46 
AMERICAN AGKRIC ULT URIST, 
[February, 
good Colorado steers of 1,500 lbs., selling at 9Jc. to dress 
56 lbs. to the cwt. ; good natives for 10@.10Jc. $ lb, 57 fb 
to the cwt., and extra at for 58 lbs. to the cwt. 
The prices for the past five 
week ending Range. 
Dec. 17 . 8)4@13 c. 
Dec. 24. i @12 c. 
Dec. 31. 8 @12 c. 
Jan. 7. 7)4@12 c. 
Jan. 14. 7ff@llsi'c. 
weeks were as follows: 
Large Sales. Aver. 
9 @11 c. 9^<TolO c. 
8<£©11 c. 9 9%c. 
9 ®10Kc. 9^@ 9%c. 
9«@10Xc 9 @10 c. 
9 ©topic. 9 y.@ 95fc. 
Cows.— Good cows are in demand, and sell quickly 
at $60@,$90 for extra good milkers ; fair cows bring $50, 
and poor from $30 to $40 per head. Poor cows have sold 
with difficulty_Calves.—The crowding on the mar- ' 
ket of unsalable stock has reduced prices very low'. At 
one time the past month 2}c. $ lb only was paid for 
grassers. Hog-dressed veals have been in good demand, 
and sell for 8@9c. sp lb; poor veals sold for 5@,6ic. $ lb 
live weight, and grass calves could hardly be moved at 
2|c. $ ft) live weight at the close of our report.... 
Slieep nnd ILaisifos.—The market for this stock 
may be called dead; killed by overstocking. A great 
many sheep are carried over unsold. The only bright 
day during the month was when only 800 arrived and 
sold quickly at }c, <jj? lb advance on former rates. Heavy 
arrivals put the market back again. A notable example 
of extremes was offered by the exhibition of some poor 
Texans of 63 lbs. average, which sold for 2}c. $ lb., and 
some Canada Sheep of 160 lbs. average, some weighing 
300 lbs., which sold for 6Jc. f) lb. The market closed 
very weak at 44 ® 6c. $ lb. for fair to good sheep, and 
7c. lb. for lambs, live weight_ SvvSnc. —Dulness 
rules the trade. Some days no sales are reported, and 
prices are nominal. As wo close this is the case for live 
hogs, quoted only at 4f@4}e. $ lb. City dressed sold 
very low to move them; 4f 5j-c. 3? lb., was all that 
could be procured. 'Western dressed are held but not 
sold at5c. Jersey dressed slow at 5 @ 6}c. ^ lb. 
Prices of Feed. 
Bran, per ton.$18.00@$20.00 
Middlings, per ton. 49.00@ 21.00 
Ground Feed, per ton. 15.00® 21.00 
.Linseed-oil-cake. western, per ton.. 44.00® 47.00 
Cotton-seed-cake, per ton.. 25.50@ 40.00 
Chandler’s Scraps, per B. 3@ 4 
Prices of Fertilizers. 
No. 1. Pernv. Guano 10 p.e.t. ammonia, standard, P ton..$56.50 
do. do. Lobos, do. do. do. 47.50 
do. do. guaranteed, $ ton, cargo F 56.00 
do. do. rectified, per ton, 9.70 p. c.. 69.00 
do. do. do. do. 3.40 p. c. 51.00 
Soluble Pacific Guano, $ ton. 45.00 
Excelsior Fertilizer Works, Fine Ground Raw Bone,.. .55.00 
Mapes’ Complete Manure (Ville formula) p. 1,000 lbs 20.11 
do. Spring Wheat Manure. 19 1,000 Bs., 25.00 
do. Fruit and Vine Manure, do. 17.50 
do. Bone, strictly pure, meal .per ton. 42.00 
do. do. do. extra fine_ do. 40.00 
do. do. do. fine. do. 88.00 
do. do. do. medium. do. 36.00 
do. Lawn Top Dressing. do. G0.00 
do. Potato Manure, (Ville Formula).. do. 51.91 
Stockbridge Corn Manure, (Boston) per acre... 22.00 
“ Potato do do do 12.00 
Tobacco 
do 
do 
do 
60.00 
Rve 
do 
do 
do 
H.00 
tVlieat 
do 
do 
do 
16.00 
Bowker’s Hill and Drill Fertilizer, per ton. 45.00 
Sulphate of Magnesia (55 to 60 per cent), per toil. 22.50 
Grpsiim, Nova Scblia, ground, per ton. 8.00 
Nitrate of Potash (95 per cent.), per lb. 9!^c. 
Sulphate of Potash (actual potash 41 per cent) tier lb_4 e. 
do. do. (actual potash 27M per cent) per lb 2 c. 
German Potash Salts (actual potash 12 to 15 p. c. p. ton$18.00 
Muriate of Potash (actual potasli 50 per cent), per lb.. ,2%c. 
Nitrate of Soda, per lb. 4%c.® 4;je. 
Sulphate of Ammonia (25 percent.), per lb_ 4;tc.@ 5 c. 
Dried Blood or Dried Meat (ammonia 14 percent) p. ton $50 
Export of Farm Products in 1877. 
The condensed, but very comprehensive tables on page 
45, are prepared expressly for the American Agriculturist 
by a gentleman who daily, throughout the year, attends 
the N. Y. Corn Exchange to gather information, prices, 
etc. These tables will .be found very interesting. The 
5 th table will be disappointing in the amount of exports 
of Breadstuff's. The exports of wheat and flour were less 
in 1877 than in 1876, notwithstanding the large yield of 
1877, owing to the high rates maintained by speculators, 
and the holding back the crop for increased prices by the 
producers themselves. Should the war in Europe soon 
close, prices will probably fall. There is, however, a 
notable increase in the export of corn (nearly 10,000,000 
bushels), also in Rye and Barley. There has been also a 
considerable increase in the shipment of Wheat and Flour 
since January 1, as compared with last year. 
From May 1st, 1877, to January lltli, 1878, the export 
of Butter from N w York amounted to 16,471,407 lbs., 
against 10,193.309 lbs. for the same period the previous 
year.— Cheese, 109,274,566 lbs., against 75.348,082 lbs. the 
previous period. 
Fresh'Beep exports during 1877, from New York, 
Philadelphia, Boston, and Portland, Me.. 101.971,501 lbs., 
valued at $10,047,699.— Live Cattle exported from same 
places in 1877. 20.057 head, valued at $2,987,540. Total 
value-of cattle and beef. $13,035,239. Pounds of Mutton, 
2,114,240 ; value $119,500. Live Sheep 13,176 head ; value 
$63,960. Total Export from four Ports, of live and dressed 
(fresh) Beef and Mutton in 1877. $13,218,609. An 
increase of more than 600 per cent over any previous year. 
DON’T FORGET 
TIE GOOD PREMIUMS 
To be Got Without Money. 
B.et it l»e Kcmciulicrcd l»y ail om- 
Friends, that notwithstanding the offer of the line 
Microscope to our Subscribers, as elsewhere described, 
our List of Valuable and Useful Premiums, is still in 
Full Force, and there is yet plenty of time for thou¬ 
sands to secure, by a little effort, one of these Good 
Tlsings that have already delighted multitudes who 
have received them. Now. This month of 
February is a capital time. If you have not received our 
Illustrated Premium List, please send for it. (See p. 73.) 
containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form , for want of room elsewhere. 
Publishers’ Notices, Terms, etc. — The Annual 
Subscription Rates of the American Agriculturist, postage 
prepaid by the Publishers, are: One Copy, $1.60 a year; Two 
Copies, $3 ; Three Copies, $4.29 ($1.40 each) ; Four Copies, 
$5.20 ($1.30 each); Five to Nine Copies. $1.25 each; Ten to 
Nineteen Copies, $1.20 each; Twenty Copies and upwards, 
$1.10 each ; Single Numbers, 15 cents, post-paid.—The above 
terms are for the United States and Territories, and British 
America. To the above add 14 cents extra per year for 
papers delivered by mail in N. Y. City, and for copies sent 
outside of the United States and British America, ex¬ 
cept to Africa, Brazil, British Honduras, the East Indies, 
and Mexico. For the last named five countries the extra 
charge is 38 cents per year, to cover extra postage; Single 
Numbers, 17 cents, post-paid. Remittances, payable to 
Order of Orange Judd Company, may be sent in form of 
Checks or Drafts on N. Y. City Banks or Bankers ; or P. O. 
Money Orders; or in Registered Letters, such letters to 
have the money enclosed in the presence of the Postmaster, 
and his receipt taken for it, and the postage and registering 
to be put on in stamps. Money remitted in any one of the 
above three methods is safe against loss. .Bound Volumes 
from Vol. 16 to 36 inclusive, supplied at $2 each, or $2.30 if to 
be sent by mail. Sets of numbers sent to the office will be 
bound in our regular style for 75 cents (30 cents extra if to 
be returned by mail). Missing numbers for such volumes 
supplied at 12 cents each.—Any Numbers of the paper is¬ 
sued for 21 years past, sent post paid for 15 cents each; 
or any full year, sent unbound, for $1.60. Clubs of 
Subscribers can he increased at any time, at the club rates, 
if new members begin at same date as original club. 
The fiiennaii Tiuerican Agricultur¬ 
ist is receiving large subscriptions from every quarter, 
indicating that the additions and improvements made in 
it are being recognized and appreciated. It is the only 
purely German Agricultural paper in the United States, 
and we intend, with the assistance of our English read¬ 
ers, to at least double its circulation during the present 
year. Please make known to your German neighbors 
the merits of the English Agriculturist, and that they 
can for the same price have the German ed.ition, which 
contains all the engravings and valuable articles of the 
English edition, with the addition of a valuable Special 
Department, edited by the Hon. Fred. Miinch. 
Frovskli- for Seed, Implements, 
Plants, etc., NOW.— It is bad planning to wait 
until just as anything is wanted, before securingit. This 
comparatively leisure month is the time to calculate 
what is going to be needed in April and May, to study 
up the advertisements and see what is offered: to corre¬ 
spond with dealers, get their catalogues and prices ; to 
make up orders and dispatch them, and fix the time you 
want them surely on hand—putting the time far enough 
in advance to have no delay occur by freshets, bad 
weather, or accident, and get a positive promise that 
the order will be filled. The dealers will he better pre¬ 
pared with good articles, and taking time by the fore¬ 
lock, will be a great gain. See “Hints for Work,” p. 42. 
A Fl«« “ns large as an Ox.*’—Our 
ideas of the size of a thing are wholly by comparison. 
The moon, when seen out in the clear sky, appears no 
larger than an 8 or 10 inch ring or disk. When just rising 
from the horizon, where it is seen in comparison with 
objects on the earth, it often looks to be twenty to fifty 
feet or more in diameter. The other day a gentleman 
called to say that our Microscope surely did not magnify 
25 diameters, or 625 surfaces. Having two glass slides, 
each containing a dried specimen of a flea, we put one of 
them under the springs in his Microsccpe, and asked him 
to hold it up to tlie light, and say how large it looked.— 
“About as large as a pig,” he answered. We then held 
the other slide up near the Microscope, and asked him to 
look at this with the unaided eye, and at the one in the 
Microscope, alternately, a few times, and then asked 
how large the magnified one now looked.—“ As large as 
an Ox," he promptly answered, and departed abundantly 
satisfied as to our statement of its magnifying power.— 
So well satisfied was he that he subscribed for five copies 
of the paper and five Microscopes to he sent to his 
friends. Any one can test this question by using two 
small transparent objects of about the same size, one in, 
and the other outside of, the Microscope. 
Value of Devon Cattle.— 1 The value of 
Devon cattle is again ascending. It was not to he be¬ 
lieved that a favorite, excellent, and old-established breed 
could long remain in neglect, or become permanently un¬ 
popular. Our advice long ago to those whose circum¬ 
stances were favorable for keeping Devons, was to buy 
them while prices were unreasonably depressed. Tb; 
depression seems to have passed away, and prices are ad¬ 
vancing, if we may judge from recent sales. A sale of :l 
cows and a bull was recently made by Ex-Gov. E. 1-1. 
Hyde, of Conn., to Mr. H. U. Weed, of Stamford, in that 
State, at the price of $7,000. The animals were Fairy 
17tli, (947,) age 7 years; Fairy 26th, (1622,) 4 years; Gertie, 
(1697,) 3 years, and the bull Huron, (727,) age 4 years. 
Need ol‘ Veterinary Education.— 
The value of live stock in the United States amounts to 
over one thousand millions of dollars, the aggragate 
number of farm animals being as follows: 
Horses & Mules...11,149,800 I Sheep.35,935,300 
Cattle.27.870,700 | Swine.25,726,800 
No other country in the world approaches these figures. 
But no other country, rich in live stock, is so ill provid 
ed with veterinary assistance as we are. Practically all 
this vast number of animals is without medical care, for 
the few practiced surgeons are entirely insufficient to 
the care of one-tliousandth part of them. Millions of 
dollars are sacrificed yearly for want of competent medi¬ 
cal assistance for cattle when ill. Veterinary schools are 
needed, and hundreds of competent practitioners. 
Itea«l the Advertising Columns.— 
We have several letters now before us, asking where 
pigs, fowls, seeds, fertilizers, machinery, etc., can be 
procured. We consider all the information of this kind 
that is given in the advertising pages sufficient, if those 
needing anything will only look there ; and can not find 
room to repeat what is already plainly told elsewhere. 
Every page of the American Agriculturist, including 
the covers, is interesting reading, and should ail be 
carefully examined every month. In addition to looking 
after what one may want, the reading of what others 
have to say, in offering their wares, etc., usually starts up 
some new idea iu the mind of the reader.—When writing 
to any advertiser, always tell him in what paper his ad¬ 
vertisement was seen.—Live animals can now he sent by 
express, for hundreds of miles, as well as merchandise. 
I.ive Stock iu lovra.—The State Audi¬ 
tor, of Iowa, publishes a statemout, showing the number 
and assessed value of the live stock in that State for the 
last ten years. This very interesting document gives a 
clear view of the steady increase of the wealth of Iowa 
in cattle, as well as the surprising decay of sheep grow¬ 
ing. We give the figures for 1867 and 1877 as follows: 
1867. Value. I 1877. Value. 
Cattle... 685,109.. $8,628,941 Cattle.. 1,452,546. $ 14,898,841 
Horses. .343,593.. 16,532,925 Horses.. 639,385.. 20.100,263 
Mules... 17,237.. l,125,410|Mules... 42.887.. 1,670,154 
Swine. .776,412.. 1,183,243 Swine..1,654,70S.. 3,899,301 
Sheep..1,354,608.. 2,0S4,476.Sheep.. 318,439.. 345,827 
Sere Feet oil Cows ami Calves,— 
“ G.,” Grantland, Va. Cows are sometimes subject to a 
sort of fever known as aphthous, which is marked by an 
eruption of vesicles, or small blisters upon the feet, and 
between the claws of the hoof, and about, the month and 
tongue. This disease is somewhat allied to the so-called 
“ foot and mouth ” disease prevalent in Europe, hut is not 
nearly so malignant in this country as there. The cure 
is to wash the feet with soap and water, and apply tar, or 
a mild solution of carbolic acid in water, to the parts 
affected ; and to give at the same time half an ounce of 
hyposulphite of soda daily to a cow, or half as much to a 
calf fora week or two, until the blood becomes healthful. 
Coi* 3» ami FIosbv Cake. —At the 
house of a friend this morning, we had some corn-bread, 
so-called, which was very palatable, and, as usual, we 
asked the “ particulars ” for our readers. It proved to 
be half flour, viz., one quart each of corn-meal and wheat 
flour ; two beaten eggs; one tea-cnp molasses ; one tea 
spoonful of soda mashed fine. Mix all together with 
sweet milk, soft, and bake in a quick oven. The “ quick 
oven” generally has much to do with producing good 
cake or bread, if not too quick to spoil the crust. 
