3878.] 
AMERICAN AGrRIC ULTURIST. 
4.5 
anti! time to put them iu the open ground. Set the 
box out doors in the middle of every mild day, or 
open the windows, iu order to harden the plants. 
The Kinds Usually Sown iu hot-beds, frames, and 
window' boxes, are cabbages, cauliflowers, and 
others of that family ; lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, 
and egg-plants ; the last two will do a month later. 
Cucumbers, melons, and early squashes, may be 
started later, a few seeds to give plants enough for 
a hill, in a small box or 4-inch pot. The roots of 
these are large, and do not succeed in a small pot. 
What to Sow .—We have in former years given a 
list of varieties that our experience has shown to 
be quite satisfactory ; this year Mr. Henderson 
gives on page 62 his experience, which is much the 
same as ours. We always advise sowing the main 
crop of well-tested varieties, and while we advo¬ 
cate the testing of all the new' things that one can 
afford to try, we regard it as highly unsafe to de¬ 
pend upon untried novelties for the family supply. 
Where to Buy .—Look through our advertising 
pages, and send for catalogues. We do not com¬ 
mend one dealer in preference to another. We be¬ 
lieve that all whose advertisements are admitted, 
will do as they agree. The low rates of postage on 
seeds, makes it unnecessary to regard locality ; the 
distant purchasers can easily reach dealers, wher¬ 
ever they may be, and vice versa. 
Seeds on Hand should be carefully looked over . 
while some are just as good as ever at the end of 
several years, others have a limited vitality. Onions, 
leeks, and parsnips should always be of the former 
season’s growth. Beans, peas, egg-plant, carrot, 
okra, pepper, salsify, sage, and other sweet herbs, 
keep safely for two years. Radish, spinach, and 
parsley, are good at three years old. Cabbage, and 
all of its tribe, including turnips of all kinds, and 
celery, keep perfectly well for four years. Others 
seem to be quite as good at the end of five or ten 
years, as at first, such as melon, squash, and ail 
that family, with beets and tomatoes. When in 
doubt about any seed, test it before time for sow¬ 
ing. Count out a dozen or tw'enty seeds, and sow 
them in a little earth in a cup, placed in a warm 
place, and the earth kept moist. If half or two- 
thirds sprout, it will be safe to sow the seeds. 
Implements , Fertilizer's, and whatever else is to be 
purchased, should be on hand before the hurry of 
the spring work begins_Get bean-poles and pea¬ 
brush before vegetation starts_Have extra parts 
to all implements liable to be broken. 
Flower Warden and Lawn. 
So much space has been given to other depart¬ 
ments, that we may only say as to this that all pre¬ 
paratory work, such as planning new lawns, paths, 
and borders and selection of trees and shrubs for 
planting, should be done while there is yet leisure. 
....Ornamental trees of all kinds, but especially 
evergreens, should be guarded against injury from 
heavy snow falls, by shaking the snow from the 
tops, and digging it away from the lower branches. 
Greenhouse and Window Plaitls. 
The increasing sun will bring many plants into 
flower, and at the same time encourage the insects, 
for the treatment of which quite full Notes were 
given in December last. Free use of tobacco smoke 
or tobacco water, where it is inconvenient to use 
smoke, will destroy many. A small collection of 
plants, tended by one really fond of them, may 
be kept free of insects by mere “ thumb and finger 
work.” Daily examination, the use of a stiffish 
brush, like an old tooth-brush, and a pointed stick 
to pick off mealy bugs and scale, will keep insects 
from doing harm. Neglect to examine in time, and 
Dip the trouble in the bud, is the cause of much of 
the difficulty. More water will be needed by plants 
in bloom and making their growth... .Bulbs, if any 
remain in the cellar, may be brought to the heat 
and light. When the flowers fade on the earlier 
ones, cut away the stalk and let the leaves grow 
on ; when they begin to fade, dry off the bulbs, 
which may be planted in the garden afterwards. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist, 
from our daily record during the year, show at a glance 
the transactions for the month ending Jan. 12th, 1878, 
and for the corresponding month last year, and also for 
the year ending Dec. 31, 1877 : 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT TIIIC NKW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rue. Barley. Outs. 
25d’s this m’tli397,000 3,981,000 2,463,000 181,000 416,000 546,000 
25 d’s last m’tli473,000 4,116,000 3,491,000 383,000 1,312,000 1,107,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Coni. Rye. Harley. Oats. 
25d’sl/«sm’t,li343,000 4,104,000 3,513,000 159,000 341.000 839,000 
25 d’s last m’l.!i491,000 5,139,000 4,151,000 481,000 1,227,000 1,286,000 
Z. Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Sue. Barley. Oats. 
25 days 1S78. .397,000 3,281,000 2,403,000 181,000 416,000 564,000 
25 days 1877..207,000 791,000 904,000 92,000 227,000 517,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. llye. Barley. Oats. 
24 days 1878..343,000 4,104,000 3,513,000 159,000 341,000 839,001 
25 days 1877 . 291,000 2,333,000 1,469,000 50,500 239,000 601,000 
3. Stock of grain in store at New York. 
Wheat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. Malt. 
hush. bush. hush. bush. bush. bush. 
Jail. 10,1873..2,5SC.715 105,909 280,333 913,S93 1,687.985 321,474 
Dec. 10,1877. .2,844.982 1.723,229 899,077 864,787 1,879,052 358,849 
Nov. 5,4877.. 934.374 2,643,502 166,949 368,429 1,770,759 328,3SS 
Oct. 8,1877.. 28S.69S 2,975.828 28,526 69,046 881,326 370,166 
May 7, 1877.. 76I.6S6 468,809 193,046 174,375 347,8S1 291,654 
Feb. 7,1877..3,083,819 2,302,261 374,142 671,114 956,111 388.605 
,Tan. S, 1877..3,668,010 3,077,504 341,750 905,615 1.088,104 425,406 
bee. 11,1876..3,110,283 3,385,534 218.841 873,310 1,182,322 512,041 
Aug. 7,1870. .2,831,299 904,557 94,960 53,914 1,232,895 434,203 
Apr. 10,1870..3,893,074 232,140 68,429 200,381 706,282 436,942 
Jan. 10,1876..5,802,293 663,932 100,741 325,191 1,0S0,300 307,438 
4. Receipts of Breadstuffs in New York in each of the 
last nine years ; 
Flour. Wheal. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. 
bids. bush. bnsli. bush bush.' bush. 
1877.. ..3.659.394 24,751,154 34.S27.575 1,975.392 8,843,349 11,703,339 
1876_4.000:562 26,806,221 26,657,60? 1,611,912 6.746.193 12,140,676 
1875.. ..3.940.272 34,214,736 22,485.70? 301,654 4,707,346 10,636,077 
1874.. ..4.017.207 11,817.215 29,329.000 592.114 2,776,025 10,792,919 
1873.. .. 3,546,068 33.559,870 24.559,315 992,417 2,413,526 11,2.35,420 
1872.. ..3.030.771 16,229,418 25,292,156 491,563 5,117,351 12,486,318 
1331.. ..3.649.045 26.518,360 27,108,156 1,055,621 3.869,123 12,546,966 
1870.. ..4.143.993 24,083,742 9,143,473 550,169 5,020,718 9,626,606 
1869.. ..3.535.716 23,813,652 11,666,784 357,803 3,007,958 8,747,322 
5. Exports from New York, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. 
Flour. 
Wheat 
Corn. 
Rye. 
Barley. 
Oats. 
1877.. 
..1.537.106 
21,335,774 
25 
.373,942 : 
2 019,796 
2,41 >,509 
257,634 
ISiO.. 
..1,894,158 
24,227,852 
15 
,991,817 
1,337,161 
8S.132 
619,554 
4S75.. 
..1,954,189 
26, 9 >,693 
12 
,938.740 
203.898 
3,505 
138,752 
1874.. 
. .2,177.608 
31,791,249 
19 
,000,995 
641,661 
3,560 
122,528 
1873.. 
..1,655,331 
27,801,829 
15 
,587.527 
1,009,148 
19,376 
49,710 
1872.. 
..1,179,050 
13,144,956 
27 
,801,000 
668,517 
22,656 
31,480 
1871.. 
..1,659.755 
21,968,643 
13 
,046,570 
525,712 
93,745 
47,310 
1870 . 
. .1,950,231 
18.446,035 
487,792 
92,431 
-. 
28,986 
1869.. 
..1,582,211 
18,210,586 
1 
,637,536 
142,542 
— 
49,393 
6 . 
Exports.from Neio York. Jan. 1. to Jan. 10. 
Flour. 
Wheat. 
Corn. 
Rt/e. Rarlet/. 
Oats. 
Peas. 
hbls. 
busli. 
bush. 
hush. bush. 
bush. 
hush. 
1878.. 
...47.039 
701,757 
320,123 
27,587 51,250 
1,298 
3,793 
1877. 
...39.120 
466,708 
42.295 
7,934 - 
4,285 
18,113 
1S76.. 
...71.713 
521,558 
453,833 
2,810 - 
6,183 
32,093 
1S75.. 
...67,10$ 
732,422 
48 i,3?2 
- - 
4,719 
5,093 
Gold has been up to 103%, and down to 100%, closing 
Jan. 12, atl02M, as against 103 on Dec. 12; 102% on Nov. 
12; 103onOct. 12: 105% on July 12, 104% on June 12; 
107% on May 12; 104% on March 12; 100 on January 12, 
1877... The Breadstiift' interests have suffered from vari¬ 
ous adverse influences during the month, and haveshown 
serious depression, on a restricted volume of business, as 
well for home use as for export, closing heavily. Reports 
and rumors—especially toward the close—as to the prob¬ 
abilities of a restoration of peace in Europe, have been 
decidedly against the outward movement, which has also 
been unfavorably affected by the stronger range of ocean 
freights. Flour sales fell off to a very limited aggregate. 
Spring Wheat and new crop Corn closed moderately ac¬ 
tive at the reduced quotations. Winter Wheat generally 
dull, and quoted irregular. Within the month compara¬ 
tively liberal export purchases have been made of choice 
White Wheat, and best No. 1 Spring, the latter in especial 
favor with buyers. Oats have been less freely dealt in, 
and left off weak. Rye and Barley have attracted less at¬ 
tention. The export call for Bariey has been within nar¬ 
row limits_A further material decline lias occurred in 
Hogs and Hog Products, bringing prices down to the 
lowest prices in many years, influenced by the very free 
offerings here and at prominent points in the interior, 
particularly Chicago. At the reduced quotations, deal¬ 
ings have been on an extensive scale—in Lard and Bacon 
remarkably so for export. Beef and Beef nams have been 
quoted about steady, hut not active. Choice to fancy 
grades of Butter have been in good request at stronger 
rates; poorer qualittes slow of sale and unsettled as to 
price. Cheese has been in fair demand at about former 
figures. Eggs have fallen off materially in price, closing 
weak; recent arrivals in excess of current requirements, 
and supplies accumulating... .An active business has 
been reported in Hops, largely for export, within the 
quoted range ...Cotton has been less freely dealt in at 
variable prices — Woo] in fair demand, and held with 
confidence... Tobacco moderately sought after at about 
previous rates.Seeds generally quiet; rough flax 
wanted; values quoted, as a rule, steady. The exports 
of Clover Seed from this port, from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 
1877, were 23,184 bags; and of Timothy Seed, 29,095 hags. 
_Hay and straw have been in moderate demand, and 
prices have been fairly supported_A fairly active 
movement has been reported in Ocean and general cargo 
freights, though checked, in part, by the stronger rates, 
claimed by shipowners_Grain rates by steam to Liver¬ 
pool closed on the 12 tli of Jan. at 9 %d. @ W%d : to Glas¬ 
gow at Wfid. ; to London at W'id.; to Bristol at 9 lid ; to 
Hull at Wy 2 d.\ to the Continent at 9%@10eL; to Liverpool, 
by sail, 8 ® 8 %iL; London, by sail, 8 J 4 C?., per bush. Flour 
to Liverpool, by steam, 2s. 9d. ; London, by sail, 2 s. 9 d., 
and by steam 3s. 6(L@3s. 9 d.; Bristol, by steam, 3s. 6 d. 
per bhl. Provisions by steam to Liverpool, 40s. ® 45s-. 
per ton; Cotton by sail ,s / ( -, 4 @ 1 4 d., and steam at J 4 @ 
I? 8 >. Grain, by sail, for Cork and orders, at 6 s. 
3cL ©fo. \%d., and to Continental ports, 6 s. 3d. (d) 6 s. 6 d.; 
Italian ports, 5s. 7%<i@5s. 10 %d. per quarter ; to Lisbon, 
in ship’s hags, 16 cts. per bushel; to Oporto, in shippers’ 
bags, 7s. 3d. per quarter. 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
Dec. 12. Jau. 12. 
Price of Gold. 
103 
102 1-2 
Flour—S uper to Extra Stale 
*4 85 
@ G 00 
*4 35 
(fit 5 75> 
Super to Extra Southern_ 
4 90 
© S 75 
4 50 
© 8 50. 
Extra Western. 
5 45 
© 9 75 
5 00 
© 9 75- 
Fxtra Genesee. 
0 0(1 
© 7 50 
5 35 
@ 7 25- 
Superfine Western. 
4 85 
@ 5 35 
4 35 
© 5 10. 
Rye Flour . . .. 
3 65 
@ 4 35 
3 25 
® 4 25 
(JOUX-.M ICAL. . 
2 60 
@ 3 25 
2 fill 
@ 3 23 
Buckwheat Flour. ?! 100 lbs 
2 30 
@ 2 75 
2 011 
@ 2 65 
Buckwheat, per bush. 
6S 
@ 69 
64 
@ 65 
Wheat—A ll kinds ol White. 
1 42 
@ 1 59 
1 40 
@ 1 52 
All kinds of lied and Amber. 
1 15 
@ 1 50 
i oo 
© 1 48 
Corn— i’cllow .. 
58 
® 66 
56 
@ 63 
Mixed... 
575f@ 65 
53 
© 63 
White. 
58 
@ 66 
57 
@ 64 
Oats— Western.. 
38%© 43 % 
37 
@ 43 
State . 
39 
@ 44 
38 
@ 43 
Rye. 
72 
© 78 
71 
© 77 
Barley ... 
70 
© 1 08 
65 
© 1 05 
Barley Malt. 
7(1 
@ 1 25 
70 
© 1 20 
Hay— bale, HUOOibs. 
40 
@ 95 
40 
® 95 
Straw, 100 lbs. 
35 
@ 65 
40 
@ 65 
Cotton—M iddlings, if) !b 
li H® 
Hops—C rop of 1877T, ifi lb . 
5 
© 13 
5 
© 13 
old, ?! lb. 
2 
® 6 
2 
© 6 
Feathers—L ive Geese. V lb 
45 
© 50 
45 
@ 50 
Seed—G lover, West. & Still lb 
8K® 8% 
8 
@ 9 
Timothy, r i9 bushel... . 
1 35 
@ 1 40 
1 35 
@ 1 40 
Flax, ip bushel. 
1 60 
® 1 52K 
1 55 
@ 1 60 
Sugar—R eli’g& Grocery if' lb 
CM® 9 
6%@ 8% 
Molasses, Cuba. lUgal.SOtest 
SS 
@ 40 
Nominal. 
New Orleans, if) gal. 
32 
@ 4S 
20 
@ 4S 
Coffee— Uio(Gofd). 
1C 
@ 20 
15%@ 18% 
Tobacco, Kentucky, &c., ?Ub. 
4 
@ 15 
4 
@ 15 
Seed Leal, if) lb. 
4 
® 50 
4 
@ 50 
Wool—D omestic Fleece, ifl lb 
20 
@ 55 
2S 
© 52 
Domestic, pulled, 19 lb. 
28 
@ 38 
20 
© 40 
California, spring clip,. 
12 
@ SI 
13 
@ 32 
California fall clip. 
10 
@ 25 
10 
@ 23 
Tallow, V lb . 
7 %@ 7% 
1%® '!% 
Oil-Cake— i(> ton. 
@ - 
— 
©32 00 
Fork—M ess, if* barrel. 
13 12%@13 50 
12 Of) 
@12 50* 
Extra Prime, if! barrel _ 
9 00 
@ 9 50 
8 00 
©10 00 
Beef—E xtra mess. 
13 00 
@ 13 50 
12 50 
@13 00 
Laud, in tres. & bids, 100 lb 
8 12%@ 8 90 
7 62K® 8 25 
Butter—S tate, if< lb. 
32 
@ 35 
12 
@ 3a 
Western, poor to fancy, iP lb. 
9 
@ 35 
9 
© 38 
Cheese.. . ... 
5 
® 13 
5 
@ 13% 
Eggs—F resb, 19 dozen _ 
20 
@ 26 
15 
@ 22 
Poultry—F owls & Chickens 
8 
© 14 
7 
@ 15 
Turkeys—Hi lb. 
7 
@ 16 
10 
@ 14 
Geese, 19 pair.. 
1 12%® 2 00 
1 25 
® 2 00 
Ducks, Hi pair. 
50 
@ (5 
60 
@ 90' 
Roosters,?! lb. 
C 
© 7 
5 
@ 7 
Ducks, Wild, ?! pair. 
25 
@ 2 50 
35 
© 2 50' 
Grouse, iRpair. . 
50 
© 1 00 
70 
@ 1 25 
Partridge,?! pair. 
40 
@ 75 
50 
@ l on 
Quail, 18 dozen. 
75 
© 1 50 
1 50 
@ 2 50-- 
Plover, ?! doz. 
1 35 
© 1 37 
Nominal. 
Snipe, per doz. 
30 
® 1 37 
Nominal. 
Venison, IP lb. 
7 
@ 12 
Nominal. 
Rabbits, ?! pair. 
40 
@ 50 
41 
© 50 
Hares, ?! pair. 
25 
@ 30 
30 
@ 50' 
Turnips ?! bbl. 
60 
@ 75 
65 
@ 75- 
CAB3V0ES—?! 100. 
2 00 
@ 3 00 
2 75 
@ 4 50 
Red. 
— 
© - 
2 50 
@ 4 00 
Onions— new,?! bbl. 
1 50 
© 2 00 
1 25 
@ 1 75 
Lettuce, ?! bbl. 
50 
©1 00 
Nominal. 
Carrots, ?! bbl . 
50 
@ 75 
75 
@ 1 00 
Potatoes— bbl.. 
1 25 
@ 2 12% 
1 25 
© 2 00 
Sweet Potatoes—? t bbl. 
1 50 
@ 2 50 
1 50 
© 2 50 
Beets, 39 bbl. 
50 
@ 75 
50 
@ 75 
Peas—C anada, in bond, ?) bu 
85 
® 86 
82 
© 83 
green, $ bush. 
1 40 
@ 1 45 
1 30 
@ 1 35 
Beans— 18 bushel. 
1 70 
@ 2 65 
1 60 
@ 2 75 
Broom-corn. 
4 
® 
4 
© 7 A 
Apples—?! barrel... 
1 75 
® 5 01) 
1 50 
@ 3 75 
Celery, per dozen. 
75 
@ 1 00 
60 
@ 75 
Cauliflower, ?! bbl. 
1 00 
© S 50 
1 25 
@ 3 00 
Okra, ?! 100. 
15 
© 20 
15 
© 28 
Peanuts, domestic, ?! bush.. 
1 15 
@ 1 50 
1 45 
© 1 CO 
Grapes, $ lb. 
3 
© 7 
3 
@ 7%. 
Cranberries—?! bbl. 
5 00 
@ 6 50 
5 50 
@ 6 50 
?! crate. 
— 
© - 
75 
©2 00 
Oranges, Florida, ?! bbl.... 
5 00 
© 8 00 
5 00 
@ 9 00- 
>t;iv York Iflve-^lock illarkcls. 
BEK ENDING 
5C. 17 
2C 24 
3C. 31. 
ill. 7 
ill. 14. 
ital for 5 Weeks. .42,052 
i .for prev. 4 JFeeAs3G,904 
RECEIPTS. 
.8,833 
.6.334 
.8.419 
.10,427 
lo. do. last 
es. Cow. 
s*. 
Calves. 
Sheep. 
Swine. 
1 93 
1,135 
26,850 
47,674 
1 71 
1,261 
17,120 
29,086 
1 80 
5S2 
11,947 
31,953 
1 68 
973 
24,283 
37,527 
1 77 
818 
25,808 
48,436 
! 389 
4,769 
106,008 
194,676 
1 314 
4,631 
95,222 
147.S54 
Beeves. Cows. Calves 
. Sheep. 
Sirine. 
8,410 
77 
954 
21,201 
38,935 
9,226 
78 
1,157 
23,805 
36,963 
9,370 
87 
2,157 
29,049 
32,263 
Beeves. —The dullness of the market was never 
greater than at the close of 1877. The depression in gen¬ 
eral business, and the decreased consumption of beef 
is shown by the condition of the market. Formerly a 
matter of 200 to 250 cars of beeves a day made no impres¬ 
sion on prices, but sales briskly cleared the yards. The 
first week of 1878 offered a wonderful contrast, 18 care 
one day, and .38 the next, barely met the demand, and 
when a few more cars arrived the next day after, down 
went prices. Fine, dry weather, and small receipts put 
up prices £c. per lb., but the heavy receipts of the last 
week knocked the strength out of the market, and the 
advance was lost. The market closed very weak ; some 
