THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



353 



Subjects for Prize Essays. 



We have received from various correspondents the fol- 

 lowing subjects for Prize Essays : 



Agricultural. — 1. Upon the importance and usefulness 

 of the study of entomology " or insect life" to farmers and 

 farmers' children, with concise and practical directions for 

 collecting and preserving species, cheap cabinet, <ic. 



2. On the cultivation of the basket willow ; its prepara- 

 tion for market, and the probable profit per acre where ten 

 acres are cultivated ; amount per acre and price per ton. 



3. Are the interest of agriculture truly promoted by 

 societies bestowing their highest premiums upon fancy 

 trotting horses, and female equestrianshij) ? 



4. On the management of cows for the dairy — including 

 the best food ; and especially fall and spring feeding and 

 management. 



5. What means can be best employed to prevent 

 farmers' sons deserting their fathers' profession ? 



6. How and to what extent shall the study of agricul- 

 ture be introduced into our Common Schools ? 



7. Will it pay farmers to convert bones into super- 

 phophate — and if so, the best method of doing it. 



8. On the advantages of keeping a strict account of the 

 expenses and profits of each product of the farm. 



9. On the best method of digging and preparing 

 swamp muck, its application, &c. 



10. The best answer to the question, what do we make 

 underdrains for ? 



11. Can horse chestnuts be made use of as food for 

 stock, and how ? 



12. The best answer to the question, what do we 

 plow for ? 



13. On the best method of exterminating Canada 

 thistles. 



14. On the importance of furnishing good tools for boys. 



15. On the cultivation of winter barley, its origin, &c. 



16. On the best manner of underdrainmg with tiles. 



17. On the duty of farmers to make home attractive. 



18. On the best method of destroying lice on calves. 



19. On the best method of exterminating red-root. 



20. On the best kind of horses for farmers. 



21. On the best method of making hay. 



22. On the cultivation of Indian corn. 



23. On Farmers' Clubs. 



24. On Cheese making. 



25. On breaking houses. 



26. On rearing calves. 



Horticultural. — 27. On the best treatment for an old 

 rambling grape vine. How can it best be brought into 

 proper form and compass on a trellis ? 



28. For the best plan of laying out a small flower- 

 garden, and arranging a limited assortment of common 

 shrubs and flowers. 



29. For the best answer to the question : " Is it best to 

 plant fruit trees in the fall or spring in this country ?" 



80. On the best method of cultivating, pruning and 

 training grape vines. 



31. On the cultivation of celery, and preserving it for 

 winter use. 



32. On the best method of cultivating the Japan apple 

 pie melon. 



34. Onthecultivationof strawberries, best varieties, &c. 



33. What is the cause of cracking in the pear, remedies, 

 &c.? 



35. On the cultivation of the peach. 



36. On grafting old grape vines. 



For the Ladies. — 37. What is the best washing ma- 

 chine; do they save much labor, and is their introduction 

 among farmers desirable? 



38. On the use of soda or saleratus in cooking. Is it 

 as injurious as is sometimes asserted? 



39. Are sewing machines of much use in farmer's fami- 

 lies? 



40. How can the labor in a farm house be lessened ? 



41. On the best method of drying fruit. 



42. On making cheese from a few cows. 



43. On butter making. 



We offer a prize of a dollar book for the best essay on 

 each of the above subjects. The essays should not occupy 

 more than a page of the Genesee Farmer, (say six pages 

 of foolscap.) They must be sent in by the 25th of De- 

 cember. The essays will be submitted to competent 

 judges, and those deemed the best will be published in * 

 the February number of the Genesee F-&rvur. 



The Markets. — The accounts from England during the 

 last two or three weeks report unfavorable weather and an 

 advance of prices. Under the influence of this news, 

 prices have advanced somewhat in this country. In this city 

 to-day (Oct. 22), the best white wheat brings |1.40 ; red Med- 

 iterranean $1.15 a f 1.20. Corn 60 cents ; Barley 62^ a 65 

 cents. There are few white beans oflered. The best are 

 worth 80 cents. In New York, white wheat sells for 

 11.50 a $1.60; red $1.38 a $1.42; Spring wheat, Milwauke 

 club $1.30 a %\.'to ; Chicago, Spring wheat $1.20 a -SI. SO. 

 Inferior and smutty Spring wheat is difficut to sell. Rye 

 is scarce and wanted at 80 to 81 cents. Barley is in fail- 

 supply ; common is slow of sale at 77 cents, while choice 

 is firm ; State 77 to 80 cents ; choice Lake shore and Can- 

 ada West 83 a 89 cents. Oats, scarce and advancing, 381 

 a 40 cents. Corn is advancing. There is an increased de- 

 mand for exportation. The range is 72 to 86 cents. White 



Beans 90 cents to $1.15. 



►•■» 



Half-Year Premiums.— Our half-year premiums for the 



greatest number of subscribers sent in on or before the 



fifteenth day of October, have been taken as follows : 



1. J. Mackelcan, Jr., Hamilton, C. W. $20 for 7.1 subs. 



2. W. H. McCrea, Norristown, Pa., 15 " 50 " 



3. J. W. Valentine, Rumsey, N. J. 10 " 50 " 



4. T. J. Risley, Spnngville^ Pa., 9 " 49 " 



5. A. Donald, Burnbrae, C. W., 8 " 38 " 

 0. S. Mills, Franktown, C. W., 7 " 34 " 



7. J. K. Garnbam, fiuysboro, C. W., 6 " 32 " 



8. G. Willard, Sandford Corners, K Y., 5 " 31 " 



9. Aaron Shoop, Kittaning, Pa., 4 " 28 " 

 10. G. Strother, Van Wert, 0., 3 " 22 " 

 n. R. B. Curry, Donelson, Tenn., 2" 20 " 

 12. S. B. Peck,' Muskegau, Mich., 1" 18 " 



Our friends can draw on us at sight for the amounts, or 



we will send by mail, or in any other way they may 



designate. 



•^ ♦». 



Cash Prizes — Our list of Cash Prizes for the greatest 

 number of subscribers to our next volume, sent in before 

 the fifteenth of January will be found on the last .page. So 

 few compete for these prizes that no one can fail of secu- 

 ring one of the largest by a little eflbrt. Our offer to send 

 the paper for 15 months for 50 cents affords a rare oppor- 

 tunity to commence canvassing at this time. 



