4:2 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
Contents for February, 1874. 
Agassiz. Illustrated.. 41 
Agriculturist Strawberry. 64 
Bee Notes for February. 49 
Boys and Girls’ Columns—Beautiful and Curious Stone 
—How Business is done under the Sea—“English 
Currants ’’—Aunt Sue’s Puzzle-Bos—Goats. 
9 Illustrations.. 67, 68 
Books Noticed.4s 
Calf-Feeder. Illustrated.. 57 
Catalogues received.49 
Cattle, Covered Stalls for.3 Illustrations .56 
Cattle, Transportation of.59 
Cow, What may be Expected of a Jersey.59 
Currants. Cultivation of..62 
Dog, Shepherd.. Illustrated. .60 
Drain, Safety... Illustrated . .58 
Duck, Imperial Pekin.... .58 
Eggs, Early.53 
Evergreen, An Ornamental. .62 
Fertilizers for Particular Plants, Special.63 
Fish in Small Ponds.58 
Flower Garden and Lawn for February.44 
Flowers, Blue Vervain. Illustrated. .64 
Fruit Garden for February. 43 
Fruit Growing in Utah. .. .63 
Greenhouse and Window Plants for February.44 
Harrow, Square. Illustrated.. 58 
Horse, Morgan Abdallah . Illustrated. .53 
Horse Trough, An Improved. Illustrated. .57 
Horticultural Stealing.61 
FIot-Beds, Profit from...49 
Household Department — Supports for Shove! and 
Tongs—Home Topics — What Shall we Have for 
Breakfast?—Renovating Old Feathers—Calte-Mak- 
ing.....2 Illustrations. .65, 66 
Kitchen Garden for February.44 
Lime, Burning Shells to Make. Illustrated. .57 
Market Report for February. 44 
Notes from the Pines—Balance of Things—Exotic 
Aquatic Plants—Fish—Winter-Blooming Pelargoni¬ 
ums—Double Chinese Primrose—Propagating Eclie- 
verias. 62, 63 
Ogden Farm Papers, No. 48—Water—Jersey Cattle— 
Feeding Clover—Dairy Statistics—Food for Cattle- 
Laborers—Butter—Soiling Crops. 50, 52 
Orchard and Nursery for February. 43 
Pea, Japan. Illustrated. .63 
Saw, Protection for a Circular. Illustrated. .57 
Sheep, A New Method of Hurdling. Illustrated. .55 
Sheep-Rack. Illustrated.. 53 
Sheep, Shropshire-Down. Illustrated.. 53 
Stock, Watering in Winter...50 
Turkeys, Loss of Weight in Dressing.59 
Verbena, The Garden.. Illustrated.. 61 
Walks and Talks on the Farm, No. 122—Cellars Freez¬ 
ing—Corn—Farming—Money—Wages—Potatoes. 54, 55 
Work, Hints about. 42 
INDEX TO “BASKET,” OK SHORTER ARTICLES. 
American Dairymen’s Ass.47 
Boat Building.47 
Bones, Grinding.48 
Book by Prof. Winchell.. .48 
“ Brahma Fowl,” L. 
Wright’s.46 
Butter Packages.47 
CastOr Beans and Oil.47 
Cattle, Soiling.47- 
Chips and Bark. Value of.48 
Clevis, Three-Horse.48 
Cochins, Buff. .75 
Colt, ! For a Jumping.75 
Concrete Buildings.75 
Congress to do, Three 
Things for.48 
Co-operative Store.75 
Corn, Broom.46 
Corn, Harrowing.75 
Cow, Worms in a. 75 
Cycloptedia, American... .46 
Darnel.75 
Death of Henry A. Dreer..45 
Diseased Udder.75 
Drains and Irrigating 
Pipes for. .75 
Emigration to Kansas... .48 
Farmers’ Club, Volinia.. .7o 
Fence Posts, Improving. .47 
Fertilizers, Artificial.46 
Floriculture, Henderson’s 
Practical.46 
Florida Agriculturist.47 
Ladder, How to Carry a.. .47 
Land Sales....47 
Lard Oil.47 
Leather and Tanners’ 
Fleshings.75 
Leather Scraps, Value of.47 
Manure for Potatoes.47 
Mich. AgricnltuT College.46 
Milk, Temperature for 
Setting..!.48 
Multnra'in Parvo.75 
Oleo Margarine.75 
Orchard, Crop for.75 
Ox, Heavy.75 
Patrons of Industry.47 
Plaster, Nova Scotia.47 
Poitou Ass.75 
Postal Cards, Use of.45 
Potato Disease.75 
Potato Premiums, Liberal.47 
Potato Planter.47 
Poultry for Profit.75 
Railroad, Burlington and 
Missouri.75 
Roofing Material.48 
Scratches.75 
Seeds, Agricultural Dep’t.47 
Sheep Farming in Texas.75 
Sheep, Foot and Month 
Disease in.75 
Sheep in South Carolina. .48 
Sheep on Shares, Caring 
for.48 
Forestry, Memorial.47i Spinning Wheel, New_48 
Fowls’Legs, Disease in. .75!Steaming Feed.48 
Gail Borden..47 Stove, Vapor.47 
Gardeners’ Monthly.46 West, Going.48 
Goats for Milk.75 What we Call Mean.46 
Grass, Italian Rye.48; Wheat, Harrowing. 48 
Grass, Sowing in Spring..47 Wheat, Head of Spring.. .47 
Hay, Measure for.75, Wheeler's Anti Suow-ball- 
HoajCholera.47i ing Pad.47 
Hoi^es Hanging Back_48 Windmill.75 
Humbugs, Sundry.45 Wool..46 
Kansas Homesteader.47 WooleuMill Refuse.47 
Calendar for February, 
Hoston.KEng- 
JV. Y.City, 67., 
Philadelphia , 
Washington , 
land, N. 
1 ork 
Mary land. 
State, Miclii - 
A eic Jersey, 
Virginia.Ken- 
(jan 
I Viscon- 
Penn., 
Indiana 
Ohio. 
lucky. Missou- 
o 
sin. 
Iowa, and 
and 
Cali - 
V 
O’ 
§ 
Oregon. 
Illinois. 
fornia. 
©• 
e 
1 Sun 
1 rises. 
Mo'n 
rises . 
S co 
■zu 
Mo'n 
rises . 
Srg 
$3 £ 
II 
H.M 
H.M 
H. M. 
H.M 
H.M 
u. M. 
H.M 
H.M 
H. M. 
i 
s 
7 14 
5 14 
5 26 
7 10 
5 18 
5 30 
7 6 
5 92 
5 35 
2 
Al 
7 IS 
5 15 
6 28 
7 9 
5 19 
G 32 
7 5 
5 23 
6 35 
3 
T 
7 11 
5 16 
7 30 
7 7 
5 20 
7 32 
7 4 
5 24 
7 35 
4 
w 
7 10 
5 IS 
8 30 
7 6 
5 22 
8 31 
7 3 
5 25 
8 32 
5 
T 
7 9 
5 19 
9 30 
7 5 
5 93 
9 30 
7 2 
5 26 
9 30 
6 
K 
7 S 
5 20 
10 31 
7 4 
5 24 
10 29 
7 1 
5 27 
10 28 
7 
s 
7 7 
5 22 
11 31 
7 3 
5 25 
11 29 
7 0 
5 28 
11 26 
8 
S 
7 6 
5 23 
morn 
7 2 
5 26 
morn 
6 59 
5 29 
morn 
9 
M 
7 5 
5 25 
0 35 
7 1 
5 28 
0 SI 
6 58 
5 31 
0 28 
10 
T 
7 4 
5 26 
1 40 
7 0 
5 29 
1 35 
6 57 
5 32 
1 30 
11 
vv 
7 2 
5 27 
2 43 
6 59 
5 30 
2 42 
6 56 
5 33 
2 36 
12 
T 
7 1 
5 29 
3 57 
6 58 
5 31 
3 51 
6 55 
5 34 
3 44 
13 
K 
7 0 
5 30 
5 1 
C 57 
5 32 
4 54 
G 54 
5 35 
4 47 
14 
S 
6‘58 
5 31 
5 55 
G 56 
5 33 
r> 49 
6 53 
5 36 
5 42 
15 
S 
6 57 
5 33 
6 39 
G 54 
5 34 
6 33 
6 52 
5 38 
6 28 
16 
M 
6 55 
5 34 
sets 
G 53 
5 36 
sets 
6 50 
5 39 
sets 
17 
T 
0 54 
5 35 
G 51 
6 51 
5 37 
6 53 
G 49 
5 40 
6 55 
IS 
W 
6 52 
5 36 
8 10 
G 50 
5 38 
8 10 
6 48 
5 41 
8 11 
19 
T 
6 51 
5 33 
9 26 
6 49 
5 40 
9 25 
6 4? 
5 42 
9 24 
20 
F 
6 50 
5 39 
10 42 
6 48 
5 41 
10 39 
6 46 
5 43 
10 37 
21 
S 
6 48 
5 41 
11 57 
6 46 
5 43 
11 51 
6 44 
5 45 
11 49 
22 
s 
G 47 
5 42 
morn 
G 45 
5 44 
morn 
6 43 
5 4G 
morn 
23 
M | 
6 45 
5 43 
i H 
6 43 
5 45 
1 6 
6 41 
5 47 
i i 
24 
T 
W 
6 44 
5 45 
2 21 
G 42 
5 47 
2 15 
(1 40 
5 48 
2 8 
25 
0 42 
5 4G 
3 29 
(i 40 
5 48 
3 22 
6 38 
5 49 
3 15 
20 
T 
G 40 
5 47 
4 26 
6 38 
5 49 
4 19 
6 37 
5 50 
4 12 
27 
F 
6 33 
5 48 
5 11 
G 37 
5 50 
5 4 
6 35 
5 51 
4 58 
2S 
S 
G 37 
5 49 
5 49 
6 35 
5 51 
5 43 
6 34 
5 52 
5 38 
PHASES OF THE MOON. 
MOON. 
DOST 
ON. 
N, 
TORN. 
•WASI 
’N. 
cha’s 
TON 
CHICAGO. 
i). 
H. M. 
H. 
M. 
H. 
M. 
h. 
M. 
n. M. 
Full M’n 
i 
6 51 
m. 
6 
39 
m. 
G 
27 
m. 
6 
15 
m. 
5 45 
m. 
3d Quart. 
9 
11 45 
m. 
11 
33 
m. 
11 
21 
in. 
11 
09 
m. 
10 39 
in. 
New M’n 
1G 
2 31 
ev. 
2 
19 
ev. 
2 
7 
ev. 
1 
o;> 
ev. 
1 25 
ev. 
1st Quart 
23 
6 1 
m. 
5 
49 
m. 
5 
37 
m. 
a 
<j5 
m. 
4 55 
m. 
A M E It I € A \ A G It I (! If L T U It! S T. 
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1874. 
One more month and spring will be here. It is 
a good thing to look forward. A farmer lives 
largely in the future. In the calf he sees the ripe 
steer. His plans are far-reaching, and require 
months and years for their perfect development. 
A man who can not wait with patience will not be 
a happy farmer. He must work and hope. We 
have had much to discourage us, but our prospects 
are now decidedly brighter. For two or three 
years past we have seen hard times. Wages have 
been high and prices low. Our expenses have 
been out of all proportion to our receipts. The 
“panic” of last September was the effect and not 
the cause of the general agricultural distress. As 
we have repeatedly stated, farmers for two or 
three years past have not been getting adequate 
compensation for their labor and capital. Many a 
farmer of skill, experience, and intelligence has 
received less pay for his labor than the average 
mechanic, or even, in some cases, than the un¬ 
skilled laborer on our railroads and oublic works. 
The cities and villages seemed to oe prospering, 
while farmers found it difficult to raise money to 
pay taxes and grocery bills. It needed the panic 
to convince oiir bankers, manufacturers, business, 
commercial, and railroad mpn that the nation 
could not prosper when com was used for fuel, 
and when the money got for a hog would hardly 
buy a pair of children’s boots. It was well that 
they should know that a farmer who had to pay $3 
or $4per day and board to get men to help him 
bind a crop of wheat that only yielded eight bush¬ 
els per acre was not likely to buy many silk 
dresses or railroad bonds. And so the col¬ 
lapse came. 
Now things are changed. Farmers, like all 
other classes, suffered by the panic, but we 6hall 
lose nothing by it in the end. 
Favored by low prices, our exports of farm pro¬ 
duce have been enormous. It is a good thing to 
get rid of onr surplus. It will give us better prices 
for what we have left. To-day there is nothing in 
the prospect ahead that should discourage a good 
farmer. It seems brighter to us than at any time 
for several years past. Wages will come down, 
implements, machines, dry-goods, and groceries 
Will be sold at reasonable rates. What we have to 
sell will be higher; what we need to buy will be 
lower—in fact, is lower already. 
But let it not be forgotten that to the poor far¬ 
mer times are always hard. We must raise good 
crops aud produce good beef, mutton, pork, cheese, 
butter, and fruit before we have any right to ex¬ 
pect good times. It would be a sad thing for the 
country to have prices 60 high that a poor farmer 
who raises only ten bushels of wheat per acre on 
the average could get rich. The writer is a farmer, 
and all his interests and sympathies are with the 
farmer, but we can not but feel that many of our 
troubles are due to ourselves. We need, it may be ; 
an “elastic currency,” cheap freights, and fewer 
middlemen, more sheep and fewer dogs, a better 
Department of Agriculture, more farmers’ ciubs, 
more agricultural books and papers, and more 
farmers in Congress—but above all we need a better 
system of farming. Nothing will help us unless we 
help ourselves. We must farm better or quit the 
business. We must raise as much wheat, barley, 
oats, corn, beans, peas, and potatoes as we do now, 
but we must raise them on less land. We can not 
afford to spread our labor over three acres of land 
to raise 250 bushels of potatoes, when we can raise 
the same amount on oue acre. And so with all the 
other crops. We shall never make money by farm¬ 
ing until we aim to raise large crops per acre. 
Half our troubles come from spreading our labor 
over too much land. 
Mints about Work. 
On our own farm the most important labor of the 
winter is feeding stock and making manure. 
Good Manure can only be made from good food. 
The more nitrogen the food contains the richer 
and more valuable will be the manure. 
Oil-Cake, either from linseed or cotton-seed, 
makes the richest manure. Malt-combs, beans, 
and peas come next, and are nearly as good. Next 
come bran and clover hay. Then oats, Indian- 
com, and barley; then timothy hay and corn¬ 
stalks. Bean and pea straw come next; then oat- 
straw, wheat-straw, and lastly barley straw. 
Bran or Shorts is a favorite food with us. We 
feed it largely to sheep, store pigs, cows, and 
horses. We can sell timothy hay for $28 per ton 
and buy shorts for $18 per ton. And the manure 
from a ton of bran we estimate to be worth $15, 
while that from a ton of timothy hay or corn is 
worth less than $7, and that from a ton of clover 
hay about $10, and from a ton of straw $2.50 to $3. 
Straw and Stalks are scarce and high. We run 
them all through a cutting box, both for food and 
for litter. When cut up, straw will absorb much 
more liquid, and is consequently more valuable for 
bedding than long straw. 
Corn-Meal for Manure has been much talked 
about lately. Wc recommend it heartily—ous i>; j 
should first be passed through some annual ma¬ 
chine, such as a cow, horse, sheep, or pig. 
For Store Animals, half a pound of corn-meal per 
day for each 100 pounds of live weight, mixed with 
two pounds of chaffed straw or stalks is, with us, 
an economical food. 
For Fattening Animals, three-fourths to one 
pound of meal per day to each 100 pounds of live 
weight is about the proper quantity. 
Three Good Plans for Managing Manure are : 1st, 
to draw it out every day and spread it on the land, 
or put it in a large pile in the field where it is to be 
used; 2d, to let it fall into a manure cellar; 3d, to 
wheel it out every day, or as often as convenient, 
to some central spot in the bqfn-yard and make it 
into a heap. The latter is our own plan. 
No Flan can be Worse than leaving the cow manure 
in a scattered heap just outside the cow stable, 
and the horse manure in another heap, and the pig 
manure, half mud and corn-cobs, in another heap, 
where it freezes solid. Mix the whole in a compact 
heap, and it will ferment all winter and be ready 
for use in the spring. 
A few Planks are Needed on which to wheel the 
