AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
the novelties, as many of these are often valueless 
to the ordinary cultivator. 
Pea-Brush and Eean-P6le>.— Now is the time to 
prepare a stock of these for use next spring, for it 
is difficult to spare the time U cut them after 
planting has commenced. Cedar or walnut poles 
are most serviceable, though more expensive, than 
other kinds, if one has to buy them. If properly 
stored, they will last several years. Pea-brush of 
the tops of white birch-trees is the best. In the 
South, many of the hardier vegetables can bo plant- 
ed in the open ground, such as parsnips, onions, 
peas, etc., as slight frosts do not injure them. 
Flower-Garden and. Lawn. 
Evergreens are planted more extensively every 
year, now that their value is appreciated, and this 
is a good time in which to decide where they can 
be used most advantageously to give a pleasing ef- 
fect. Too many evergreens near a house are in bad 
taste, as they give it too somber an aspect. There 
should be a proper admixture of deciduous trees. 
Rhododendrons, and the other broad-leaved ever- 
greens, such as the Hollies, Kalmias, etc., give a 
fine effect upon a lawn in wiuter, and produce a 
display of flowers during the spring and summer. 
Shrubs and Trees. — Sec that heavy snows are not 
allowed to accumulate around the shrubs and trees, 
as their shape is often injured by the breaking of 
the branches. 
Hedges. — Prune when the weather is mild. 
Trellises and Stakes. — Prepare new ones, and re- 
pair and paint the old ones if necessary. 
Manure. — The lawn may have a top-dressing of 
fine manure applied to it, and thus save time dur- 
ing the spring work. 
Grceiihoiisc and Window Plants. 
Camellias and Azaleas now in flower need plenty 
of water. After flowering, prune into shape. Only 
a few rots of G'tiiticIIIuo ohunld bo fttWwod to flower 
at once, so that the supply may last until late. 
Bulbs. — Bring a few pots of Hyacinths, Tulips, 
etc., from the cellar; with proper care, a succes- 
sion of flowers may be had from Christmas until 
the bulbs are in flower in the border. As the flowers 
decay, cut away the stalk, and gradually dry off. 
Propagation. — This mouth and the next are suit- 
able for propagating a stock of plants for spring 
use. Do not give the propagating pit too much 
beat, as bottom heat is what is needod in order to 
have healthy and well-rooted plants. 
Seeds. — Sow seeds of annuals iu order to have a 
supply of seedlings for early blooming. 
Frozen Plants. — If house-plants become frozen, 
place in a cold room, and allow them to thaw out 
gradually. Never place them iu a warm room. 
Insects. — Do not allow the insects to become nu- 
merous, but destroy at onco by means of tobacco- 
smoke, and washing the plants with whale-oil soap. 
— -.»«- ►-» 
Commercial Matters— Market Prices. 
— . — 
Gold has been down to lotnj, closing December lGth at 
109J4, against 111^ on the 161h of November The 
sudden closing of the canals by severe frost has had the 
usual effect of seriously lessening, the amount of produce 
coming forward from the interior. A large number of 
produce W«to Iicito Wen Ivukcu up m inc lcc. Many of 
these were laden with grain, which, it had bceu antici- 
pated, wonld reach the sea-board ^before the canal and 
river navigation should be suspended for the season. In 
view of the non-arrival of these cargoes, holders of bread- 
stuffs have been generally quite trm in their views as to 
prices, and have shown no urgent desire to realize. The 
demaud, however, from alt sources has been quite limited 
— particularly so for flour and wheat for export. The later 
transactions in wheat have been wholly unimportant, 
buyers having been unwilling to pay asking rates, cither 
for milling or for shipment. There has been an excep- 
tionally good inquiry for corn, especially for new mixed 
"Western, partly on foreign account, and at the close the 
tendency, in the instance of this article, was in favor of 
sellers. Rye and barley have attracted very little atten- 
tion 01 late. Oats have been also dull, wHh the advance 
realized early in the month barely maiutaiucd Pro- 
visions have been moderately active, the main demand 
having been for Mess and Prime Mess Pork, new Beef, 
Beef Hams, Bacon, and Lard, at pretty well supported 
prices. Butter and cheese have been unusually quiet, the 
inquiry having been almost wholly from local buyers — 
Hay has been dearer and iu fair request — Hops have 
been inactive, but steady.... Tobacco has been dull at 
former quotations.. . .Clover Seed has been freely pur- 
chased, mostly for export, at generally buoyant prices, 
closing, however, quite tamely Wool has been more 
sought after, toward the close, with prices quoted strong- 
er.... Cotton has been active, excited, and higher, but 
closes weak and rather dull. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care- 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist, 
show at a glance the transactions for the month ending 
Dec. 16, 1871, and for the corresponding month last year. 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT TUE NEW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wlienl. Corn. Eye. Barley. Oat!}. 
24 it's tins iu'lh.3>l .linn 2,'.)73,0(>ll 2,01 I.O'i'l 298.000 933,000 l,7K3.0iW 
37 d's last m'th.437,000 4,040,000 1,207,000 217,000 1,135,000 1,719,000 
Sales. Flour. W/ieai. Corn. Hue. Darleu. Outs. 
24d's<//<sm'(li.2-.7,0()(> 2,204.000 2,073.000 156,001 l.im.nuo 1.K09.0O0 
27 it's tas<nrth.3M,000 4,116,000 2,781,000 77,000 9S1.000 1,605,000 
3. Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wlieat. Corn. Eye. Barley. Oate. 
24 days 1K71. S.M.onil 2,973.000 2,314,000 298,000 933,01X1 1 ,733,000 
26 days 1370. . .535,000 3,184,000 1,540,000 76,000 1,212,000 1 ,930,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Barley. Oats. 
24 It's 1871... 257,000 2,204,000 2,073,000 136,000 1,(45.000 l,So9."l)0 
26 d'8 1870.... 547,000 3,451,000 4,116,000 67,010 456,000 1,743,000 
3. Exports from New York, Jan. 1 to Dec. 15. 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Eye. Barley. Oats. 
1871 1,001,110 21,729,721 12,050,0'9 507.7S2 93,745 44,445 
1870 1,835,876 17,773,810 417.328 92,431 27,786 
18G9 1,512,020 17,903.887 1,619,970 142,512 48,53s 
1868 842,393 4,809,527 5,645,795 153,093 01,598 149,479 
4. Stock of grain in store at yew York. 
Wheal, Corn, Eur, Barley, Oats, Malt, 
1871. busli. hush, liiish. bush. bush, bush. 
Dec. 11 4,167,884 1,391,034 530,908 3,015,107 103,882 
1870. 
Dec 15 3,000,762 208,319 148,069 500,397 2,085,137 231,129 
5. Receipts at head of tide-water at Albany each sea- 
son to Bee. 1st : 
Flour. Wlieat. Corn. Eye. Barley. Oats. 
bbls. bush. bush. bush. busti. bush. 
1.871 290,700 21,313,400 20,042.300 1,1D7,!HK :l.S39,lo(l li.itsi.mi 
1870 430,100 17,124,700 4,805,100 5S7.500 3,984,700 6,107,000 
Current Wholesale Pi 
-Nov. 17. 
Price ov Gold 111% 
Flour— Suncr to Extra State ?5 70 a* ~ 
Super to Extra Southern.. . . 7 00 
I'v IVdalai-n. V -*.} 
hlxtra Genesee 7 45 
Superfine Western 5 70 
Rye Flour 4 20 
Corn-Meal. 3 60 
Wheat— All kinds of White. 1 65 
Atl kinds or Red ami Amber. 1 52 
Corn— Tellow 
Mixed 
Oats— Western 
State 
Rye 
Barley 
Hay— Bale tf 100 IDs.... 
Straw, V 100 ifis 
Cotton— Middlings. $» lb 
IT..,,.. n../%,» ^ricofl — 
ICES. 
Dec. 10. 
109X 
.,1,10 
■ n. , o 
IS. 9 
a. 6 
is, :. 
@ 4 
@ 1 
a i 
80 @ 
79 @ 
5SK® 
54 "@ 
90 IS, 
&1H® 1 
1 10 
60 
Hops— Crop ollSTb, V lb . 
Crop of 1871 
Feathers— Live Geese, i)t lb 
20 
35 
70 
Seed— Clover, iR ID 11J<@ 
r|'l,v.A«-l... -,!j l.,,d,c,1 O m\ rs 
Timothy, : # bushel... 3 00' 
Flux. V bushel 1 90 
Sugar— Brown, tf lb 
Molasses. Culm. ^enl. ,..., , 
Coffee— Rio (Cold, in bond). 
Toracoo, Kentucky, &e, Iftt 
Seed Leaf. * lb 
Wool— Domestic Fleece, $t lb, 
Domestic, pulled, 3* lb 
California, unwashed, 
Tallow, ^ lb 
Oil-Cake—?* ton 
Pork— Mess, %t barrel 13 20 
Prime, & barrel 9 50 
Beef— Plain mess ... 7 00 
Lard, in trcs. & barrels, V lb. 
Hotter— State, V n> 
Western. ^ lb 
Cheese 
Beans— $ bushel 
Peas— Canada, free, V bu 
Ffios— Fresh. $* dozen 
Poultry— Fowls 
Turkeys, ^t lb 
Geese, ?* pair 
Ducks. $ pair 
Venison— V lb 
Potatoes, v bbl 
Sweet Potatoes, fi bbl 
cabbaoes— v ioo 
Broom -corn— $ » 
Apples—** barrel 
Pears— V barrel 5 00 
Grapes— 3! pound 3 @ 
Cranberries— V barrel 8 50 @10 
Buckwheat Flour— "& lOOtbs. 3 00 @ 3 
@ 3 
" 1 
20 ® 
13!<® 
7<V@ 
14 @ 
50 @ 
37 ® 
30 ® 
9K@ 
00 ®41 
@I3 
@10 
@11 
20 @ 
11 @ 
1 70 a 3 
120 @ 1 
85K® 
12 O 
12 @ 
00 
30 
15 
45 
76 
67 
82Xi 
81 
56 
55 
95 
13 
60 
10 
19N 
30 
62 
80 
12K 
25 3 
95 1 
I0X 
37 
15X 
14 
65 
68 
63 
42 
10 
00 40 
25 IS 
00 9 
00 7 
KM. 
40 
25 
ux 
50 1 
40 
§10 25 
10 50 
@ 9 00 
® 6 25 
@ 5 30 
@ 4 25 
@ 1 77 
@ 1 67 
@ 81 
® 79 
® 5S 
57>i' 
97 
77 @ 
55 ® 
55>5@ 
90 ® 
80 ® 1 25 
.25 ® 1 80 
75 ® 1 30 
20% 
a 30 
@ 62 
® 78 
® 12 
® 3 50 
® 1 92,S 
10% 
35 
17 
14 
65 
70 
64 
42 
9% 
19*;® 
20 - 
35 
70 
11 
! 25 
90 
S>4'_ 
18 ® 
14*® 
14 ® 
48 @ 
41 @ 
30 ® 
8X® 
00 " 
SO 
75 
@42 50 
@13 75 
®10 25 
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® 91$ 
1 50 
62 
12 
1 25 
1 75 
3 UU 
6 
1 50 
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@ 3 25 
® 1 25 
® 39 
® 15 
@ 20 
® 2 75 
® 1 00 
® 19 
® 2 25 
aiu 
@ 7 00 
® 12 
- @ 5 00 
Nominal 
2 ® 5 
00 ®10 00 
40 ® 3 80 
L 10 
t 20 
34 
12 
14 
t 50 
60 
12 
[ 50 
> na 
1 50 
6 
I 00 
Sew York H,ive-Stoclf Markets. 
week endino Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheet). Swine. 
1.508 29,567 49.739 
' 20.705 49,670 
20,994 46.858 
26.256 41.997 
November 20th 8,750 
November 27th 9,577 
December 4th . . .4,467 
December 11th 8,666 
Total in 4 ITeeJfcs. . . .31.460 
do/OT'#re;>.4 Weeks 31,381 
1,414 
1,073 
1,450 
5,445 
Tofl. 
89,6)9 
81,470 
73,495 
18,474 
Beeves. 
Average per Week 7.865 
do. do. last Month.... 7SM 
do. do. prev's Month.... 8.882 
Average per Week, 1870. 6,847 
97,522 188,270 323.0S8 
7,536 136,565 176,590 352,570 
Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
98 
121 
116 
97 
1,361 
1,984 
2,643 
2,240 
24.380 
31.141 
31,645 
28,151 
47.068 
44,147 
33.899 
17,108 
Beef Cattle.— So far as the supply goes, there is 
little difference between the past month and that preced- 
ing it, but as the holidays approach we are getting a 
better and heavier class of cattle, thus Bwelhng the 
amount of beef. Severe cold weather and snows at the 
far West have led to shipping cattle East which were in- 
tended for wintering upon the plains. The number of 
Texan cattle which have perished from exposure and 
lack of food must convince feeders that hay should be 
put up and shelter provided for stock during the severest 
part of the wiuter. The markets here have been unsatis- 
factory to drovers, and do not give much promise for the 
future. The very low ruling of pork has much to do in 
the way of lessening the value of beef. Then, again, 
poultry is very plenty and cheap, and buffalo meat is be- 
ginning to arrive from Kansas. Chicago dressed beef is 
also coming forward, and sells at 6y 2 c. @ 7>4c. $ B>. foi 
sides. Some of the Texan cattle now coining forward, 
are very good, and sell at 10c. ^ lb. A few extra holiday 
cattle are selling at 13^c. @ 14c. 
Below we give the rauge of prices, average price, and 
figures at which large lots were sold : 
Nov. 20th, ranged 7!,®13c. Large sales lOOll'xc. Av. 105C 
Nov. 27th, do. 6 @I2S.;c. do. do. 9®10,SC. do. 9«t 
Dec. 4th, do. 7K®12Xc. do. do. 10@U c do. 10y, 
Dec. 11th, do. 8 ®13 c. do. do. 9®12 c. do. 10H 
milch Cows.— After the first filling up of the milk 
producers— establishing themselves upon a winter foot- 
ing — fewer cows are required, and trade is usually dull. 
At least, such has been the case for the month just ended. 
The high price of hay operates against the sale of poor 
cows, milkmen wanting only good ones. They vary trom 
$45 to $55 each for poor, $65 to $75 for medium to good, 
with a few choice at $80 to $90 Calves.— Cold 
weather, when the demand runs upon pork, is not a good 
season for the sale of calves, and prices have declined 
about ^c. *$ lb. Good to prime milk-fed calves are 
worth 9c. ©lOVJc. $ B>.; common to fair sell at 7c. @ 
8!£c. ; mixed lots, half grassers and half milk-fed, of large 
size. 3c. @ 6c. ; and common grassers at $5 @ $S per 
head, nog dressed are worth lie. @ 13>4c. for milk-fed, 
and5c. ©8',^. for grassers Sheep and Lambs. 
—There arc not many lambs selling by themselves. The 
few coming forward are generally weighed with, and 
slightly increase the price of the Bheep. There is quite 
a falling off in receipts, the arrivals being much less than 
they were at this time last year. Farmers incline to in- 
crease their flocks, in view of the better prices obtained 
for wool. «o..... oxtrc. fnf lcto *>f 100^ IOO lb. obcep Tire 
now arriving for the holidays, and sell at Sc. @ S,Vfc. 
¥ t>., live weight. There is a good demand for sheep, 
and prices arc rather improved. Poor to medium sheep 
are selling at S^c. @. 5%c. $ ft. ; fair to good at 6c. @ 
6>2C ; and prime to best selections at 7c. @ 8c. Lambs 
range from 6;ic. @ 8c. |> lb., a few choice reaching 8^c. 
Swine.— These have been coming forward even 
more freely than they did the previous mouth. Such sup- 
plies were never seen before. There has been little 
change in prices. Dressed arc now arriving both from 
Chicago and Cincinnati. Live are worth 4%c. @ 5%c. ; 
city-dressed Western 5?ic. @ 6!£c. ; State aud Jersey, 6c. 
@ V/%c. \ Western dressed, 5J£C. @ 6c. 
containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Bints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form, for teant of space elsewhere. 
Remitting Money : — Checks on 
New York City Banks or Bankers arc best 
for large sums; make payable to the order of Orange 
Jndd & Co. Post-Office Money Orders, 
for $50 or less, are cheap and safe also. When these are not 
obtainable, register letters, affixing stamps for post- 
age and registry : nut in iho monc; aud eeai the tetter in 
the presence of the postmaster, and take his receipt for it. 
Money sent in the above three methods is safe against loss. 
Postage : On American Agriculturist, 3 ceuts 
a quarter, in advance ; on Hearth and Borne, 6 cents per 
quarter. Double rates if not paid in advance at the 
office where the papers are received. Por subscribers in 
British America, the postage must be sent to this office 
for prepayment here. 
Bound Copies of Volume Thirty 
arc now ready. Price, $3, at our office; or $2.50 
each, if sent by mail. Any of the last "fifteen volumes 
(16 to 36 ) will also be forwarded at same price. Sets of 
numbers sent to our office will be neatly bound in our 
regular style, at75 cents per vol. (50 cents extra, if return- 
ed by mail.) Missing numbers supplied at 13 cents each. 
