12-4 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Apeii., 
Parsnips. — Sow last year's seed in di'ills 15 inches 
apart ; one ounce of seed is enough for 200 feet. 
Peas may be planted on high ground where the 
soil has become thoroughly dry, iu double rows. 
Uppers. — Sow in hot-bed the same as Egg-Plant. 
Potatoes, placed in a warm room to sprout last 
month, can be planted out in well-manured soil. 
Radishes. — Sow in drills thickly once a week for 
succession. 
Salsify should be sown this month and treated 
like parsnips. 
Spinaeh for summer use may be sown now ; that 
planted last fall will be ready to cut. The Perpetual 
Spinach Beet is valuable for early greens. 
Tomatoes may still be sown under glass ; those 
planted last month ought ts be transplanted. Never 
set out in open ground untrl it is warm and dry. 
Turnips for early crops should be sown in drills 
one foot apart ; thin to 5 or 6 inches in the drills. 
Manure. — See that the 6Uhle manure is not allow- 
ed to heat; turn it as often as it becomes hot, until 
ready to be plowed or spaded under. 
Flower-Garden and Lawn. 
Prepare the soil by plowing and spading. New 
beds can be cut, and walks made and repaired, 
as soon as the frost is out of the ground. If the 
Boil in the flower-garden is of a strong loamy na- 
ture, it would be greatly benefited by an applica- 
tion of sand well mixed with the soil. Only well- 
rotted manure should be used in the flower-garden. 
Flowering Shrubs. — A few of these will probably 
come into flower the latter part of the month ; give 
them a dressing of fine manure to encourage the 
growth of wood during the summer. If any are 
without a few of the more common flowering 
shrubs, they ought to procure plants and set them 
out this spring. Syringas, Lilacs, Weigelas, etc., 
are perfectly hardy, and with little care will give an 
abundance of flowers during the summer. 
Climbers. — The hardy climbers are numerous and 
very pretty for covering arbors, or used as screens ; 
Wistarias, Honeysuckles, Virgins Bower, and last, 
but not least, the elegant Akobia quinata, are all 
perfectly hardy, and give an abundance of flowers. 
Annuals started in hot-beds or window boxes 
last month, may be 6et out when the soil is dry. 
Bulbs of Gladioluses, Japan Lilies, etc., may be 
planted now for summer flowering. 
Lawns.— Care must be taken that nothing is 
allowed to cut up the lawn, and no one should be 
allowed to walk upon it until the ground is entirely 
free from frost and well dried. 
Greenhouse and Window Plants. 
Repotting— At this season most of the greenhouse 
plants need repotting, before they commence their 
growth. When very large plants are shifted, the 
best plan is to plant in a box of the required size; 
these always look neat, and if proper drainage has 
been provided, the plant will do as well as if plant- 
ed in a pot; besides, all danger of breakage is avoid- 
ed. The larger boxes ought to have hooks of iron 
attached to the sides, so that poles can be used in 
moving from one place to another. 
Bedding Bants.— See that there is a good supply 
of bedding plants for out-door decoration as well as 
for growing in windows or boxes, during summer. 
Dahlias may now be brought out and laid in a 
warm place with a little sand to retain moisture. 
When the sprouts are a few inches high, remove 
to pots or set out in the open ground if suitable. 
Plants in flower need to be kept near the light and 
free from all insects. 
Seeds of the finer and delicate annuals, like the 
Lobelia, Salpiglossis, etc., ought to be sown in pots 
and then transplanted to the open ground. 
Tuberoses do best if started in pots and planted 
out when the soil is warm. 
Roses and Carnations.— They are nearly hardy, and 
will do to go out aoy time after the frost is out. 
Commercial Matters— Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care- 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist, 
Bhow at a glance the transactions for the month ending 
March 16, 1871, and for the corresponding month last year. 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT THE NEW-YORK MARKETS. 
ItROHlPTS. Flour. Wlieat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
21davsl/,nm'tli.234,000 307,000 416.000 15,450 111,000 207.000 
25dnysias<m , tli.2'Jl,OO0 254,000 296,000 17,300 104,000 217,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barleij. Oats. 
24davsl/ii!m'th.317,0001, 305,000 1.107.000 49.000 206,000 908.000 
25 days last m'lli.341,000 1,651,000 879,000 33,500 193,000 716,000 
Comparison with same period at this time last pear. 
Heceipts. Flour. Wlient. Corn. 
24 days 1371 231.000 SOT.OnO 416.600 
22 days 1870 193,500 228,500 118,000 
Sales. 
24 davs 1871 
22 days 1870. 
Bye. Barley. Oats. 
15 450 111,000 267,000 
1,000 87,000 189,000 
Flour. Wlieat. Corn. Br/e. Barley. Oats. 
.317,000 l,30i,000 1,107.000 49,000 206,000 POS.IIOO 
.199,000 1,251,000 806,000 21,000 288,000 734,000 
1871. 
1870. 
Reports from New Tork, Jan. 1 to March 8: 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
491,703 
49,321 
.397,120 
.295,7: 
1 ,623,358 
1,717,501 
1869 194,449 1,712,169 656,051 
1868 130,106 437,5271,797,749 64,692 
4. Stock of grain in store at New York 
Wheat, 
1S71. bash. 
March 13. ...1,523,735 
Feb. 13 2.203.677 
■ 9,129 
,709 5,298 
31.646 
16,241 
Jan. 16 3,685,116 
1S70. 
Dec. 15 3,060,762 
Nov. 9 2.092.910 
Oct. 10 1,809,921 
Sept.. 12 1,387,487 
Auk. 8 1,438,876 
Julvll 1,281,918 
June 7 706.478 
MavlO 1.158.052 
April 11 1,845,136 
March 7 2,509,608 
Corn, Bye, Barley, 
bnsh. hush. hush. 
204,388 150,514 329,319 
311.471 148.193 4S1.SS3 
272,613 157,730 551,491 
508,319 
300,1 
476.514 
761, 894 
589.973 
483.510 
C9.S45 
110,829 
2S5.9I6 
481,176 
11S.009 
110.8110 
53,391 
50.809 
25.137 
28.816 
21,891 
20,502 
23.249 
39,039 
500.397 
4U0. UK) 
1S1.K03 
107,474 
106,1111 
98.600 
91.630 
126.043 
187,172 
278,905 
Oats, Malt, 
bush. bush. 
1,133,397 21S.231 
1,409,995 215,124 
1,736,936 216,394 
2,085,137 231,129 
2.125,000 
1,679,658 237,453 
1,053,079 130,381 
691.760 119,046 
655.068 109,478 
488,143 108,775 
410,517 83.000 
756.811 99.988 
1,105,194 97,139 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
Feb. IS. 
Price op Golo 111K 
Flour— Super to Extra State* 5 90 @ 7 23 
Super to Extra Southern G 25 @11 50 
Extra Western 6 65 ©10 25 
Extra Genesee 7 30 @ 9 25 
Superfine Western 5 90 @ 6 40 
I'.TH Floob. 4 35 ® 6 85 
Corn-MeaL S 65 @ 4 35 
Wheat— All kinds of Wblte.. 155 @ 1 90 
All kinds or lied and Amber. 1 20 ® 1 62>; 
Corn— Yellow 82 @ 87" 
Mixed 79 @ 85 
Oats— Western 66>i@ 75 
State 70 @ — 
liTH 90 ® 1 10 
Barley 85 ® 1 15 
Hat— Bale 59 100 lb 120 
1 45 
111S 
7 50 
@11 25 
®10 25 
® 9 25 
® 6 50 
® 6 35 
® 4 75 
& 200 
@ 1 75 
® 90 
@ 89 
® 71 X 
® 71 
@ 1 20 
® 1 20 
® 1 45 
® 1 55 
>.-!.' 00 
@22 00 
®18 50 
©15 50 
® 13X 
® 42 
@ 35 
® 16« 
® 3 25 
@ 1 45 
® 20 
® 20 
® 20 
@ 16 
Straw. ?? 100 tt SO ® 1 35 
Cotton— Middlings. %t tt. 15; 4 '® 16 14%® 15K 
Hops— Crop ol 1370. V lb 5 ® 12 6. @ 12 
Feathers — Live Geese, ^ Jb 70 © 80 70 @ 60 
SKKO-Clover, 5B lb 11M® 11X 12 ® 12X 
Timothy. i9 bushel 600®6 50 600@6 50 
Flax. V bushel 2 15 ® 2 25 2 12>£® 2 25 
Sugar— Brown. *< lb SX® 11 7^® 10J£ 
Molasses. Cuba. Sgal. 20 ® 35 20 @ 35 
Coffee— liio. (Gold, in bond) 10 @ 14 10K® 14V* 
Tobacco. Kentucky, &c, %<lb. 6*4® 12Va7 6 @ 12^ 
Seed Leal, ¥ lb 12 © 75 12 ® 75 
Wool— Domestic Fleece, ift lb. 47 @ 58 47 ® 58 
Domestic, pulled. V lb 25 ® 45 25 @ 43 
California, unwashed, 20 @ 33 20 ® 33 
Tallow, i» lb 8K® 9 8K® 9 
Oil-Cake— »i ton 40 25 ®42 00 39 
Pork— Mess, $ barrel 22 00 @23 00 21 
Prime, V barrel 18 50 @19 50 18 
Beef— Plain mess 10 00 ®15 00 11 
Laud, in tres. & barrels, ^ lb. 12V^@ 13X 
Butter— state, * n> 20 @ 42 
Western. itT B 12 
CUBESK 5 
Beans— IP bushel 2 00 
Peas— Canada, free. # bu 1 30 
EGOS— Fresh, i? dozen 26 
Poultry— Dressed Fowls 15 
Turkeys, dressed, ^B 16 
Geese, 'im> 13 
Partridges, *> pair 1 00 
Ducks, ?a lb 16 ® 20 21 ® 24 
Ducks, Wild. *> pair 30 " 
Quails, per dozen 125 
Venison, per lb 8 
Potatoes, 5? bbl 3 00 ® 6 00 250®6 00 
Sweet Potatoes, 5? bbl 3 50 ® 4 00 3 50 @ 4 00 
Turnips— if bid 1 00 ® 1 25 1 00 @ 1 25 
Cabbages-"# 100 12 00 ®18 00 8 00 ®16 00 
Onions— » bbl 4 00 ® 4 50 S 50 ® 4 00 
Cranberries— V bbl 7 00 ®10 00 7 00 @13 00 
Broom-cokn— Sib 3X® 6>< 4 ® 8 
Apples— * barrel 2 50 ® 5 50 1 50 @ 4 50 
Gold has been rather steadier in price, on a more active 
demand for Custom-house purposes, as well as for ex- 
port and on speculative account. The supply, however, 
has been liberal, and has served to prevent any material 
rise. The closing quotation, March 15th, was Ill's 
Breadstnffs have been iu fair request, partly for export; 
and, while flour has not varied remarkably in value, 
wheat, corn, rye, and oats, have been quoted decidedly 
firmer in price, ou very limited offerings of desirable 
samples. There has been an unusually free export 
movement in corn, chiefly for English ports. At the 
close, the market was steady, though not active, for all 
kinds of grain Provisions have shown a moderate de- 
gree of animation, the demand having been partly for 
home use and shipment, but largely on speculation, 
especially in mess pork and prime Western steam lard. 
Prices have been irregular, closing with more firmness — 
Cotton has been offered freely at lower and unsettled 
prices, leading and extensive transactions for both 
@ 33 
® 16X 
® 3 10 
® 1 35 
@ 32 
® 18 
© 30 
® 15 
® 1 25 
® 20 
@ 75 
® 1 50 
® 16 
® 6 00 
® 4 00 
® 1 25 
®18 00 
~> 4 50 
prompt and forward delivery. The later dealings show 
a steadier market Wool has been iu reduced stock 
and moderate demand, at stronger prices In the line 
of grass-seeds, clover has been the only active article, 
having been purchased freely, mainly for export, and it 
has been quoted decidedly higher Tobacco has been 
moderately dealt in at steady rates Hops have been 
more active, closing in favor of sellers. 
New-York I>ive-Stock Markets. — 
week ending. Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sfieep. Swiue. ToCl. 
Feb.20th 7,850 57 739 28,518 9.947 47,181 
Feb.27th 5,755 83 989 15,887 11,808 34,522 
March 6th 4,571 82 987 17,094 12,742 35,476 
March 13th 5,195 54 947 18,781 14,529 39,506 
Total in 4 Weeks... 23.371 276 3,662 80.230 49,026 156,680 
do./orj>rei>.4H r «!A-s23,608 243 3,398 109,593 56,461 191,308 
Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week 5,843 69 915 20,070 12,256 
do. do. last Month 5,902 61 849 27,398 14,115 
do. do. prev's Month... 6,247 06 863 28,535 20.490 
Average per Week, 1370. 6,847 97 2,240 28,151 17,108 
Average. per Week,VUS. 6,275 92 1,752 28,836 15,348 
do. So. do. 1868 5,733 105 1,583 27.182 18,809 
do. do. do. 1867. 5,514 64 1,320 22,154 20,605 
do. do. do. 1866. 5,748 94 1,200 20,000 13,000 
do. do do. 1S05. 5,255 118 1,500 16,091 11.023 
Total in 1K69 826.2S0 4.827 91,033 1,499,500 79S.199 
Total in 136S 298,128 5.466 82.571 1,413,479 978,061 
Total iu 1867 .293.332 3.369 69,911 1,174.154 1,102.643 
Total in 1866 298.380 4.385 62.420 1,010,000 672.O00 
Total in T865 270,271 6.161 71,991 .336,733 573.190 
Total In 1864 267,609 7,603 75,621 782,462 660,277 
Beef Cattle.— Receipts have averaged a little less 
than during the previous month, but the demand, as is 
usual in Lent, has fallen off so much that a decline of lc. 
per lb. is noted. Trade has been very unsatisfactory for 
the Western shipper. Not unfrequently have droves 
been sold on this market at just about what they cost in 
Chicago, thus losing the owners the freight, shrinkage, 
feed-bills, etc. Dealers have held on with the expecta- 
tion of a turn in their favor, only to find the market here 
going from had to worse. Their only salvation appears 
to he in getting the rates down at the other end, for it 
looks as though it will be hard to advance the prices 
here. Poultry has been very plenty and cheap, with eggs 
glutting the market. These largely take the place of beef. 
Below we give the range of prices, average price, and 
figures at which large lots were sold : 
Feb 20th,ranged 8^®15;;c. A v. l?^c. Large sales 12 ©14J4" 
do. 27th, do. 8H(.ol5 c. do. 12;Kc. do. do. 12 ®14 
March 6th, do. 10 @15 c. do. \i%a. do. do. 12 ®13,^ 
do. 13th, do. 9 ®15 c. do. 12jtc. do. do. 12 @13)4 
TOileli Cows, — When milk is scarce and high, fresh 
cows can be sold independent of the price of beef. Now 
there is a near affinity between the two, the very low rates 
of dry cows making a poor market for milkers. One 
other thing greatly injures the trade, and that is the poor 
quality of the cows sent here for sale. A good cow is 
worth keeping at home, but the worthless ones must be 
got rid of, and so are sent to this city. They have been 
sold as low as $30 per head, the calf thrown in at that. 
Good milkers are in moderate request. Common cows 
are quoted at $40@$55 each ; medium to good, $t>5fo)$80, 
with a few prime at $90— occasionally $100 . . .Calves.— 
The market has ruled weak uutil within a few days past. 
Prime milk-fed calves run down to lie, hut will now 
command 12c. per lb. live weight A pen of 140 lb. State 
veals was just sold at 12c. There is a failing off in re- 
ceipts of dressed, the weather being unfavorable for 
selling them. We call thin live calves worth 7c.@9c, 
with fair to prime at llc.@12c SUeep.— There has 
been quite a falling off in receipts of stock, farmers 
holding hack for lambs and fleeces. Prices have ad- 
vanced a full i4c per lb. in consequence, and the market 
is active and strong. Thin lots sellat5!ic.@53£c.; medi- 
um at 6^0.06^., with prime to extra 100@130 lb. sheep 
at 7c.o7i8c. A few weighing 150 lbs. were sold at 814c. 
One lot of sheared sheep came in from Ohio a few days 
since. They weighed 75 lbs., and sold at 5?ic. Spring 
lambs are expected next week — Swine. — These are 
also in lighter supply, while Western dressed have almost 
entirely ceased coming forward. They are no longer 
quotable. With this light run of live hogs, prices have 
declined lc. per lb., selling at 7?sC@7jic., and city 
dressed at ftrjc.tSllOc. The packiug season is nearly over, 
which lessens the demand for hogs. 
Pasturing Sheep on Wheat. — J. H. 
Sellmau, of Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, asks : '* Is pas- 
turing sheep upon wheat during the winter months con- 
sidered injurious or beneficial to the crop ? Does it have 
a tendency to make the wheat thinner or thicker?— and 
adds : The practice prevails largely in this neighborhood. 
All acknowledge the benefit to the sheep, but I am scep- 
tical about the advantage to the wheat." — Ans. : It is 
rarely of advantage to the wheat, except when there is a 
great growth of leaves, which smother the crowns and 
keep them too warm in case a good fall of snow comes. 
When fed off in the autumn a desirable thickening np of 
the stand often takes place,bnt when fed close after growth 
stops, injury occurs. The point is to know when to 
feed and when to stop. We never feed off grain with 
eheep on good farms at the North. Calves are need; 
their feet are not eo sharp, and they do not bite close. 
