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' t)jEntered according to Act of Congress, iu January, 1861, by T. A. Bk and, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Indiana.
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Work for the Mo nth 225
Soils and Subsoils, No. Ill  225
Scientific Farming, No. XVII 220
Management of Farm Stock. No. IV 226
Letter front Baton Rouge, La 227
Farmers' Clubs 238
Among the Hop Vines 229
Springs 229
Letter from Washington. D. C 229
Letter from J effersonville, Ind 230
Farmers' Sons 230
Southern Grain Market at an Ei.d  231
Letter from Mt. Pleasant, Ohio 231
Letter from Pleasant Hill, Mo 231
Letter from Zionsville 233
Letter from North West Corner 232
Pointed and Sensible 232
Talk about Grapes, No. V 233
Letter from Chestnut Ridge 233
Facetie and Snakes 233
Close of the Volume 2.34
J ns tice to Indian a 234
Old or New 235
Will it Pay? 235
Who Ought to Read Rural Papers 235
An Appropriate Premium 235
Do you Want to be a Man ? 236
Thorough Culture 236
Progress of Railroads 235
A Few Facts about Economy 237
Now and Then 237
Write for Your Paper 237
What Shall We Read ?  238
Beggars  23S
Cranberry Culture 238
Labor 239
Complimentary 239
Agriculture Disgraced by Shiftless Farmers 239
Our Special Offer to Ladies 239
How to Fatten Animals    240
Lawrenceburg Woolen Mills 240
Western Farmers' Annual 240
Book Notices 240
Educational 240
Transplanting 240
Short-Horns as Dairy Cows 241
Contents of Volume II    211
Back Numbers 211
How to Pickle Beef 241
Asparagus—Parsley 241
Moles 241
Origin of Chester Wiiites 242
How Do You Like Ic ? 243
The Fire on the Hearth—Poem 243
Beecher on Religious Fodder 243
Index to Volume II 243
Special Notices 244
Advertisements   245
For the North Western Parmer.
Work for the Month.
After the harvest for small grain, we prescribe
light work for the next month. The farmer has
just passed through another harvest in taking
care of his corn crop, which with us in tlie great
North West is a work of no mean importance.
On the success of this crop, depends the well
being and prosperity of millions of American
citizens, to say nothing of ils effect upon money
matters with us, or our commerce with European
powers. We may then thankfully congratulate
ourselves, that we are about to close another
year with '• food enough and to spare;" and
when the dark and thickening clouds gather in
the horizon—the fierce winds blow; when snow
rides the storm, and biting frost pervades the air,
binding Ihe earth wilh its numerous rivers and
lakes in one vast sheet of ice, thus wrapping
in hyburnacular repose the whole vegetable
kingdom, is it not reasonable and right, nay,
imperative, that tlie farmer should enjoy a partial respite from his continuous and wearing
physical labors ? The responsive answer comes
to us from all quarters of an affirmative nature,
and therefore if we should prescribe "light
exercise in the open air," allowing more time for
mental culture and training, planning and
foundation laying, we think we shall be excused
if we do not call out a full force, in this inclement season.
Accounts.—Take plenty of time to straighten
up all transactions in dealing. Look inlo every
operation separately, performed Ihe past year, if
it is unprofitable, abandon it; if it pays, and the
chances appear equally good, try it again. Set
down and count Ihe cost, before engaging in
any new enterprise. Leave no important transaction to memory, for that is often treacherous.
Building.—Those contemplating building next
year, should begin now to lay in lumber. The
thick stuff for doors and window frames, should
be the iii-st procured, as it requires more time to
dry; joists, ratters and studding, stay to their
places much better when seasoned.
Bees—Should be examined occasionally, they
often need attention through the winter.
Cellar.—Close all avenues through which the
cold air can enter, and clean out rats if possible.
Education—In  its   broadest sense, demands
attention.    If you have children, send them to
school; atlhosame time educate yourself.    Is
1 there not something in this wide world yet to
learn ?    Intellect like money, does but little good
if it is not used.
Flues.—Look to these, see that they are perfectly safe. Half the fires we have, originate in
defective flues. With good safe flues, and
plenty of sheet zinc around fireplaces, and under
stoves, with all other reasonable precautions,
little danger need be apprehended from (ire
Ice.—If a stock has not been laid in, attend to
it at once.
Killing Hogs.—This is the month for butchery.
Do not put off all the fixing for this business,
until the day for slaughtering. Procure plenty
of good wood, examine scalding apparatus and
have Ihe sausage grinder, and crackling press in
readiness, as well as plenty of salt; then begin
earlv and finish all up in one day if possible.
Manure.—In cleaning out stables or stalls, do
not throw the manure where it will be wasted by
rains, thus depriving it of its most valuable
qualities.
Newspapers.—"Now is the time to subscribe."
We do not object to a good newspaper, devoted
to politics and general intelligence, arid we
believe every body ought to read a religious
paper or journal; but in place of Ihe light,
trashy, novel class of "yeller backed" literature,
we would propose one or two good leading agricultural, and as many Horticultural journals.
Try this experiment just one year, and see if you
are not the better for the experiment. Farmers
often object to newspaper and book teaching, and
say they are possessed of much practical knowledge, that is worth more than all the books can
tell. Now suppose this valuable practical knowledge was published in a newspaper, would it
impair ils effective practical application? certainly not, and yet this is just what the agricultural and horticultural journals are trying to
bring before the public eye. It is the ultimatum of these journals to gather up and disseminate as one common stock the practical experience of farmers and horticulturists.
Poultry—need warm and comfortable quarters. Kemoving the droppings frequently is
double pay, pays in the health of Ihe chickens,
be^-ides is the best manure that is made on the
farm.
Quails.—Xow boys for your traps and nets.
What line eating these quails are tor breakfast!
besides they are superb for dinner at school.
Tax List.—Procure one or two of these by
Ihe last of the month, and be ready to make Ihe
required inventory on the first day of 1SIJ8.
XCKSERT.
Wilh the freezing up of the ground, all out
door operations cease, except such as can be conducted independent of the frozen condition of
the earth ; grafts may be cut however as directed
for last month. It is really unsafe to leave
scions out later than the las! of the month. All
necessary preparations should be made for root
grafting. Scions and grafts should be where
they are accessible in the coldest weather. A
cellar answers this purpose very well.
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