill 
thousands of them. All persons working in 
tobacco are handling them constantly. 
Their hands are wet with the juice from the 
worms. The leaves are very frequently 
seamed with the juice, and the worms hav¬ 
ing had a little cut on the back are left 
hanging on the leaf. I have carried my 
hands full of them, have seen them crawl¬ 
ing over our hands, and the boys bite off 
their heads; I am positive they are not 
dangerous, for I have not known or heard 
of any one being injured by them, among 
the thousands working among tobacco. 
John W. Corwin. 
Lebanon, TVarren Co., O. 
-»•»» —- 
Carbolic Acid Tor Insects.—C harles V. Riley, 
Entomologist, cautions those who would use this 
acid to destroy insects, against using- theerudo 
(cresylic) acid, the latter being the pure acid. 
However much diluted, be says, it hills plants as 
well as insects. “Carbolic acid mix. well with 
alkalies, but not with water; aud it can only bo 
used as a saponaceous compound.” 
ceived the degree of LL. D. from William’s 
College. 
Genial in spirit, brimful!of intelligent con¬ 
versational power, possessing the retiring 
manner and dignity of a well-bred gentleman 
of the old school, he wins the hearts of the 
old and young, and the intelligent, and all 
who seek knowledge rejoice in obtaining an 
hour of bis society. Although now in his 
seventy-sixth year, we hope he may long 
live to gratify those who have and cherish 
his friendship, with his wisdom, counsels and 
love. 
arm f tmom#. 
Form Account*.— G. 8. P., Gouverneur, N. Y., 
urges farmers to open accounts with their farm, 
saying: “ It. matters not whether a man owns one 
or five hundred acres of land, it is a great satis¬ 
faction to know how he stands at the end of the 
year; it servos to make fanning more interest¬ 
ing since every dollar paid outglvo-san account 
of itself. I venture to say that, any farmer who 
has had perseverance enough to keep mi accu¬ 
rate farm account one year will not be easily 
persuaded to drop tha practice. I speak from 
experience; for next ton good agricultural pa¬ 
per it is the best aid to successful farming." 
This is true; and the farmer who does not keep 
an account with his farm is just as short-sighted 
as a business man, as a merchant would be who 
sold goods without knowledge of tlielr cost. 
to, those herewith illustrated. Hundreds of 
wagon-jacks have been patented, and are 
widely disseminated throughout tbe land. 
Those here figured are unpatented, conse¬ 
quently all who choose can make and use 
them. 
Figure 1. 
The sills, A, in the figures are two feet six 
inches in length, two inches thick, and four 
inches wide, made from oak or some equally 
solid timber. The standard, L, (Figure 1,) is 
two feet four inches in length, four inches 
wide and one inch thick, with several inch 
holes near the upper end, as shown. The 
lever, P, is three to four feet in length, three 
inches square, mortised for the reception of 
the standard, L, and the notched ratchet, R, 
which catches upon a pin, S, in lever, P. 
Plans amount to nothing unless they are ful¬ 
filled. Farmers do not, as much as they 
might, take advantage of the markets or the 
weather. As a class, they are too apt to put. 
off till some other time what ought to he 
done to-day. I did not, nor could I always, 
perform these labors exactly as laid down in 
the plan. I had to vary according to the 
weather. One fall, l remember, it was raiuy, 
and I had a large field of corn to husk and a 
thousand bushels of potatoes to dig; hut 1 
overcame the difficulty without extra help. 
When fair, 1 dug; when foul, husked, doing 
the latter mostly under shelter, n. k. f. 
N. Chill, N. y. 
Remarks. —It is an important matter in 
farm economy to plan wisely; and it is equal¬ 
ly important to execute promptly and sys¬ 
tematically. The work ou a farm should be 
organized much as generals plan a campaign. 
The necessary foree to make and complete 
the movement at the right time and in the 
right way should be secured, and then the 
movement, should be made when the right 
time comes. We know just how this sounds 
or reads to farmers. They say, “ It. is all 
very nice to sit in the sanctum and talk to 
us! But what do you know abont it ? How 
are you going to get help when none is to be 
hired? How are you going to do the right 
thing at the right time and in tbe right way 
if you cannot, get the force and material of 
war with which to do it?" Exactly. We 
should plan to get it; and if we found we 
could not, we should change our plan of at¬ 
tack, and conduct tbe campaign according 
to the strength of our force and the material 
within the line of our operations. 
-♦♦♦- 
LIME AS MANURE. 
In a recent issue of the Rural a Virginia 
correspondent desires sonic information in 
regard to the use of lime. Thousands of 
bushels of lime are used in this neighbor¬ 
hood annually. Lime, in fact, is the chief 
renovator of the worn-out lands. The usual 
mode of application is to haul the lime out 
on land plowed in the autumn for corn the 
year following, unload it in piles of seventy- 
five to one hundred bushels, to remain till 
slaked, when it is spread upon the land at 
the rate of fifty to a hundred bushels per 
acre; or it is put ill bushel heaps and spread 
as soon as fit. The latter mode is pursued 
when in haste. It costs here twenty cents a 
bushel. Lime is sometimes scattered upon 
sod, to wash into the soil by degrees, which 
is a very good way. A better way is to plow 
for wheat as usual, then apply lime at tbe 
rate of sixty bushels per acre, sowing with 
the wheat two or three hundred weight of 
hone dust or superphosphate per acre; then 
seed with clover the following spring. The 
land is then permanently improved. The 
lime is not liable to be washed out by heavy 
rain as on corn land; it assists the wheat to 
extract ammonia from the hone dust, in¬ 
creases the growth of clover and gives a 
body to the soil. 
Lime is a wonderful agent in the improve¬ 
ment of soil. All fertile soils contain more 
or less lime. We have no experience in the 
application of lime to heavy clay soils ; it is 
said to require heavy dressing to produce 
effect. Our land is light clay. 
Howard Co., Md. Quien Sabe. 
---■ 
WAGON JACKS. 
All persons who use wheel vehicles of 
any description. th« wheels of which arc 
necessarily removed to lubricate the axle, 
will al once see the propriety and advan¬ 
tages of using’ arrangements like, or similar 
Figure 2. 
Figure 3. 
The size of the various parts in Figure 2 
corresponds with those in Figure 1, above 
described. 
A board two feet four or eight inches in 
length and eight inches wide, notched as 
shown in Figure 3, will be found conven¬ 
ient for supporting the vehicle while being 
greased. L. D. Snook. 
-- 
Convenient Milking Stool.—I send a sketch Of 
livery convenient Milking stool, which I have 
used several years. I can sot, t be pall on one end 
and keep it, out of the mud, and bring it near 
the cow’s odder, so the milk will not splatter 
over my clothes. Take an inch and a half plank, 
about twenty Inches or two feet long, ten inches 
wide; nail clears on the under side near the ends 
to keep from splitting, and boro through for 
legs, which make ten laches long: then nail 
boards on each side of one end about five inches 
wide, and one on top for a seat.—G. D. Mbrsbrau. 
This 18 a good device, only we think the height 
proposed for the stool too great both for the 
milker and tbe cow. We have seen many cows 
whose teats reached within ten inches of the 
ground. But the maker can regulate this mat¬ 
ter to suit the height of his cows and his own 
not ions of convenience. We are always glad to 
receive sketches of practical conveniences of 
this sort . 
- »4 » 
What Point to Use.—Several articles lift ve ap¬ 
peared In the Rural lately advocating the ne¬ 
cessity of painting. Probably there is no beater 
economy for the farmer than to paint, aud paint 
well, not only buildings, but utensils of all kinds 
that are exposed to tho weather. There are, 
however, two difficulties at least, in the way of 
the man of small moansdolng so—thecost of the 
material, and tho ■worthlessness of it when ob¬ 
tained. Nine-tenths of the lead that Is in the 
market, for durability or for preeervali ve quali¬ 
ties, is no better, if it is as good, as whitewash. 
Who can tell us something about the mineral 
paints? The Brandon is much used tor barns 
and out-buildings in the West. It is much more 
durable than the cheap leads; but its color is 
an objection with many, being a dingy red. The 
Grafton we are not acquainted with, but under¬ 
stand that, jl is of yellowish color, and may be 
shaded to suit various tastes. 
Will some of your numerous readers, who are 
acquainted with it, give us their views as to its 
durability and usefulness as a paint for barns 
and out-builditigs, and the manner of applying 
it ?— A Friend of Paint, Viola , 111. 
Tbe Best Combined Reaper, Raker and Binder. 
—A Walla Walla, Washington Territory corre¬ 
spondent asks somebody to tell him which is the 
best machine of the above sort. We cannot tell 
him which is the best, but we can assure him 
that there is none yet worth his while to bother 
with. If the climate is such that he can use a 
header, he bad bettor stick toil until the Rural 
tells him uf something better. 
-- 
Fancy Fences. — Designs Wanted. — TlNSLEY 
Noel asks some of the Rural correspondents 
to furnish designs for fancy fences bt wooden 
materials, for publication in Rcral. 
