AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
than from cold. The object of putting cabbages, 
cauliflower, lettuce, etc., in frames, is to keep them 
dormant, as 'svell as to shield them from excessive 
cold. If they are stimulated into growth by too 
much heat, they will be as badly oflf as if severely 
frozen. Beginners err in keeping the plants too 
warm. Air the frames whenever the outside tem- 
perature is near 32', and in mild weather remove 
the sashes altogether. 
Hot-BeOs, for sowing seeds, will be needed this 
month in the Southern States ; as the time for mak- 
ing these will diifer in each locality, we need only 
repeat the general rule that they should be started 
— whether South or North— about six weeks before 
it will be safe to set the plants in the open ground. 
FloTver Ijiarden and I..a>m. 
Eiiergnens are apt to be bent out of shape, by 
accumulation of snow in their tops. It should be 
shaken out while light; in snows heavy enough to 
cover their lower branches, shovel away and clear 
them, or they may be broken as the snow hardens 
and settles. Small evergi-eens of untested kinds, 
should have sijruce or other evergreen boughs 
placed around them for a few winters. 
Piimittg Trees and Shrubs should be done only 
when necessary. If shrubs are pruned, observe 
the natural habit of each, and do not expect to 
make one with curving branches grow erect. It is 
the variety of form quite as much as variety of 
color, that gives beauty to a clump of shrubs. 
Never disfigure an evergreen by cutting away its 
lower branches. 
<jireenlion!i>e and tViiidotv Plants. 
The cultivator of plants under glass, whether it 
be in the costly conservatory, a modest greenhouse, 
or even in a kitchen window, has to contend, first, 
last, and all the time, with various 
Plaid Insects. — No matter how good the soil, how 
careful the watering, the plant will not flourish 
if its vitality is being constantly weakened by 
insects. These not only live upon the juices of 
the plant, but some of them cover its leaves with a 
web, which, though almost invisible, closes the 
pores through which the plant breathes. 
Water, Soap, and Tobacco, are the three chief 
remedies, and they are readily applied in the 
greenhouse, but their use is more diflicult upon 
house iilants. A bath tub, or a large sink, will 
allow a plant to be laid on its side and its foliage 
thoroughly drenched on both surfaces, with slight- 
ly warm water from a watering pot or syringe. 
Ivies, camellias, and other smooth-leaved plants, 
can have each leaf sponged with soap and water, 
and then with pure water, and if the bark 
appears unhealthy, use strong soap and water with 
a brush — an old tooth-brash will answer. Tobacco 
infusion is sometimes iised, the plant is dipped in 
it, and a little while after rinsed in water. In 
greenhouses the house is regularly smoked — at 
night a pan of coals is covered with damp tobacco 
stems, and the house filled with a dense smoke, 
and kept closed until morning. This should be 
done regularly, at least once a week, whether 
insects are seen or not. For house plants a 
smoking box can be easily contrived. A dry goods 
box, large enough to allow a smoke to be made 
and not heat the plants too much, will answer. 
Scale of all kinds can be picked oil', and this is 
the best way to treat the mealy bug, when there are 
but few plants. Those who love plants, will find 
little difficulty in keeping them clear of insects 
— those who do not, had better not keep them. 
Camellias and Azaleas need more water as they 
come into bloom, and care must be taken not to 
•wet the flowers. Keep cool, to prolong the bloom. 
Bulbs.— Bring a few pots each week from the 
cellar, or wherever they are stored, and give water 
as they develop. AVhen the flower buds begin to 
push, weak manure water may be used. If it is 
desired to save the bulbs for planting out, the 
foliage must be.kept growing after the flowers fade. 
I/ust is one of the great enemies of house plants. 
If the plants can not be removed while the room is 
being swept, then coutrive a cover of light stuft, 
or even paper, to put over them. Drench in the 
bath tub or sink, and use the sponge whenever the 
leaves are dusty. 
Watering. — As many house plants suffer from too 
much, as from too little water. It is a very com- 
mon thing to see the soil kept thoroughly soaked 
from week to week. This will answer for CaUas, 
and a few other marsh plants, but for others nature 
only makes the ground wet occasionally, and often 
it becomes very dry before rain comes again. No 
invariable rules can be given for watering. When 
a plant is at rest, it needs less than when growing, 
and even when growing, it is better to let the soil 
get somewhat dry now and then, before watering. 
If the soil is full of water, no air can enter, and the 
roots need air as well as water. 
•-• — ^M*^ — >-• 
Commercial Matters— Market Prices. 
CUKKENT WUOLKSALE I'r.IOES. 
Nov. 13. Dec. 12. 
Price or Gold 110 1-4 1115-8 
FLOun— Super to Kstni Stale J3 C.i ® 5 63 fS 70 ® 5 M 
Super to Extra Southeru.... 4 05 la 8 25 4 SO ® 8 00 
lOjtra Wcsteru 4 70 @ 8 50 4 65 @ 8 25 
Extra Genesee 5 50 @ 7 75 5 00 ® 7 00 
Siiperlliie Western 3 05 ® 4 35 3 70 @ 4 40 
Ute Floui! 4 00 @ 5 25 4 85 @ 5 60 
Cons-MEAL. 4 00 @ 6 10 4 20 @ 5 GO 
Wdeat— All kimlsol Wlilte. 1 22 (8 1 S8 1 25 ffl 1 40 
All kiuils olKed aud Amber. 102 ® 1 28 1 05 ® 1 SO 
COR.^^— rellow 92 ® 05 89 @ 94 
.Mixeil 83 ® 92 88 ® 96 
White.. - ® 1 05 89 ® 95 
Ovrs- Western 01 ®, 66 67 @ 70 
Stale 60 ® 65>$ 66 ® 70 
ISYE 90 ® 95 92 ® 98 
Baklev 125 ©155 125 ® 1 65 
Hat— Bale. W 100 BS 55 ® 95 65 ® 95 
Steaw. ^ 111(1 Bs 40 ® 65 40 @ 65 
Cotton- iMiiUllinKS. «i B... 14X2 15 n%® Ux 
Hops-Crop ol 1S74, V lb 35 ® 4T S3 ® .50 
Featukrs— Live Geese, ^ Ift. 35 ® 65 35 @ 65 
SEEU-Clover, iIMb ;... 9>i® 9?^ 9J(® 10 
Timothy. »l Imsliel 2 75 ® 2 85 2 75 ® 2 85 
Flax, ifl busliel .. 2 00 @ 2 10 2 15 ® 3 20 
SuaAR—Eeli'g& Grocery* B 6H® 10 6Vfa 9X 
Mor.ASSKS. Culia. Wgal 36 @ 47 32 ® 45 
New Orleans, ?> gal 63 ® 73 55 ® 05K 
Coffee— liioiGohl) 15,«® 21 17 @ 19X 
TonAOOo, Keiiliicky, iScVB. 8 @ 23 9 ® 25 
Seeil Leal, "# lb 7 ® 55 8 ® CO 
Wool— Domestic Fleece, Wlb 28 ® 65 28 ® 63 
Domestic, pulled, 1? lb 25 ® 52>i 27 @ 55 
Calilornia, clip 16 ® 35 16 @ 38 
Tallow, »i lb 8)4® 9 8^® 85^ 
OIL-CAKU-Vton .. 45 50 @46 50 43 75 @46 00 
Pork— M ess. * barrel 19 50 @20 00 20 62M®20 75 
Prime Mess, ill barrel 19 25 ®20 25 19 50 @20 50 
Beef— Plain mess . 9 00 @10 50 9 60 @11 00 
Lard, In trcs. & barrels, » B 14 ® 15 13^® 14^ 
linTTEP.- State, » B 25 ® 47 35 @ 45 
Western. V lb 19 @ 35 13 ® 35 
GnEESE 6 ® 16 G @ IG 
1!eaN8-*> bnslicl 1 70 ® 2 65 1 60 ® 2 70 
Peas- Can ada. fl-ee, » l)U ... 1 18 ® 1 25 1 25 ® 1 S3 
Eeos-Fresh, ^ dozen 24 ® 32 21 ® SO 
Poultry- Fowls 10 ® 22 10 @ 15 
Turkevs— -((IB 6 ® 17 1 6 ® 15 
Gcese.'^pair 1 12 ® 2 25 1 37 @ 2 60 
DncliS, »i pair 50 ® 1 00 50 ® SO 
Pigeons, ^ dozen 1 75 @ 2 75 3 25 @ 3 50 
Woodcock, * pair 50 ® 80 50 ® 65 
Grouse. * pair 40 ® 1 00 40 ® 73 
i'ARTRlDGEs, ?1 pair 30 ® 90 30 ® 75 
Venison, *1B 10 ® 16 10 @ 16 
Wild Ducks, f p.tir 40 ® 2 00 SO ® 1 75 
English Snipe, ?f dozen 1 25 ® 1 50 — ® — 
Tellow-leq Snipe, ^ doz . 50 ® 1 00 — ® — 
Quail, ?( dozen 1 50 ® 3 00 90 ® 1 50 
Plover, ?? dozen 150®2 00 — ® — 
Haues, i)) pair 65 ® 80 50 ® 75 
Kabbits, per pair — ® — 85 ® 40 
TuRNlPsSbbl 1 00 @ 1 50 1 00 ® 1 25 
Cabbvges-* 100 3 00 @ 7 50 3 50 @10 00 
Onions— »l bM 2 50 ® 3 50 2 25 ® 3 00 
Potatoes— ?1 bbl 1 50 ® 2 S7 1 75 ® 2 50 
Sweet POTATOKS-Wbbl 2 00 ® 3 50 3 00 @ 3 25 
Uroom-corn 6 ® 10>i 9 ® 14 
Grapes, ^ B 5 ® 10 3 ® 10 
AppLES-ifi barrel 1 00 ® 2 25 100 ® 2 25 
Cranbeebies-W box 2 60 ©10 00 3 25 ®10 00 
Green Peas, new, V bushel.. 1 C5 @ 3 00 1 65 ® 3 00 
Squash. *fbbl 100 ® 1 25 135 ® 1 75 
Cauliflowers, I? dozen 1 00 ® 3 50 1 50 ® 5 00 
Horse Radish, per bbl — ® — 5 00 ®10 00 
Peppers, per 100 — ® — 50 @ 1 00 
Gold has been up to 1121, and down to llOi, closing 
December 12th, at llli, as against llOJ on November 12th, 
Canal navigation having been closed, for the season, 
at the beginning of the current month, the arrivals of 
produce from the interior have fallen off materially. The 
snpphes of Bre.ndetnffs available here -though not very 
lieavy— have been qnito liberal, as compared with the 
wants of buyers, which have been generally less urgent, 
particularly on export account, and prices have been, in 
most instances, depressed and lower, influenced, in part, 
by the flrmer range o.!) ocean freights, and the unsuccess- 
ful strike of the stevedores against a reduction of wages 
—which circumstances operated against the export busi- 
ness. Toward the close, the stronger range of gold en- 
abled holders to obtain rather better prices on stock 
wanted for export. Speculative dealings have been re- 
newed in Corn, Oats, and Barley, which served, to some 
extent, to strengthen values The Cotton trade haa 
been quite active, but the heavy arrivals of Cotton at the 
shipping ports, and the unfavorable advices from Liver- 
pool, have led to a slight decline iu prices, — the market 
closing weak — Provisions have been pretty freely dealt 
in, more especially hog products, largely on speculative 
account, but at very variable prices. Pork, Lard, and 
Cut Meats closing easier. Bacon flrmer. Beef, Butter, 
and Cheese, about steady Wool has been recently iu 
much better demand, chiefly on manufacturing account, 
closing rather in favor of sellers. The main inquiry has 
been for domestic fleece and pulled, and for Texas and 
California product. The current arrivals of CaUfomia 
Fall are rather poor as to quality and condition Hops 
have been in more request for home use and shipment, 
and have been on the advance Hay and Straw have 
been quiet, at essentially unaltered rates — Seeds have 
been very moderately sought after. The main caU for 
Clover Seed has been from export buyers, who have 
recently reduced their bids to our quotations for prime 
samples An active trade has been reported in Tobac- 
co, mostly for shipment, at stronger prices, but the mar- 
ket closes rather tamely. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care- 
fully prepared specially for the Aniencaii Agriculturist, 
from our daily record during the year, show at a glance 
the transactions for the mouth ending Dec. 13th, 1874^ 
and for the corresponding month last year : 
1. TKANSACTIONS AT TUE NEW YORK ilAUKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wlient. Corn. Jiije. llitrleij. Oalf. 
25ir8(ftfci m'tli367,ri00 2,376,(100 1,404,000 129,000 307,001)1,312,000 
26 d's last m'tl]324,000 3,115,000 1,807,000 101,000 471,000 1,306,000 
Sales. Ftnnr. Wfienl. Corn. Hue. Barlei/. Oats. 
25 d's tliis m'tb360,000 3,001,000 2,315,000 92,000 289,000 1,209,000 
26 d's inslm'th 309,000 4,318,000 4,106,000 87,000 385,000 1,504,000 
3. Comparison toith .lame periotl at lids time last year, 
Reoeipts. Flour. M^lieat. Corn. Biie. Barleii. Oats. 
25 days 1S71... 367,000 2,376,000 1,401,000 15(1,000 3117,000 1,312,000 
25 days 1873... 331,000 3,236,000 2,066,000 9 400 537,000 922,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. 7,'//fl. llarley. Oats. 
25 days 1874... 360,000 3,001,000 2,315,000 92,000 289,000 1,209,000 
25 days 1873, . 300,000 3,873,000 3,933,000 106,000 446,000 1,5S2,000 
3. Stock of grain in store at 2\'ew York. 
Wlieut. Corn. Hi/e. Barlei/. Oats. Malt. 
bush. bush. blish. bush. bush, bush, 
Dec. 7, 1874.. 4.513,390 1,220,973 15,925 163,391 890,899 135,622 
Nov. 9. 1874.. 8.680,141 1,727,610 19,123 117,185 794,722 135,882 
Nov. 10, 1873..1,?20,338 3,133,896 22,907 '232,942 755,153 82,074 
4. Heceipts at head of tide-water at Albany each season 
' to Dec. 1st. 
Flour. Wheal. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
bbls. hush. bush. bush. bush. bush. 
1874 ...165,2(10 23.791.500 17,723,300 337.600 3,4'28,4C0 3,584,600 
1873.... 153,5(10 22,761,700 18,552,200 950,260 2,153,000 3,385,900 
1872,... 137,300 11,349,100 29,928,700 474,600 4,518,600 5,696,000 
1S71.... 390,700 21,313,400 30,043,300 1,107,900 3,839,400 6,639,400 
1870. .. .430,400 17,121,700 4,803,100 087,500 3.984,700 6,167.500 
I\ew "Vorlc Ijire-Stocic markets. 
RECEIPTS. 
WEEK ENDING Meevcs. Cows. Calces. Sheep. Swine. Tot'l. 
^'ov.lG 8,731 48 1,755 29,813 53,943 94,.')20 
Nov.23 10,307 67 1,297 29,'240 53,559 94,470 
Nov, 30 7,933 90 984 23,083 48,937 81,031 
Dec. 7 8,028 66 1,0S6 28,855 51,018 89,053 
Dec. 14 6,371 80 1,'224 25,709 39,955 73,239 
Total. f or ^ Weeks.. ^\,1'i 351 6,346 135,733 347,412 432,113 
do./0)'pr«iJ.l)reetS 39,271 236 7,080 119,549 108,409 333,845 
Beeves. Cojos. Calves. Sheep. Stcine. 
Averuae per Week ,.8,254 70 1,369 23,316 49,442 
do, do. last Month... 9,817 59 1.770 29,887 42,177 
do. Ao.jnev's Mouth.. Wfim 57 2,541 29,743 35,074 
Beef Cattle.— The market for the past flve weeks 
has been almost entirely without change. Had it not 
been, however, for a scarcity of good beeves, there would 
have been a decline. The sale of poor stock has been 
dull and slow, and a slight over supply would have 
brought down rates ^c. per lb. The strong demand for 
good beeves has been very marked. A year ago choice 
beeves sold at l'2{a'10Jc. ^ lb. All through this month 
they have rated at 13@13ic. very steadily. At the close 
of the last week of oiu report, the market was Jc- ^ B) 
higher, extra holiday beeves selling for ]3}®l(ic. ^ B to 
dress 63 to 65 |9 cwt., a few were held at 17c., but not 
sold ; good native beeves brought 9@llc. ^ a to dress 
56, and Texas and Cherokces 7Jc.(g)10c. $ lb to dress 55 
to 5B lbs. ^9 cwt. 
The prices for the past flve weeks were as follows : 
WEEK ENDING Range. Large Sales. Avtr. 
Nov. 16 6>4@13Kc. 9H@10Kc. 10 c. 
Nov.23 6X®13XC. OUalOHc. 10 c. 
Nov. 30 6^®imc. OX'SUHc. 10 c. 
Dec. 7.. eHSlSW. 9>s'®10>ic. 10 c. 
Dee. 11 7)i@15 c. 10 @11 c. 10>ic. 
inUeli Cows. — Therce has been a steady demand 
for cows, with a fair supply ; prices are unchanged, good 
cows selling at $40 (Si 5f8() per head Calves,— The 
good supply of cheap poultry has made a dtUl market 
for calves, and prices have gradually weakened day by 
day, without, however, falling oIT more than a shade. 
Good hog-dressed veals sold at the close at iai@13 cts. 
sp lb., and grassersat $6.00® $6.15 per head. . . .Slieep 
and Lambs.— Good sheep have been firm throughont 
the past month ; lambs have eased ofl', and are Jc. '^ Tb, 
lower. Some Colorado sheep sold for 4@4ic. '$ ^ : 
good Canada sheep brought CVJc. ^ ft. Closing rates 
were 5@7c. ^ lb., for sheep, and 6@7}c. for lambs.... 
Sivinc.— There has been a firm market for hogs, not- 
withstanding the large receipts, an average of over 9,W00 
more than last- mouth. The market closed irregular. 
and with a tendency downwards. Live hogs are quoted 
at 6i@~i<:., and di-cseed .'<i(g)8ic. ^ lb. 
1 
