THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



wheat this year, the farmers should bear in mind 

 that a considerable portion of last year's crop is 

 still "on hand;" and that with most favorable 

 weather, the prospects for a large corn crop was 

 never better. Under these circumstances, with 

 the restoration of peace in Europe, it is more 

 than probable that prices will rule low during 

 the ensuing fall. What those prices are likely 

 to be, we will not undertake to say. It is too 

 soon to speak definitely of the opening rates, 

 but it seems to be the impression among millers 

 and dealers that $1.40(^1,50 will be sustained 

 as the range for a short time. We advise far- 

 mers not to be frightened by their losses during 

 the past year into a general rushing forward of 

 their crops. If they determine not to hoard 

 there is no reason why they should not take 

 time to consider before sending their produce to 

 market. 



There has been a considerable advance in Ba- 

 con and Sugar during the month ( June) and the 

 tendency is still upward — but more decided in 

 Bacon than in Sugar. Bacon Sides on 1st June 

 were 10£@10£, Shoulders 8|@9 ; on 27th Sides 

 were quoted at 11£, firm ; Shoulders 10J@10}. 

 Sugar on 1st inst. was as follows : New Orleans 

 7@9 cents, Coffee Sugars 9f@10£, refined 11 J@ 

 11| ; on 27th N. 0. 10@U cents, Coffee Sugars 

 10|@llf , refined 12@13 cents. Tobacco has 

 not fluctuated much during the month. Prices 

 have improved about 50 cents. The warehouses 

 here are nearly filled, and the entries for breaks 

 five weeks ahead ! The following, table exhibits 

 the prices on 26th June 1856 and same time 

 last year : 



June 26, '55. June 26, '56. 

 Lugs, - - 5f@ 7 4f@ 7 

 Leaf, Common, - 7f@ 8} 7i@ 8 

 Middling to Good, 9 @10£ 8£@10£ 



Fine Stemming, - 1 1 @13| 11 @13 



Fine Shipping, 

 Fine Manufacturing, 



11 @15| . ;- 11 @15 



12 @25 10 @25 

 In regard to Wool, the N. Y. Journal of Com- 

 merce says : 



"Prices are generally lower than they were 

 three weeks since, but the market is as yet un- 

 settled. Prices in the country continue to rule 

 high, and the impression generally prevails that 

 no lower rates will be accepted, for, although the 

 clip is likely to prove an average one, the stock 

 of old left over was much lighter than for many 

 years past." 



We annex a report of Baltimore Cattle Mar- 

 ket for the week ending 27th June : 

 Beef Cattle. — There has been a decline of 



25 cents in the price of Beef Cattle since last 

 week. The offerings at the scales to-day reach- 

 ed 800 head, of which 500 sold at prices ranging 

 from $4 to $5.25 f 100 lbs. on the hoof, equal 

 to $8@$10.12£ net, averaging $4.87£ gross. 



Hogs. — The market is firm, and sales are 

 making at $7@$7.50 f 100 Jbs. 



Sheep. — Demand steady, with sales at $2.50 

 @$4 $ head. 



REAPING MACHINES. 



Two new Reapers have been introduced into 

 the harvest this year, that of our friend Mr. 

 Morrison, of Richmond, and that of Mr. James 

 T. Caldwell, of Ayletts, King William County. 



We saw Mr. Morrison's cutting clover hay, 

 and it seemed to perform its work to admiration. 

 It was working on the land of Mr. Allen, near 

 Richmond ; and he thought it worked better 

 than Hussey's, which he had thought could not 

 be beaten. Of the performance of this reaper 

 in the field, we have not heard, though as there 

 is a large factory of them got up in Petersbnrg — 

 see advertising columns of the Planter — we ex- 

 pect to hear after awhile. 



Mr. Caldwell's machine, we know something 

 about, having tried it thoroughly, at his request, 

 on our own crop. We have to say for it, that 

 it is in principle and in practical operation the 

 simplest and best machine we have yet seen. 



It is single geared — that is, a bevel wheel on 

 the face of the ground wheel — or wheel that 

 carries the reaper, works into, a pinion on an 

 upright rod or shaft of about three feet long. 

 At the lower end, the rod terminates in a crank 

 which works the knives : at the upper end it 

 terminates in a small wheel like that which ope- 

 rates the brake on a locomotive. This gives 

 power to aid the horses at starting, and helps to 

 back the machine, to turn it, and to relieve it 

 when choked. It is evident that it is the extreme 

 of simplicity. The contrivance for lowering and 

 raising the platform and cutters cannot be de- 

 scribed without a diagram, but it is as simple 

 as the balance of this admirable piece of me- 

 chanism. So constructed, it follows of course 

 that it must be light : two horses work it with 

 ease ; a third is only in the way ; and its light- 

 ness makes it more durable, because it cannot 

 be racked, as heavier and more complicated ma- 

 chines are by their weight. 



The ground wheel is 9 inches tread and about 

 3 1 feet diameter, made of wood, like the band 

 wheel of wheat machines, with an iron tire. 



V 



