44 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
Biitclien Garden. 
The most that can bo done in this department is 
to prepare everything which will be needed for use 
in the garden, and have it in readiness, so that it 
can be had at a moment's notice. Another thing 
to bear in mind is to have every tool in a proper 
condition for immediate use. Workmen can do a 
much larger amount of work with tools which are 
sharp or in perfect repair. At the South, a few of 
the hardy sorts of vegetables, such as onions, par- 
snips, etc., may be sown in open ground, but the 
tender sorts must not be planted until all danger 
from frosts has passed. 
Cold-Frames. — As the weather grows milder, see 
that plenty of air is given the plants every pleasant 
day, and on warm days the sashes may be entirely 
removed during the middle of the day. Do not 
leave them open during the night, for fear of a 
sudden storm or change of weather. 
Hot-Bate. — Prepare plenty of fresh horse-manure 
for use in hot-beds. These however will not be 
wanted until the first of next month in most of 
our Northern localities. A safe rule is to make 
the beds from four to six weeks before the ground 
is ready to work. A southern or south-eastern ex- 
posure ought to be selected, sheltered as much as 
possible on the north and north-west sides from 
the cold, bleak winds which are so common during 
early spring. A tight board fence is the best pro- 
tection if there are no buildings to shelter the beds. 
Manure. — Turn over occasionally, to prevent it 
from becoming overheated, and mix a little earth 
with it. Should it become too dry, sprinkle it 
with water. Save the horse-manure separate from 
the rest, to use in hot-beds. 
Straw Mats and Shutters. — See that these are in 
good order, and ready for immediate use, as they 
will be needed during cold snaps. 
Seed-Soxes. — Prepare seed-boxes for sowing small 
seeds. A number may beplacedin a window, where 
they can be. attended to easily. They are conve- 
nient to use in the hot-bed, as the small plants 
can readily be transplanted from them. 
Soit. — See that there is plenty of soil provided 
for use in the hot-beds and seed-boxes. 
Brush and Poles for peas and beans may be cut 
and prepared for use now. Sharpen the poles, and 
dip the ends which arc to be put into the ground 
in petroleum or tar to preserve them. Bean-poles, 
when of cedar or walnut, treated in this way will 
last a long time. Pea-brush should be put in con- 
venient-sized piles, and a weight put upon it to 
give a fiat shape, so it will occupy little room. 
Roots left in the ground during the winter may 
be dug when the ground thaws sufficiently to work. 
riower-Gavden and Lawn. 
Little can be done in this department until the 
weather has become settled. Plaus for improving 
old and laying out new lawns and ornamental 
grounds can be made, and everything be put in 
readiness for commencing work as soon as spring 
open 3. Order all trees and shrubs needed so that 
they may be set as soou as the weatherwill permit. 
Cannas and other roots stored iu the cellar will 
need looking after, and if any tendency towards 
decay is observed, remove all rotten parts, and 
store the sound roots in a drier place, where there 
is no danger of frost. 
Seeds of choice annuals may be sown in window- 
boxes, and kept in a window where they can get 
plenty of air and sun. Select such varieties as are 
wanted for use during the spring and summer now, 
so that they may bo at hand when needed. 
Plants stored in the cellar will need looking after 
now, and plenty of air given them, so that they 
will not start into growth too soon. 
Wood-work of all kinds in use in and around the 
garden and lawn should receive a good coat of 
paint or petroleum, to prevent decay. Wooden ap- 
pliances, with a little care in this particular, can be 
made to last much longerthan when not so treated. 
Greenliouse and Window Plants. 
Attend to the proper ventilation of the green- 
house. Now that the weather is milder, the ven- 
tilators may be opened more. 
Sprinkling. — Shower the plants in the greenhouse 
every few days, to prevent the dust from gathering 
upon the foliage. Before sprinkling, close the 
ventilators, so as to keep all the moisture in. 
Bulbs which have done flowering may have their 
flower-stalks cut away, and when the leaves 
are dead they may be dried off, and after- 
wards turned out and stored in a dry place 
ready for planting iu the open ground in the fall. 
Those which have uot flowered may be brought 
out from time to time, so as to keep up a succes- 
sion of flowers. 
Camellias and Acacias may be brought into the 
warmer part of the greenhouse to flower, taking a 
little care to preserve a succession of flowers as 
long as possible. When sprinkling other plants, 
take care not to allow the water to fall upon the 
flowers, as it disfigures and spoils them. 
Re-potting. — Many plants will need re-potting in 
fresh earth to keep them in good health. Some- 
times the removal of a quantity of the surface soil 
and putting fresh iu its place will answer in the 
case of large plants. A layer of manure upon the 
surface of the soil of a plant will cause renewed 
visor of growth. 
Commercial Matters— Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care- 
fully prepared specially for the Anxerican. Agriculturist, 
from our daily record during the year, show at a glance 
the transactions for the mouth ending January 14th. 
1S73, and for the corresponding month last year; also for 
the year ending December 31, 1872. 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT THE NEW TORE MARKETS. 
Rkckipts. Flour. \Mieat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. 
,'fi il'aWB m'lli.350,000 3.'}.-.s, 000 1.08(1,000 28.000 664.000 S'l 000 
35 d's last m'tll.374,000 2,S91,000 2,216,000 64,000 961,000 972,000 
Sales. Flnur. Wheal. Corn. 7,'t/e. Barley. Oats. 
2«n's<//!Snrth.203,000 l.Oo.OOO 2.006.000 12.000 835,000 1.333,000 
25d'stasiin'th.284,0002,279,O0O 2,953,000 36,000 342,000 1,% 1,000 
a 
Receipts. Flour. VTJieat. Corn. Eye. Barley 
26 (lavs 1S73... 356.000 2558,000 1,380,000 28.000 (1(54,000 
23 dayslS72...1S9,000 192,000 S67.O00 500 334,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. 7?ye. Barley. 
26 (IN 1873.. ..263.000 1,955,000 3.606.000 42,000 S25JM0 1 
23 d's 1372.... 172,000 1,115,000 1,797,000 103,0(0 168,500 1 
3, Stock of grain in store at Neto York. 
Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Wheat. 
bush. 
Jan. 13, 1873.1,177.359 
Dec. 9, 1372..1,305,975 
Corn, 
bush. 
4,743,961 
5,675,730 
Bye, Barley, Oats, 
hush, bush, bush. 
44,039 571,051 1.367.187 
51,665 024,551 1.60S.865 
Oats. 
821,000 
356,000 
Oats. 
,335.(100 
000,011.1 
Malt, 
bush. 
175.805 
215,336 
4. Receipts at head of tide-tcater at Albany each season : 
Flour. Wlieat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
bbls. bush. bush. bash, bush. bush, 
1872 137,300 11,819.10(1 20.928,700 474X00 4.518,600 3,096,300 
1871 390.700 21.313,100 30,012,800 1. 107.900 O.SOO.IOO 0.6:19. 100 
3870 469,500 1S.19S.100 4,89S,300 630,300 4,617,400 6,501.100 
H. Receipts of Breadstuff's in Sew York in each of 
t/ie last five years : 
Flour. Wheal. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oam. 
1872. .. .3,030.771 16,229.418 25.292.156 491,563 5.117.351 12.4S0.8I8 
1871. ...3.649,045 26,518,360 27,108.150 1.055.031 8.869.123 I2.54G.9iM 
1870.... 4,143,993 34,083.742 9.118.478 550,169 5,020:718 0,63'" .606 
I860.... 3,535,716 23,813,652 11.006.7-4 357,803 3.007.958 9.747,333 
1S6S. .. .2,860,726 12,9SS,147 19,053,615 773,351 2,853,043 10.221,590 
C. Exports from New York, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 : 
Flour WJteat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oat*. 
1872 1,179.050 13.114.956 27,80.1.000 068.547 23.656 31,480 
1 371 1.650.755 31.068.643 13,040,570 535,772 98,745 47.310 
1870 1,950,284 18.416.035 187.792 "12.431 28.9S6 
I860 1.582,211 18.240.586 1,687,586 143.512 49.893 
lo".8 1.020,523 5,775.109 6.002,825 153,093 94,340 
7. Comparative Stock of Flour in New York, Jan. 1. 
isro. 
Western and State Flour . .895.303 
Canada Flour 575 
Southern Flour 46,560 
California Flour 1,140 
Grand total, bbls 143,473 565,069 856,271 803,621 
Comparative Slock of Grain in New York, Jan. 1. 
8. 
Wheat, bushels.. 
Corn, bushels.... 
Rye. bushels 
Barlev, bushels 
Oats, bushels 1.796.96; 
Malt, bushels 91,111 
Peas, bushels 47,671 
18JO. 
4.466,369 
640,500 
66.650 
639.933 
1871. 
3,700,006 
303,033 
2,289.1105 
192.070 
1,461.192 
11.571 
058 330 
1S73. 
4.227,181 
1, 189,804 
573,557 
505. (,2 
2,874,586 
129.480 
9,500 
1873. 
1,996,984 
0,135,803 
110.S54 
1.311.170 
1,765.699 
258,402 
9,293 
Gold has been as low as 111^, and as high as 112^ 3 — 
closing Jan. 13th at II3I4, as against 112^ on Dec. 13th. 
Business in most kinds of Produce has been fair 
for the mid-winter season, and valnes, as a rule, have 
been comparatively well supported The Breadstuff 
movement has been moderately active, mainly in the way 
of Flour, Wheat, Barley, and Oats, the dealings in Wheat 
and Corn and Flour having been in good part for export. 
Holders have not been urgent in their offering of stock. 
Flour and Wheat closed in favor of sellers, who were not 
eager to realize, while the demand was improving. Corn 
left off tamely, but steadily, at the current rates. Oats 
have been scarce and wanted, showing at the close an 
upward tendency. Barley has been firm and in request. 
Eye has been held above the views of buyers, with few 
desirable samples available, checking transactions 
Provisions have been decidedly brisker, especially Bacon, 
Lard, Butter, and Cheese, which however have been 
variable as to prices. Hog products closed rather weak. 
The finer grades of Bntter and Cheese held very confi- 
dently at extreme quotations Hops, Seeds, and 
Tobacco have been moderately sought after, at the ruling 
prices — — nay has been strong in value, on a limited 
supply, and fair call for stock. 
Current Wholesale Tricks. 
Dec. 12. Jan. 13. 
Price of Gold 112;< 112K 
Flour— Super to Extra State ?5 65 (57 90 $5 95 ® 8 00 
Super to Extra Southern.- . . 6 10 (5*12 75 6 15 ©12 75 
Extra Western 75 ©13 00 7 10 ©13 00 
Extra Genesee 7 90 @I0 00 8 10 (510 25 
Superfine Western 5 65 ©6 40 5 95 © 6 50 
Rtb Flour 4 50 ® 6 50 4 50 ©0 50 
Corn-Meal. . 3 10 © 3 90 3 20 m 3 90 
Buckwheat Flour— $ 1001b 3 90 ® 4 40 3 60 @ 3 90 
Wheat— All kinds of White. 1 75 (9 2 05 1 So ® 2 15 
All kinds ol "Red and Amber. 1 35 @ 1 85 1 40 e 2 00 
Corn— Tellow 67 @ 68 67 © 69 
Mixed 64K© 67 63}<9 67 
Oats— Western 48)*© 55 X 45 © 55 
State 52 © r.;£ 52 (3i 55 
Kye 90 a 95 93 @ 97 
Barlkt 85 © 1 16 85 ® 1 18 
Hat— Bale, id 100 Bs. 100 « 1 7.i 115 ® 1 75 
Straw. V 100 lbs S5 © 1 30 85 © 1 30 
CoTTOir— Middlings, H ».... 19M® 20% 20%® 21% 
Hops— Crop of 1872. V B 37 ® 50 42 ® 55 
Feathers —Live Geese, ij* lb. 40 @ 70 50 © 75 
Seep— Clover, *) !b OVf® 9K 9 © 9X 
Timothy. 18 bnshel 3 00 ©8 50 3 25 @ 3 75 
Flax, 59' bushel 2 00 @ 2 10 2 00 @ 2 10 
Sugar— Reft 'eft Grocery «tlb 9 @ UK 8X@ ill; 
Molasses. Cuba. ¥*gal 18 ©35 17 @ 35 
New Orleans, 3S gal 55 @ OS 55 ® 70 
Coffee— i:io(Gold) 15K® 18Sf 16 ® 19x 
Tobacco, Kentucky, &c.,*b. 9 @ 16 9 ® 16 
Seed Leaf, ¥' lb 8 © 50 8 ® 50 
Wool— Domestic Fleece, iO lb CO ©75 CO © 75 
Domestic, pulled, V lb 45 @ 68 45 ® 68 
California, clip 23 @ 45 20 @ 45 
Tallow, fib SM® S% 8 ® 8s; 
oil-Cakk— flon 3S 00 .1740(0 38 00 (HO 00 
Pork— m ess. W barrel 18 00 <n 1:; 75 1350 ©14 00 
Prime, » barrel ....12 25 a 12 50 1100 (31150 
Bekf— Plain mess 10 00 ©12 t'O 10(0 n72 00 
LARD, in tics. & barrels, V lb. 756© 8K 7Jf® SI4 
Butter— State, Sib IS ® 40 25 © 42 
Western, fib 10 © 25 10 fia 23 
CHEESE 4 © 14>« 5 © 15V, 
Beans— 58 bushel 175 © 8 7, m t? a 55 
Peas— Canada, free. W bn 110 ® 1 12 Nominal 
Eoos— Fresh, 39 dozen 32 @ 37 35 @ 42 
Poultry— Fowls 6 (73 16 6 © 15 
Tinkers— V lb 8 © 17 8 ® 17 
Geese, 1? pair 153 (5 2 50 175 © 3 50 
Docks, fipair 50 a S7 7". © 1 12 
Partridges 62 ® 1 00 40 ® 70 
Wild Dtjgk— 9 pair 40 ©2 50 40 ©2 25 
Q.UAlL-f doz 1 25 ® 1 50 112 © 1 35 
Venison--? lb 12 © 2t 10 © 16 
Hares— V pair 60 ® 70 50 © 75 
RAnnlTS-tS pair 30 ® 40 30 © 50 
Turnips -V barrel 1 25 © 1 50 1 75 © 2 00 
CABBAGES— *> 1011 6 00 ©10 (10 7 00 ©10 00 
Onions— 7' Mil 3 00 ©4 00 5 30 ® 7 00 
Bboost-cobs— $ a. 2 ® s 2 © 8 
Apples-how, if barrel 125 ® 3 00 1 50 ® 3 25 
Potatoes— iS bbl 125 ©3 00 175 @ 3 50 
Swfet Potatoes— ¥> bbl 3 50 ® 4 25 3 50 ©4 00 
Oarkots-50 bbl 150 ©2 00 1 50 © 2 00 
Celery— 19 (107. 1 50 © — 1 30 (5- 1 75 
Cranberries— V crate 2 50 @ 3 50 2 50 ® 3 50 
New Yorli SMve-ISioeSi: 5Si«n-li<?ts. 
aveek kndixo Beeves. Cmcs. Calves. Sheev. Sifiue. Tofl. 
December 16th 8,850 70 856 25,576 52,730 83.078 
December 23d C.Cn! 48 790 14,354 51,486 T3.S42 
December SOtll 8.831 54 331 10,197 34.(79 48.4S5 
Januarv6!b C.SSS 71 560 35,538 31,667 64,722 
January 18th 5,411 78 067 18,503 31,441 56.128 
Total for 5 Weeks.... 31.680 335 3.194 91.103 201.393 330,755 
do.fo'r prev. 4 Weeks.. 86,205 433 5,809 11. '.358 218.171 373,276 
Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week. 6.386 65 639 1S.R33 40.279 
do. So. last Month.... 9,051 10S 1,452 28.039 54.618 
do. do. prev's Month.... 8.458 70 1,869 27,575 46.501 
Beef Cattle. — There were some interruptions in 
the receipts of cattle owing to heavy snows which blocked 
the roads at the West. Besides, the railroads are taxed 
to their utmost capacity in bringing forward live and 
dead freight, at a time when, more than any other season 
of the year, cold weather plays havoc with tile rails and 
disables the locomotives. In addition to this, corn is so 
cheap at the West that cattle men prefer putting it into 
beef for sale, so tlicy are feeding stock in preference to 
selling it, having an idea also that they cau advance the 
rates at this end by playing the " hold-back " game, as 
they are now successfully doing. The receipts were very 
liberal at close of last report, hut dwindled somewhat 
towards the end of the year. The tola's for 1872 were 
425,275 beeves against 380,934 for the previous year. In 
comparing the source of supply, we find that Texas conies 
second. 111. leading off with 241.8(3-1, while Texas gave ns 
59,926, though ehe was fourth on the list the year before. 
At this rate of increase, the long-horn and long-legged 
breed may yet win in the race, as despised as they used 
to be. "We arc happy to note an improvement in their 
quality, some, of rising 1 cwt., fed in 111., just selling at 
