208 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
place wood that will soon be old and to be removed. 
Neatness is much promoted by using proper sup- 
ports for plants. Let the sticks and tying material 
be kept out of sight. Remove all faded flowers. 
Weeds of course must be kept down. Use the 
rake freely. The bayonet hoe and a narrow, long- 
toothed rake are the best implements for working 
among the plants in the flower borders. 
Green and Hot-Houses. 
The plants that are to come out will be outside 
by this time. Those that are left in should be 
properly shaded, watered, and cared (or generally. 
Put out such planls as are suited to it, in the bor- 
ders. Those that are to be retained in pots should 
be safe from being blown over, dried out, or being 
sunburned The earlier changes and repairs are 
made in the houses, the better Provide a good 
supply of potting soil. Well-rotted cow-manure 
and decomposed sods are the essential ingredients. 
Cold tirapery. 
While the vines are in flower, the temperature 
should range from S5° to 90' ai mid-day, and sink 
very gradually at night ; let watering be suspended 
during this period. Sudden changes interfere with 
the fertilization. When the blossoms are fully ex- 
panded, go through the house and give the bunches 
a gentle flirt with the finger, to facilitate the distri- 
bution of the pollen. One bunch is sufficient to 
leave to a shoot, and the shoot should be stopped 
at the third leaf beyond the bunch. When the 
berries areas large as peas, thin the bunches, remov- 
ing one-half or more of the fruit on each. Tie up 
the shoots as the weight of the bunches increases. 
Commercial Matters— Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care- 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist, 
show at a glance the transactions for the month ending 
May 14, 1SGS, and for the corresponding month last year : 
1. TnANSACTIONS AT THK NKW-YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. \Mieat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26(layse7mm'th.2IS,000 1.786.000 1,101.000 93.000 337,000 972.000 
26 days last m'th.148,000 202,500 913,000 66,500 153.000 77.000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days this m'th.325.000 1,967.000 1,858.000 133.000141,000 1,361.000 
26dnystes<m'tli,261,000 744,000 1.122.000 142,500 6S.0O0 1,177,000 
3. Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
liECEtPTS. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1868.. ..218.000 1.7S6.0O0 1.101.000 93.000 337.000 972.000 
28 (lays 1867... .181,700 224,000 180,000 4,700 89,000 31,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1 80S 325,000 1.967.OO0 1.858.000 133,000 141,000 1,961,000 
26dayslS67 2S4.0O0 1,807,000 3,269,000 525,000 41,000 
3. Exports from New York, Jan. 1 to May 14 : 
Flour. Wlieat. Corn. Bye. Oats. 
1963 319.202 1,708.715 2,909.014 153.093 36.469 
1S07 150.471 35,439 2,912.111 127,282 96.790 
1866 351.050 109.467 2.100.516 171.826 676,620 
1865 439,003 219,946 149.767 111 24,915 
4. Stock of grain in store at New York : 
Wheat, Corn, Bye, Barley, Oats, Malt, 
186S. bush. bush. bush. bush. bush. bush. 
May 12 379.812 1.039.621 33.341 493.491 8,705 
Apr. 13 6«.6!0 1.22.8.259 8.276 13.235 S9J.199 
Mar. 10 1.175.152 1,719,-22 43,542 16,611 1,791.212 34.102 
l-'en. 11 1,5117,679 1.705.3SO 182.111 93.032 2.131.191 65.237 
Jan. 13. ...1,617.418 1,431.553 1S9.330 161,313 2.379.826 09.389 
1867. 
Dec. 11 1.801.215 1.651.091 202/hO 392.815 3.199.513 S3.145 
Nov. 12 911.129 1.951.706 131.543 :M.053 2.210.752 52,155 
Oct. 15 167.603 967,664 7,300 32,79! 890,897 57.977 
Sept. 10 120,512 1.154,892 500 9,376 135,737 61.508 
All-. 13 .... 911.171 863,721 32,785 12,376 20 1.349 4S.632 
.lulv 15 215.509 16O.7S0 66.986 21.390 206.763 34.701 
June H 578.279 217.976 117.257 69,613 379.S65 16.511 
May 15 731,330 261.092 186,804 145,706 608,494 16.461 
Gold has been firmer in price, but not active, since our 
last. The latest quotation was 189j£... A more animated 
business has been reported in breadstuffs, the receipts 
and sales of which have been on a much more extensive 
scale, though generally at reduced figures. The export 
demand has been quite brisk, chiefly for spring wheat, 
the offerings of which have been largely increased, since 
the resumption of canal navigation. Within the past 
week, the purchases of No. 2, Spring, for shipment to 
British ports, have been unusually heavy, but buyers 
have had any existing advantage. Toward the close, 
Flour was depressed in price, on a light call for all 
grades ; 5vhile Wheat,Corn, Rye,and Oats, wound up more 
steadily, on a reviving inquiry Provisions have been 
iu less demand, closing generally with a downward ten- 
dency in values, under some pressure to realize, chiefly on 
hog products Cotton has been less active and lower... 
Wool has been moderately sought after, mainly by manu- 
facturers, 5vho have been paying rather stronger prices 
for low and medium grades Seeds have been quite 
dull Hay and Tobacco have attracted more attention 
at partially advanced prices Hops have been in slack 
request and decidedly cheaper. 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
April 14. May 14. 
Price of Gold 138SC 139X 
Flour— Super to Extra State $9 00 .■..1125 !f? 35 tel0 70 
Super to Extra Southern. . 9 75 ei 15 00 10 10 (515 50 
Extra Western 9 80 ©15 50 9 35 ®16 75 
Extra Genesee 1130 @14 25 10 75 Cell 00 
Superfine Western 9 00 c* 9 50 S35@9 35 
p.ve Flour 7*.o ® 9 60 s 00 ® 9 85 
Corn Meal 5 25 ® 6 25 537 6 50 
Wheat— All kinds of White. 2 90 @ 3 35 2 80 @ 3 20 
All kinds ot lied and Amber. 2 30 a 2 90 2 20 .., .' V . 
Corn- Yellow 1 25 @ 1 27 1 23 @ 1 25 
Mixed 1 20 ® 1 25 1 17 a. 1 1SS' 
Oats— Western S6X® 86X 87M® 88 
State Nominal. Nominal. 
I'.TE 187 O 1 94 2 05 (5i 2 19 
Barley 2 00 o 2 35 2 00 ® 2 20 
Hat— Bale W 100 B... 75 @ 1 30 SO ® l 60 
Loose 80 @ 1 40 1 00 @ 1 50 
Straw, f 100 » 60 ® 80 75 @ 1 00 
Cotton— Mid, nines, V ».... 31 ® 32K 29«® 31 
Hops-Crop ol 1867. ¥> tt. 10 ® 55 10'® 50 
Feathers— Live Geese. SB. 75 ® 90 SO ® 85 
Seed— Clover, *) » 9>^@ w% 10 @ n 
Tnnolliv. "f t'OShel 2 39 ©2 50 2 35 @ 2 50 
Flax. Jt" bushel ... 260 m 2 SO 265 (3 2 75 
Sugar- Brown, V » 10 ® 13^ 10K® 14 
Mousses, culm, i'cal .. 87 a, 55 35 «j> .55 
Coffee— Kio.iGnld priced tt. l3'.,(.i. isi,- 9 © 13 
Tom i. Ki-iiiuckv, *c.*B. 8 (S 24 8 @ 20 
Seed Leaf. ? H> 5® 50 5® 55 
WOOL— Dome. lieFleece. fib. 40 ® 60 42 ® 60 
Domestic, pulled. V lb 28 ® 47 28 ® 49 
California, unwashed. 20 ® 33 22 ® 33 
Tallow. V n> 12K® 12S HX® 12>6 
Oil-Cake— *> ton 48 00 @56 00 52 00 & 56 on 
Pork— M ess. »( barrel 26 00 @27 15 27 50 r«2S 55 
Prime, fl barrel . 22 00 @22 50 23 50 6 24 00 
l'.EEF-Plain mess 15 00 ©20 50 15 00 to 20 50 
Lard, in barrels, S ». 17 ® 18 18 ® 19 
HOTTER — Western, Sib IS ® 42>J 36 ® 45 
Stale. S B . ... 20 ® 53 44 @ 55 
Cheese 9 @ 16X 9 ® 17 
Be ixs-S bushel 5 65 ® 6 10 5 40 @ 5 90 
Peas— Canada, "f bushel 1 55 @ — 1 50 ® 1 55 
Eggs- Fresh. V dozen 22 ® 24 22 ® 24 
1'oii.trt- Fowls, SB 20 @ 22 17 ® 19 
Turkeys, SB 22 ® 25 20 @ 22 
1'ot\t'oE9— Sbhl 3 75 ® 4 75 4 00 ® 5 00 
\,. PI F — V barrel 500® 6 00 425®650 
Cranberries. S barrel 7 00 @10 00 7 00 ®10 00 
New York I>ive Stoclc Markets.— 
week ending. Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. ToVl 
April 2Uth 5.381 131 2.521 16.445 13.6-23 38,101 
April 27111.. 5.860 17.' 2.590 19,750 21,938 19,119 
May 4th 5.519 70 2.811 1 ;.7M 11.139 36.311 
May 11th 5,132 92 2,551 12,067 21.003 43,818 
Total in four Weeks.... 1XSSI 465 10,466 62.045 72,803 167,709 
dofor previous 5 IFeel's. 22,933 679 8,237 86.206 69.479 187,497 
Beeves. Coics. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week 5,473 116 2.621 15,511 18,204 
do. do. last Month. 3,588 136 1,617 17,211 13,896 
do. do. prev's Month. 4,579 77 656 21,719 10,643 
Average per Week, 1867. SfiU 61 1.320 22,151 20.605 
do. do. do. I860 5.748 94 1.200 20.000 13.000 
do. do. do. 1865 5.255 118 1.500 16.091 11,023 
do. do. do. 1S(H 5.161 145 1,511 15.315 12.676 
do. do. do. 1863 5,150 129 694 9,941 21,670 
Total in 1867 293,832 3.369 69.941 1.171.154 1,102,613 
Total in 1866 298,880 4.885 62.120 l.olo.non 672.000 
Total ill 1865 270.271 6,161 77.991 886.738 571,197 
Total in 1861 267,6(19 7.008 75.621 782.162 060.270 
Total in 1863 264,091 6,470 35,705 519,316 1,101.617 
The above table gives the weekly receipts for the four 
weeks ending May 11, the total number of all kinds for 
each week, also the number of each kind for the four 
weeks, as well as the sum of all kinds for the month. 
There has been a marked increase in the number of 
cattle in market over that given for the same period last 
month. The supply for the week ending May 11th is 5,132, 
being 341 less than the average for the four weeks. With 
the large quantity, and a quality more even than 
last month, but few cattle have sold at the highest figures 
given below. On every market day many good cattle sold 
as low as 18c, and for the week ending May 4th Western 
men were glad to get 17@17t£c. for bullocks that cost 
them Sc., live weight, at Chicago, which was a losing busi- 
ness. The week ending May 11th presented a little bet- 
ter market for them, ISc. being paid for the same grade 
of steers. More Western men than usual have been in 
market with their own cattle, and talk rather gloomy ; 
they say prices have declined l}' 2 c. per pound since they 
started from home. The increase in numbers made it neces- 
sary to sell some good bullocks lower ihan the same qual- 
ity brought last month. The market kept steady, however, 
and the yards were generally cleaned out. But few really 
poor cattle reached here, Western men preferring to sell 
at Albany to State " grazers " for 7@flc, live weight, than 
venture the additional expense of bringing them here. 
The " tops " of prime droves brought nearly last month's 
prices, but the medium and average ones fell at least i.e. 
per pound below, while light steers were slow at ll((75l3c. 
The following list gives the range of prices, average 
price, and the figures at which the largest lots were sold : 
ApT20th ransed 15@20c A v. live. Large sales 17 @18S< 
do. 27th do. 13«@19c do. 16iKc. do. do. 16'»©i;\ 
Mav Ith lo. l:l'-(.»|s"V . ,lo in i ;,,. ,[,,. ,\,, ,,; ,,-y,;. 
do. 11th do. 15K@19c. do. 17Kc. do. do. 17 @18 
This is the season of the greatest supply of veal, over 
2.000 arriving every week. Shad, though not so plenty 
as in former years, are cheap enough to enable people to 
buy them instead of beef, and when eggs are abundant, 
they also diminish the consumption. These supplies 
of animal food, and the early vegetables now just finding 
their way into market, reduce the demand for beef, and 
the butchers find that the prices of last winter cannot be 
maintained ; consequently, beef has fallen at least lc. per 
pound since our last report Iflilcli Cows.— The 
supply has been light, wilh a moderate call from milkmen 
and others, and trade is dull. Cows are often purchased 
on account of their good looks rather than their milking 
qualities, and some have sold as high as $130@$150 each. 
Such prices are generally obtained from those who want a 
showy animal. Equally good milkers may be had for $S0@ 
$90. Poor cows sell for $40® $50 each... Veal Calves. 
—The supply has been very large, and prices much below 
last month. A great many dressed calves continne to 
come in, and some from a great distance are in such poor 
order that they sell very cneap, affecting very much the 
sale of live animals. Few live calves bring more than 
lie, live weight, while many really fine ones sell for 10c, 
and ordinary ones as low as C@S^c. Owing to the great 
scarcity of sheep for the past two weeks, the market for 
veal has been more firm Sheep and Lambs, — 
Receipts have been less each week for the past month, 
and we have a falling oft' in numbers of 24.101, which is 
a very large decrease. Full one-half the sheep coming in 
now to market have been sheared, and unshorn ones 
are less and less every arrival. We quote sheared 
at 9J4@10c. for good, S©9c. for medium, while common 
ones, poor and small, sell as low as 7c Unshorn-extras 
bring 9 l 4@dlc good to medium, and common from Gy°@ 
9c Lambs are more plenty, and worth 15@lSc per pound, 
live weight, or $7@$12 each. The market is very brisk, 
and buyers watch for the arrival of trains very closely, 
not unfrequently purchasing before their arrival 
Swine.— Notwithstanding there has been a steady in- 
crease in the number of hogs every week since our last 
report, prices have remained about the same. A slight 
decline at the close of our report is manifest. The heavy 
increase of 10,000 head Monday, May 11th, rather 
" glutted " the market, and prices fell about y 2 c. per 
pound. The prevailing rates now are 9il@10c Some 
very prime lots sold at lO^c, and rough ones at 9@9L|C. 
What Railroads l>o for Farmers. 
— To haul 40 bushels of corn 50 miles on a wagon would 
cost at least $12 for team, driver, and expenses. A rail- 
road would transport it for $4 at most. Allowing an aver- 
age of 40 bushels per acre, the crop would be worth $S 
more per acre, or S per cent on $100. As the relative ad- 
vantage is about the same for other crops, it is clear that 
a railroad passing through a town would add $110 per 
acre to the value of the farms. A town 10 miles square 
contains 04,000 acres. An increase of $100 per acre is 
equal to $G,400,000, or enough to build 200 miles of rail- 
road, even if it cost $32,000 per mile. But 200 miles of 
road would extend through twenty towns ten miles 
square, and cost but $10 per acre if taxed npon the land. 
These figures are given merely as an illustration. If the 
farmers had taxed themselves to build all the railroads in 
this country, and given them away to any companies that 
would stock and run them, the present increased value of 
their lands would have well repaid all the outlay. 
Farm Scales, Very Useful.— It is an 
old saw, that, " Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be 
wise." It is, however, the business and privilege of the 
Agriculturist to disturb its readers in this blissful igno- 
rance whenever it can. Farmers who have platform 
scales, either set in the barn floor or movable, feel al- 
most as unable to get along without them as without a 
plow. Every thing for market or for sale is weighed. 
Grain and roots are not measured^ but simply weighed, 
saving time and securing greater accuracy. Animals 
bought or put up for fattening are weighed ; when fat or 
ready for market, or sold, they are weighed again. The 
feed for stock of all kinds is weighed out, and thus much 
greater uniformity of feeding secured. Thus farm scales 
are practically of great value, and besides they place in 
the hands of any accurate man the means of conducting 
many most valuable experiments, both for his own satis- 
faction, and for the good of all interested as he is. On 
large farms, like that of Mr. David Lyman, described last 
year, the full sized hay scales are most useful ; on smaller 
ones doubtless some of the lower size9 would be pref- 
erable — or at least more economical. 
Salt for Cattle.—" H. G.," Alleghany Co., 
Pa.— The mixture of salt and clay in the form of bricks, 
used for salting cattle in some parts of Europe, is not to 
be found in this country. We presume, however, you can 
find Liverpool salt in large, solid, reddish lumps, and per- 
haps Louisiana salt in clear white lumps at the agricul- 
tural warehouses of our Atlantic cities. The article 
should be more common than it is. Lumps as big as one's 
doubled fists laid in mangers or where animals can lick 
them will afford all the salt they need, and no more. 
