284 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
October, 
J*. Y. TLAre Stock Markets.— Beef Cat- 
tle. — The avernge number of cattle received weekly, 
Iirs been 5,970, nearly 1,200 greater than last month ; 
but there hsive been iminy grass-fed beeves, of inferior 
quality and light weight, so that the supply has not much 
exceeded the demand. The market closed last month on 
the advance, and showed a steady upward tendency 
until the past week, when an unusually large supply de- 
pressed prices lc.(a)%c. Prime beeves are scarce, and 
sell at about 18%c.(a)10%c. ^ lb., dressed weight; Medi- 
um to good, 14c.fo)17#c., and thin, light stock at 8c.(a)l3c.* 
RfljLlcli Cows. — Average weekly supply 120. 
Poor cows'sell slow; good, prime, and extra milkers 
are in fair demand. Prices range from $40 to $70, for 
medium to good cows, and$S0 to $100 or more, for choice. 
Calves. — Receipts average 2,132 per week. 
Good veals soil at Ue,ffi)12c. ty tt>, live weight, and choice 
at 13c; grass-fed at $4(a)$12pei head, according to quality. 
Sheep and Bjambs.— Weekly supply, 
19,753, against 15,948 last month. Prices have been vari- 
able, but close at a material advance over last month, on 
good stock— inferior quality rising to a limited extent 
only. Good sell at 8)£c.(2>9c. "$ It., live weight, and 9^c. 
for selected animals ; stock sheep at $4fa)$5 per head. 
IjItc Hogs.— Weekly average, 7,593. Prices, 
12&c.®13c. per lb., live weight, for fat hogs ; an 
advance of nearly lc; stock hogs bring lhc.(a)9c. per lb. 
U. S. 7-30 LOAN 
The Secretary of the Treasury gives notice that sub- 
scriptions will be received for Coupon Treasury Notes, 
payable three years from Aug. 15th, 1804, with semi-an- 
nual interest at the rale of seven and three-tenths per 
cent, per annum, —principal and interest both to be paid 
in lawful money. 
These notes will be convertible at the option of the 
holder at maturity, into six per cent, gold bearing bonds, 
payable not less than five nor more than twenty years 
from their date, as the Government may elect. They 
will be issued in denominations of $50, $100, $500, $1,000 
and $5,000, and all subscriptions must be for fifty dollars 
or some multiple of fifty dollars. 
Convertible iuto a Six per cent. 5-20 Gold Bond. 
In addition to the very liberal interest on the notes 
for three years, this privilege of conversion is now worth 
about three per cent, per annum ; for the current rate for 
5-20 Bonds is not less than nine per cent, premium, 
and before the war the premium on six per cent. 
U. S. slocks was over twenty per cent. It will be 
seen that the actual profit on tills loan, at the present 
market rale, is not less than ten per cent, per annum. 
Its Exemption from State and Mu- 
nicipal Taxation. 
But aside from all the advantages we have enumerated, 
a special Act of Congress exempts all bonds and Treasury 
notes from local taxation. On the average, this ex- 
emption is worth about two per cent, per annum, accord- 
ing to the rate of taxation in various parts of the country. 
It is believed that no securities offer so great induce- 
ments to lenders as those issued by the government. 
In all other forms of indebtedness, the faith or ability 
of private parties, or stock companies, or separate com- 
munities, only, is pledged for payment, while the whole 
property of the country is held to secure the discharge 
of all the obligations of the United States. 
Subscriptions will be received by the Treasurer 
of the United States, at Washington, by all National 
Banks which are depositaries of public money, and 
ALL RESPECTABLE BANKS AND BANKERS 
throughout the country will give further information and 
AFFORD EVERY FACILITY TO SUBSCRIBERS. 
floflna Wrapes.-By an accident, that part of 
C. W. Grant's advertisement which had reference to 
this excellent grape, was omitted in the September Agri- 
culturist. It is printed in full in the present number. 
A CAED. 
I take this opportunity to return my warmest thanks to 
my worthy Editorial Associates, and Business Assist- 
ants, for their constant, earnest, and laborious attention 
to the interests of the Agriculturist, and of its readers, 
during my long absence. After so many years of close 
application, it is a great relief to feel that my labors can 
be so well shared by others. I trust none of the readers 
have found any lack of interest or instruction in the 
pages of this journal, wlu'le it has been without the direct 
supervision of its responsible Proprietor. 1 desire fur- 
ther to thank the numerous correspondents who have pa- 
tientlyendured the non-attention to their personal letters 
and favors ; and also to express my gratitude to the many 
friends, neighbors, and distant readers as well, for their 
kind attentions, and oft-repeated inquiries after my health 
and welfare. Such manifestations beget a strong desire 
to live yet longer, to reciprocate this kindness and to la- 
bor further to promote the comfort and happiness of my 
friends, among whom I love to reckon every member of 
the Great Agriculturist Family. 
This long sickness and slow recovery are new for me, 
having never before been confined a dozen days at a 
time by actual disease, while now I have remained sev- 
enty long days and longer nights, within these walls. 
But the emaciated muscles are nearly filled up, and they 
are coming again under the control of the will. For 
once I have looked into the favorite old looms at 41 
Park Row, and I am almost able to go there daily now. 
I do not regret the past summer— its labors, its suffering 
in mind, body, and business interests. I am assured that 
many a brave soldier has been saved from suffering, that 
many are alive, and others in possession of their limbs, 
who would have fared quite otherwise, but for the little 
part I have been able to take in the great work of car- 
ing for them, by being personally near the great battle 
fields,— and with this inward reward I am quite content. 
Flushing, Sept. \%th, 1864. ORANGE JUDD. 
rinlcd in 
Strawberry Plants— Some Delay in Send- 
ing—Few Mailing Boxes— Explanation. 
— » — 
We have had a world of trouble, expense, and vexa- 
tion, in getting the Strawberry Plants off— quite enough 
to make a well man sick, anil therefore hard indeed 
upon one already weakened by 70 days confinement by 
disease. As our readers are inleresled, we will explain : 
I. By an expense of about $40 per week, during 
nearly a year, in preparing the ground, manuring, di- 
viding and weeding the plants, guiding ami setting 
everyrunner, watering during the'.severe drouth, we suc- 
ceeded in getting our small original stock up to at least 
90,000 good plants by Aug. 30th, with prospect of more. 
II. The names of all applicants were arranged in or- 
der of reception upon labels specially prepared for boxes, 
all written and stamped, and twenty persons were en- 
gaged to begin the work of distribution, August 30th. 
III. Last spring we originated a plan of sending plants 
in wooden cases or boxes, and invited plans and propo- 
sals. Out of many specimens received, the simplest and 
best, as appeared to us from the samples and explana- 
tions, was that described in the July Agriculturist, and 
with unhesitating faith in the plans, facilities and ability 
of the proposer, on June 18th we contracted with him 
for 50,000 boxes to be delivered the middle of August, 
and 5,000 a day more until fully supplied. We were so 
absorbed in the care of the wounded in Virginia, that we 
did not exercise our usual vigilance in personally look- 
ing into the contractor's -manufacturing facilities. This 
was our chief error. After being brought home sick, 
we at the first possible moment se r nt an inquiry after the 
progress of our pet boxes, and was informed that they 
would be on hand in time all right. The Distribution was 
announced in good faith to begin August 30th. The mid- 
dle of August, the 20th, the 25th, came, yet no boxes ; but 
we received positive assurance that there was only a little 
delay in getting mechanics to finish up the machinery, 
and they would be ready in time. August 30th came 
and pur hands were all ready, but no boxes. Trusting in 
the promise that they would certainly come in a day or 
two, our packers were partly busied in sending off the 
larger parcels by mail and express, out of the regular 
order. Sept. 4th, still no boxes. Unable to leave our 
room, we sent men to carefully look into the matter, and 
to our utter astonishment they found the machinery quite 
incomplete. They were at once directed to spare nei- 
ther money nor exertion, day or night, to get the ma- 
chinery done, and the boxes delivered at the earliest pos- 
sible moment. Several hundred dollars were paid out, 
($300 to $400 more than the contract for all the boxes-call- 
ed for.) Sept. 9th, machinery reported all done, and 
up, and adjusted, and re-adjusted, but " it don't work"! ! — 
So much for being unable to see to our business, and 
know that all was going right.— —Well, here we were, 
Sept. 9th— the season passing, the plants gelling too 
large almost, the subscribers looking for them, the wrap- 
pers all prepared for a particular kind of boxes, with a 
costly lot of postage stamps stuck fast to them, and not 
lilted for any other form, and the " beautiful machinery 
a failure " ! We were sick at heart, at head— all over— 
and most so that we were not fulfilling to the letter, and 
day, our promise to our readers. We hope, and believe 
they will excuse us, after this statement of the case. As 
the next resort, Mr. Olm commenced with the old method 
by which we had successfully sent out 50,000 other plants 
in previous years. This was afterward improved upon. 
Over 40 persons are putting up and sending 4,000 to 6,000 
a day, and this rate will be increased. We shall fill all 
applications to this date before Sept. 26th, and all further 
applications by the 30th. Others called for hereafter can 
be sent any time in October, and during part of November, 
except at the far north. To future applicants from the 
more northerly regions, we will send the plants next 
spring if requested. The club parcels of over six 
plants were sent off prior to Sept. 9th, while waiting 
for the boxes, which were designed for single plants or 
less than six. Experiments are still being made with the 
box machinery, and part of our readers will receive plants 
in boxes. The only satisfaction in this vexatious de- 
lay, is, that the cool weather now prevailing is better 
adapted to the sending of the plants securely by mail, 
than the warm weather of the first of the month. 
We have been taught one lesson, which we thought 'we 
knew before, viz., not to rely implicitly upon the plausible 
statements and promises of any man, in a matter of im- 
portance. The contractor, in this case, doubtless expect- 
ed to do as he at first promised, but failed in ability and 
means to carry out his own intentions—" 
ons— • 
time." 
Containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Htnts and Suggestions which we throw into small 
type and condensed form, for want of space -elsewhere. 
" Weal Stlclc "-Mew P. O. Stamps 
Wanted.— We suggest to the Postmaster-General that 
among his many valuable improvements in the mail ser- 
vice, the postage stamps greatly need looking after. The 
two-cent stamps are brittle and badly gummed. When 
placed upon a freshly printed newspaper they damp off 
very soon. The recent law wisely encourages the intro- 
duction of new plants, seeds, cuttings, etc., by charging 
only 2 cents for 4 ounces. All living plants must be 
mailed a little damp, not wet ; yet the slightest dampness 
within sweats off the Post Office stamps, and the receiv- 
ing Postmasters frequently collect the postage anew. 
Stamps are greatly needed that are backed with an adhe- 
sive gum which will not so soon cleave off as those at pres- 
ent supplied, especially of the two-cent variety so much 
used for newspapers, plants, etc. We speak from ex- 
perience, having used about a hundred thousand stamps 
the past month in sending out plants to our subscribers, 
etc., and we seldom use so few as 1000 stamps per week. 
A Splendid Array of Fruits, Trees and 
Plants is offered by the nurserymen advertising in the 
present number, unequalled in number and variety, we 
believe, by any previous list. A perusal of the items will 
be instructive, by indicating the advancement being 
made jn this direction, as well as profitable in directing 
where to purchase. Besides these, many desirable arti- 
cles for the farm, the garden and the household are 
brought to notice, which will well repay examination. 
It is a satisfaction to know that none but parties believed 
to be reliable are permitted to use these columns at any 
price. Advertisers express themselves so well pleased 
with our request for parties writing to them to always 
state where their business cards were seen, that we 
therefore again request that this be uniformly done. 
Kentucky Mine Grass. — Several readers 
of the Agriculturist living in Iowa, Minnesota and Wis- 
consin, inquire for the experience of practical men in 
those States in seeding down to Blue Grass. 
Peaches on Wild Plum Sloclc. — 
Those who have these will do well to advertise, as 
there are several inquiring where they can be obtained. 
?Se-«v uses for Cos-eb Bffuslcs. — In Austria 
u new manufacture has been for a year or two in suc- 
cessful operation and constantly increasing. Corn husks 
are digested several days in hot water, and then separated 
into (1st) coarse hemp like fibres, the veins of the husk ; 
(2d) a pasty substance which constitutes a portion of the 
filling 1 , between the veins ; (3d) a pulp used for mak- 
