1887.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
241 
other kinds of breadstuff*, trade was dull, at drooping 
rates Provisions have been in better snpply, and lower 
in price, on a restricted inquiry Cotton has been heavy 
and lower, but closes with more firmness, on a livelier 
demand — Hay has been in better suppry, and quoted 
down, decidedly. The inquiry for it has been moder- 
ate Hops have been quiet, but steady Seeds have 
been very dull, and quoted lower Tobacco has been in 
active demand, closing steady at our revised rates 
Wool has been quiet. Fine grades, having been scarce 
and in some request, have been held with more firmness. 
Low and medium grades have been offered freely, at 
easier and irregular prices, but have been very quiet. 
HFew Yorlt Live Stoclt Markets.- 
week e>tdexg. Beeves. Coios. Calves. Sheep. Sicine. 
May 21 5,803 7G 2,42-4 12.S45 21,452 
May 28 4,218 92 2.101 13,919 18,197 
June 4 5,039 96 1,737 15.134 20,972 
Jane 11 5,788 76 1,817 15.957 16,301 
Total in four Weeks. . . .20,S98 336 8,079 57,855 77.222 
Average per Week 5,179 86 2.020 14,464 19,305 
do. do. UKt Month.... 5,445 fit 2,117 11,012 14,602 
do. do. prat? 8 Month. 4,759 84 1,183 13,33-2 14,852 
Average per Week, 1S66. 5,748 04 1,200 20,000 13,000 
do. do. do. 1865 5,255 US 1,500 16,091 11,023 
do. do. do. 1S64 5,161 143 1,511 15,315 12,676 
do. do. do. 1S63 5,150 129 694 9,941 21,670 
Total in 1866 298,850 4.8S5 C2.420 1,040,000 672.000 
Total in 1865 270,271 6,161 77,991 836.733 573,107 
Total in 1864 267.609 7,603 75,621 782,462 660,270 
Total in 1S63 264,091 6,470- 35,705 519,316 1,101,617 
Beef Cattle. —By reference to the above figures, it 
will be noticed that the snpply of beef fluctuated from 
5,800 to 4,200, the extremes being on the two consecutive 
weeks ending May 21 and 2S. The small supply on the 
latter week brought prices np, increased the number of 
beeves a little, and the first week in June a few very 
choice beeves sold in market at 20c, estimated dreseed 
weight, while 17?^c. represents about the average that 
week, poorest stock bringing 15c.@16c. A marked in- 
crease in the supply the nest week, (the last we re- 
port), and the feeling that settled warm weather was 
upon us, brought prices down, and now we quote extras, 
19c., average, about 17c, poorest, 12c I?ffileli Cows 
have been in little demand, and unless exceedingly good 
or fair beef, sell low Calves.— The supply has been 
about equal to the demand, and prices have changed but 
little for those of good quality, while, as the weather 
grows warmer, thin calves sell very slowly. 12J4c. <[9 lb 
live weight, is the usual price.. Slieep and Lambs. 
— The supply of really good mutton is very light, but the 
number of poor, thin, worthless sheep, very large. The 
former sell quickly at Sc. or more, per pound, live weight, 
while there are grades quoted between Sc. and Gc. <g lb. ; 
below this, sheep sell by the head, often at barely enough 
to pay transportation from Ohio. Why will not farmers 
hold on to such stock, and give them three or four months 
good pasturing, when they would be fair mutton ? Now, 
butchers are afraid to buy. or do it on the sly, because 
the mutton is liable to be seized by the health po- 
lice, as diseased or unhealthy meat Swine. — The 
supply has fluctuated considerably, and prices have had 
their ups and down. As we go to press, the market is 
rather short, 4,500 less than last week, and prices have 
advanced fully 'ic, and are at present, 7c@i7f4c $? lb., 
live weight, for the general ran, 7?.£ cents for choice. 
Weather Observations.— It is interest- 
ing to watch the weather,and this interest is increased and 
made useful by keeping a record of Appearances, of Tem- 
perature, of the Barometer, and of the Hygrometer, for 
one's own reference. Though it is rather humiliating 
practice for any one to write down his translation of 
daily weather indications, and then sec how his prophe- 
sies turn out, it is nevertheless useful ; and in this way, 
almost any one will become a very accurate judge of the 
prospect of fair or foul weather. In keeping a record of 
the Barometer or Theimometer, rale off a sheet in quarter 
or half-inch squares. Write the days of the month at the 
top of the sheet, above each column of squares, and let 
each row of squares, or each line rather, down the sheet, 
stand for tenths of an inch of the Barometer, or degrees 
of the Thermometer. The record is kepi by simply mak- 
ing dots in the squares, to indicate the day and about the 
time of the day when the observation is made, and the 
hlght at which the mercury stood. It is enough to exam- 
ine the Thermometer at 7 o'clock A. M.. and o'clock 
P.M. The Barometer's record being made at the same 
time, and at 12 o'clock noon, also. An idea of how to 
keep such a record may be gained more fully by reference 
to each number of the American Agriculturist, for the 
first half of the year 1304. If the dots, as they are made 
flatly, bo finally connected by a lino, the fluctuations will 
be seen ni a glance. This is precisely on tho plan of the 
tables showing the fluctuations in gold, or any particular 
kind n f stnek or merchandise', similar records maybe 
kept of tile amounl of moisture in the air, and of the rela- 
Uvo amount of cloiul j In the stty. in the latl rcaei tu 
most convenient Way" Is to i italmflh tti i nttmoori to 10| 
t i,wii, its i itet}v« ii'-ai^o f r&trtoittnnd oloudw -• 
being used to indicate a ■perfectly clear sky, and 10, one 
as black and stormy as possible. 
Containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Bints and Suggestions which ice throw into smaller 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
Chances Yet for tlie Premiums, 
—The present number begins the last half of Yol. 2G. 
Any of the preminms may yet be obtained. One lady took 
a second Gold Watch last week, which is the fifth pre- 
mium she has received, and for which she commenced 
canvassing the last of April. Quite a number of subscrip- 
tions ran out with the last month. If they subscribe 
again, remember, their names will count on another pre- 
mium list, the same as new subscribers. Please con- 
tinue your efforts, and send in more subscribers as fast 
as obtained, stating whether or not the back numbers 
are wanted. All subscriptions received after this date, 
will commence with the July number, unless otherwise 
ordered. Back numbers will be furnished, if desired. 
Registered. Letters. — We would remind 
our subscribers that by the new registration system, 
which went into operation June 1st, prepayment of the 
registry fee of 20 cents, in stamps, is regirired, in addi- 
tion to the regular postage. Post office orders, drafts, 
checks, and inclosures in registered letters, may be sent 
us at our risk. "We thus answer repeated inquiries. 
Deceptive Circular. — A " Washing Cora- 
pound" manufacturer, sends out a circular containing, 
among other "puffs," an extract from "The Agricul- 
turist. 11 No such an article as this " puff 11 has ever been 
pubished in tlus journal, wherever else it may have ap- 
peared. Nor do we know of any paper of the above title. 
The extract is well calculated to deceive, especially as we 
understand that in answering letters of inquiry, the pro- 
prietor refers to a number of this paper. 
Tlie Crops.— The promise of June is rarely 
to be relied upon, yet it is a great satisfaction to begin 
the season with pleasant anticipations. From our corre- 
spondence and other sources of information throughout 
the country, we have very favorable reports of both grain 
and fruit crops, on the whole. Wheat and all the small 
grains are looking very well, corn is backward for the 
season, and a large part was not even planted by the first 
of June, yet this indicates no failure, and but little dan- 
ger to the crop. Potatoes rarely looked better, though 
they lay long in the ground. Fruit prospects are gener- 
ally flattering, also, and, as we write, the market is fairly 
flooded with strawberries, which are decidedly above the 
average in quality. It is hardly time to speak with con- 
fidence of the apple crop, and pears, though generally 
promising well, are a partial failure in some localities, 
where a severe cold North-easter blasted the bloom be- 
fore the fruit was fairly out. There arc a few localities, 
an extensive one in Missouri, where hail-stones have 
done serious damage, but the coldness of the season, it 
would appear, has not been favorable to hail, which usu- 
ally occurs, we believe" in times of great heat. The re- 
ports of the grass crop, which is, indeed, the most im- 
portant crop of the country, show more variation than 
those of any other. At the East, the crop is excellent. 
At the West, the promise of hay and present condition of 
the pastures appears to be not quite so good. 
A. IScw York Poultry Clnl>.— A call 
has been issued by several amateur poultry breeders, of 
New York and vicinity, tor a meeting of amateur and 
professional poultry breeders, to which all interested are 
invited, to organize a Poultry Club. The meeting is to 
be held July 10th, at Room No. 24, Cooper Union Build- 
ing, Eighth-Street and Fourth-avenue. We cordially 
wish the movement distinguished success. 
Birds and Eggs— Ornithology and 
Oology.— Nichols & Noyes, of Boston, have just pub- 
lished a work on the Birds of New England, by Edward 
A. Samuels. The title page states that it comprises "a 
complete history of their habits, times of arrival and de- 
parture, their distribution, food, songs, times of breeding, 
and n careful and accurate description of their nests and 
eggs." To a very satisfactory extent tho book (which is 
an 8vo. of 683 pages,) fulfils tho promise of its title page. 
Mi Bamuola -h.'.u- that Ka has been a close observer, 
hUetyl la 1 tmlll u'o I easy, and bo qttotefl tew Ij from 
,. | . .... i _,-■,,,,! [ D dii ittiijj thi ilu4 
hi bM< ' ' t&M '■'•"■ '"■ nwl ifttbl s Swl 
with. The good and the evil done, directly or indirectly, 
by all our common birds, are carefully compared in a 
very unprejudiced way. The engravings of the eggs are 
remarkably fine— they are wood cuts, but the effects pro- 
duced seem to us superior to anything that could have 
been done on steel or stone. Some of the small engrav- 
ings of birds are fair, but many of the full page cuts arc 
execrable in execution, yet doubtless accurate as regards 
markings of plumage, and other characteristics. There is 
a plain edition, one with the eggs colored, and one with 
all the plates colored. It is a useful and needed book. 
I>o Yon Want n " Time-keeper " 
for $3 ?— J. Birch & Co., Williamsbnrgh. N. Y., are 
benevolent people, they send out " time-keepers."' " gen- 
tlemen's breast-pins," etc., for the very moderate sum 
of $3.30. As such liberality as this should be known, 
we give them the benefit of an advertisement. A Mend 
of ours received the following : 
Pr.IZE CERTIFICATE. 
On receipt of this certificate with §3.30 to pay for post- 
age and package, we will send to your address, by return 
mail, one 
ilAGNTFICEXT GOLD CASED TEUXPIECE, 
3IAHKED $50. 
Elegant Engraved Patent Gold Cases, regular action, 
bridge balance, and warranted a good timer. 
If this article does not suit, you can change it for any 
other article of the same marked value on the list. 
Address J. BIRCH & CO., 
Williamsburgh, New York. 
He sent the money, $3.30, and received his ''time-keep- 
er." That others may see what a valuable article it is, 
Fig. 1.— TI3IE PIECE. 
we give an engraving of it of the natural size. A toy sun- 
dial, with a compass that points nowhere. Then, the 
"engraved patent gold case*' is worthy of an illustra- 
tion, which we give, in figure 2. A pasteboard box, 
covered with the cheapest kind of gilt paper. This is 
Fig. 2. — GOLD CASE. 
about a fair specimen of the articles sent out by these 
gia enterprises, if they send anything at all. Messrs. 
J. Birch & Co. finding that they were dealing with ono 
Who would expose them, returned Mr. C. the money he 
sent them, supposing he would keep quiet. The whole 
sell is a very neat one. The "time-Keeper" with its 
gold ease must have cost, altogether, at least :t» cento; 
Sundry Humbugs.- The uumbetf of let- 
ters in reference to these has been, of hue. very lazge, 
and mu'-h time has been consumed in investigating them. 
A. A. rv.-11.Vs Firsl Grand N Am Gifl Concert, which 
war advertised to take piuceal tho Wabash Avenue Rink, 
Chicago i ; ' l * : ; ?**aH 
