194 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
Q-aeries. 
77. CoENEE Shelves.— Would like some instruc- 
tions regarding a corner braclcet or corner 
«lielves, wiiioli I desire to have put up in a 
Toom. I desire to have tliem neat and well- 
iinislied, but not too expensive. Any one wiio 
has liad any experience in these matters will 
oblige me very much by giving me such informa- 
tion as they may think I may need.— Jessie IS. 
78. Catamaean.— In the April number of the 
Young Scientist there is an article on cheap 
boats, and in it is mentioned a catamaran, which 
is recommended by the writer as being cheap, 
last and safe. Can you or Mr. O'Grrady give any 
further information regarding this kind of a 
craft? If you would publish some it would con- 
fer a favor on— Lake Eeie. 
79. SoEA Afghan.- I am about to make a sofa af- 
ghan. I waiit some ideas as to length, colors, and 
«titch best adapted for the purpose ; also quantity 
•of wool necessary, and what kind. Will some one 
who has had satisfactory results kindly give me 
the benefit of her experience ?— Constance. 
80. Teaming Photogaphs.— I have a photograph 
which I desire to frame myself, but am at a loss 
in deciding how to frame it. I can do the 
manual part of the work well enough, but would 
3ike to have a few hints as to materials and ar- 
rangement. Would any of your readers be kind 
<enough to assist me ?— Big Boy. 
81. Language of Peecious Stones.— I thank 
3^ou very much for answering my query (21) re- 
.garding trees and flowers, and am encouraged to 
«till further trespass on your good nature by 
Asking for a reply to the following question. 
What is meant by the " language of precious 
stones ?"— Matilda. 
8?. MoNOGEAMs.— A. M. wants a monogram of 
the above initials for inlay work, and asks Bos- 
tonian if he will kindly design one and publish 
it. Monograms are also desired for E. H. H.. J. 
H. J., L. H. H., and T. T. H. 
83. FoEciNG Plants.— H. H. Field desires to 
know how plants may be forced to bloom and to 
<early maturity. 
Note.—" H. H. Field " might get a more satis- 
factory answer if the variety of plants wished to 
mature had been named. One way to produce 
blossoms in an early stage of a plant's growth is 
to cramp the roots by potting in a small pot, 
pinch off buds that appear weakly, water with 
liquid manure, and give sunshine plenti- 
fully. Some plants run all to leaf when fed with 
mixed drinks, and need starving to make them 
bloom. H. H. F. can see that to bring a lettuce, a 
lily, and a lilac-bush to maturity would require 
three distinct modes of treatment.— E. M, H. 
Piirlict'lcprt. 
Retail Prices. 
IMPORTED CAGE BIRDS. 
Canaries, Belgian, per pair $6.oo to 15.00 
" /^w/c^, per pair 6.001015.00 
" German, Hartz Mts., each 2.50 to 10.00 
Gold Finches, each 1.50 
'Gold Finch (mules), each 2.5010 5.00 
Bull Finches, not trained, each 2.50 
Bull Finches, trained to sing two tunes, each. 10.00 to 40.00 
African Finches, per pair 2.50 to 5.00 
Chaffinches, each 1.50 
Talking Mino or Mina lo 00 to 25.00 
Linnets, each 1.50 to 2.00 
Linnets (mules), each 2.50 to 5.00 
Green Linnets, each i-5o 
Java Sparrows (bhie), each 1.50 
Java Sparrows (white), per pair 6.00 to 8.00 
English Sparrows, per pair i.oo 
Siskins, each i.oo 
Gray Cardmal, each 4.00 to 5.00 
Nightingales, each 8.00 to 25.00 
Japanese Nightingales, each 5.00 to 10.00 
Thrushes, each 5.00 to 7.00 
Skylarks, each 5.00 
Troopials, each 7.00 to 12.00 
European blackbirds, each 5 00 to 7.C0 
Black-caps, each 4.00 
StarHngs, each 4.00 to 6.00 
PARROTS. 
Gray Parrot 10.00 t(i 15.00 
Single Yellow-Head Parrot 8.00 to 12.00 
Double Yellow-Head Parrot 10.00 to 15 00 
West [ndian " 4.00 to 5.00 
Cockatoo (white) 18.00 
Australian Shell Paraquets, per pair 6.00 
"Love Birds," African Paraquets, per pair 6.00 
West Indian Paraquets, per pair 3.00 to 5.00 
All birds that are accomplished singers or talkers bring 
high and "fancy" prices. Parrots are rated by the num- 
ber of words, sentences, and tunes they have learned. 
AMERICAN CAGE BIRDS. 
Canaries, each 2.50 
Mocking Birds, females, each i.oo 
" " smgers 12.00 to 25.00 
Robins 2.50 to 5.00 
Blue Birds ("Blue Robins") each 1.50 
Indigo Birds, each i.oo 
Nonpariel, each 1.50 to 2.00 
Virgmia Cardinal, each , 2.5010 3.00 
Boboli-aks, each 1.50 to 2.00 
Yellow Birds, each 1.5010 2.00 
Prices Paid hy Dealers. 
Robins, per hundred 12.00 
Blue Robins (Blue-Birds), per pair 0.35 
Indigo Birds, each 0.50 
Bobolinks, per dozen 3.00 
Yellow-Birds, perhundred 12.00 
Orioles, per hundred 25.00 to 35.00 
Virginia Cardinals (Red-Birds), each 0.75 to i.oo 
Nonpareils, each 0.75 
Blue-Jays, each 0.35 
Scarlet Tanagers, each. . . , i.oc 
Red-Wmged Starlings, or Black-Birds, each. . 0.25 
Woodpeckers (" H gh-Holers"), each i.oo 
Partridges, each 1.50 
Cranes, each (according to variety) 10.00 to 20.00 
Wood-Ducks, per pair 2.50 
Wild Bronze Turkeys (one cock, two hens) 10.00 to 15.00 
FANCY POULTRY. 
Guinea or P'-i-Hens 12.00 
Pheasants, English, per pair 20.00 
" Golden, " 35-00 
" Silver, " 30.00 
Pea-Cocks, per pair 20.00 to 75.00 
Bronze Wild Turkeys 15.00 to 20.00 
White Turkeys 10.00 to 15.00 
Baiitams, trio 3.00 to 10.00 
Rmg-Doves, per pair 1.50 
Pigeons, cojnijion, per pair 0.75 
" all white, commott, per pair i.oo 
BIRD FANCIERS' MATERIALS. 
Breeding Cages (double) 1.50 to 4.00 
Trap Cages 0.75 
Wire " painted 0.5010 4.00 
Wood and Wire Cages 1.50 to 4.00 
McAllister's Mocking-Bird Food, ilb. jar...! 0.35 
" Canary-Bird Food, ilb. box 0.20 
" Mixed Bird Seed, ilb. box o.io 
" Extra Silver Bird Gravel, qt. box. o.io 
McAllister's Prepared Fish Food, per box o.io 
" Song Restorer, for birds, per bot. 0.25 
McAllister's Bird-Lice Destroyer, in patent 
bellows box 0.25 
McAllister's Bird Lime, per box 0.25 
Cuttle-Fish Bone, each 0.05 
Meal-Worms, per hundred 0.40 
Nest Boxes, wire and tin, o.io to 0.15 
