1878.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
4,05 
of two or more buds, according to length of joints; 
tie in bundles of 25 or 50, the tops all one way, label, 
and cover with earth or damp moss in the cellar. 
U A new Method of Propagating described last 
month on p. 382, is excellent, and we commend it 
to those who wish to raise a sufficient number of 
vines to warrant the moderate trouble required ; 
such difficult subjects as the Delaware will suc¬ 
ceed with this. Quinces, currants, and goose¬ 
berries, may be treated in the same manner, though 
Currants and Gooseberries root so readily, if the 
cuttings be put in now, that it is not necessary. 
Kitchen and IMarkct Karden. 
The Notes on fall work have been so full for the 
past two months, that we refer to those for the 
main items, adding a few not given there. 
Asparagus .—Cut and burn the tops to prevent 
the seeds from producing weeds , as they are sure to 
do if scattered or put into the compost heaps, and 
give the bed a generous covering of coarse manure. 
Rhubarb .—If a new bed is desired, make it at once, 
using a piece of an old root with a bud attached. 
Place them 4x4 feet, giving each an abundance of 
old manure well spaded in. Where there is an 
abundance, take up some roots for forcing, putting 
them in a box of earth in a cool cellar. In Febru¬ 
ary, set the roots under the bench of a greenhouse, 
or put some in a barrel with earth to cover well, 
and set this in a warm place in the kitchen, or near 
a furnace in the cellar, keep covered, and soon 
long and tender stalks will appear. 
Spinach is safer if covered slightly, putting more 
straw or marsh hay around than over the plants. 
Cold Frames .—Keep the plants dormant, covering 
only at night except in freezing weather, and then 
ventilate in the warm part of the day. 
Celery in the climate of New York is all stored by 
the middle or last of the month ; in colder locali¬ 
ties it must be done earlier. A trench is dug in a 
dry place, a foot wide, deep enough to bring 
the tops level with the ground, and as long as 
needed,,or two or more may be made side by side. 
Set in the plants as close as they will stand, put¬ 
ting no earth among them. Have straw, leaves, or 
other covering at hand; cover slightly the first 
cold spell, and as the cold increases, add more cov¬ 
ering until it is a foot thick. If some boards are 
laid lengthwise over the covering it will make it 
easier to take out the celery if there is snow on the 
ground. A small quantity of it may be stored in 
Boxes in a Cool Cellar ; boxes 9 inches wide with 
sides as high as the plants and as long as conveni¬ 
ent, are provided ; a few inches of soil are placed 
in the bottom, and the celery packed in them as in 
the trenches. Even w hen the main crop is stored in 
trenches, a box or two in the cellar will be useful 
for keeping the immediate supply—of course this 
will not answer where there is a furnace. 
Cabbages .—The general crop is set head down in 
two rows upon a level spot, and before the earth 
freezes it is thrown over the cabbages to the depth 
of two inches. A small lot, or the immediate sup¬ 
ply, may be set in trenches, and covered with leaves, 
straw, or marsh hay, and boards put over this. 
Soft Cabbages if planted out in a trench, covered 
with boards to shed rain, and some litter over these, 
will come out in spring in fine condition, and are 
preferred by many to those headed as usual. 
Covering with Earth or Sand will keep roots of all 
kinds in excellent condition, as it prevents wilting. 
The supply for present use may be kept in the 
house cellar if placed in boxes or barrels and thus 
covered, without causing any unpleasant odor. 
Parsley where there is no greenhouse may be had 
in the kitchen. Take a keg of convenient size and 
bore the sides full of inch and a half holes, 3 or 4 
inches apart; take up the parsley roots, removing 
all the larger leaves and put the crown of each at 
one of these holes, from the inside, the roots point¬ 
ing towards the center of the keg. Fill in with 
good soil as the roots are put in, and set several 
upright at the top. If this is kept in a sunny win¬ 
dow and properly watered, it will give a supply 
of parsley and make a cheerful ornament besides. 
Odds and Ends .—If seeds are saved, clean them, 
label, and put away in a cool dry place.Do what¬ 
ever will help forward the work in spring, plowing 
or spading may be done whenever the soil is fit to 
work, leaving the surface rough... .Have tools and 
machines that are put away for the winter, thor¬ 
oughly cleaned, and make needed repairs at once. 
Flower Kardem and S.sswn. 
In mild autumn weather the grass will make a 
close stocky growth in preparation for winter, and 
the lawn should not be mown too late. The lawn 
should go into winter quarters with a fair length 
i of grass to serve as a mulch. Those who use ma¬ 
nure as a top-dressing should apply only that which 
is so thoroughly composted, that there is no possi¬ 
bility of bringing in weed-seeds. It may be put on 
at any convenient time. 
Perennial Weeds , such as plantains, docks, etc., 
should be eradicated from the lawn, while the soil 
is soft from the late rains. A long cliisel-like im¬ 
plement, sharp at the lower edge, is useful in cut¬ 
ting or loosening roots well below the surface, and 
it leaves no mark iu the sod. 
Winter Gardening .—Those who wish to make 
the most of their gardens, keep a stock of small 
evergreens in pots, iu reserve. These are plunged 
in some convenient place the rest of the year, and 
after the frost has killed the plants in the show 
beds, they are filled with the potted evergreens. 
Dwarf Evergreens are especially suited to this pur¬ 
pose, and there are now so many of these that a se¬ 
lection may be made comprising a pleasing variety 
in form and color. We have often mentioned Retin- 
ispora plumosa aurea as a most manageable and 
showy plant. It is well suited to pot culture, and 
a bed of that alone would form a bright spot in 
winter, though it is more effective in contrast with 
some very dark evergreens. The dwarf Arbor 
Yitass, and some of the low varieties of Norway 
Spruce, such as conica, are excellent for such work. 
Bulbs that arc to be planted, and those that are 
to be lifted, were mentioned in last month’s Notes. 
Preparatony and Final work, such as taking up of 
tender plants, protecting such as need it, the trans¬ 
planting of shrubs, in mild localities, and other 
matters of the kind hinted in former months, should 
be finished up at once. It is a good time to make 
new beds, and new paths or drives may be laid. 
Leaves are too valuable to allow them to be blown 
about and scattered. Gather those from the road¬ 
side that would be otherwise lost, and lay in a stock 
from the woods. They arc the natural covering 
for herbaceous plants, and if more are- collected 
than are wanted for covering, they make excellent 
bedding in the stable and from there a rich addi¬ 
tion to the manure heap. 
Snow Plows should be provided ; one for a horse 
or horses to clear roads, and a hand plow for paths, 
used in time, will save much work with shovels. 
Kreenliouse and Window Plants. 
Knowing that those who have greenhouses, even 
of moderate size, usually have one or more works 
as a guide iu the treatment of the plants, we give 
more space to window plants than to those in the 
greenhouse... .Plants must have 
A Gradual Change from the free air and the 
alternation of warm days and cool nights to the 
close air, and often uniform temperature of the 
living room. We should have much fewer com¬ 
plaints of failure with house plants, were it gener¬ 
ally known that they require less heat in the dark 
than they do in the light, and that the night tem¬ 
perature should be at least 15 degrees less than that 
of the day,.. .The observance of 
.4 Few Simple Rides will promote success with 
house plants. Always let the night temperature be 
15° lower than that of the day. Change the air of the 
room thoroughly every day without allowing a cold 
current of air to fall upon the plants; this may 
often be done through an adjoining room. Water 
when water is needed, and only then ; it is better 
to let a plant suffer for a little—as shown by the 
flagging of the leaves—than to over-water and 
keep, as too many do, the soil in the pots in the 
condition of mud. Avoid dust as far as po6s2ble, 
by covering the plants while sweeping ; but with, 
all care they will get dusty; those with smooth 
leaves may be sponged once a week, going over 
each leaf with a soft sponge, or soft cloth, dampened 
with blood-warm water. 
Bulbs ,—No plants give more satisfaction in win¬ 
dow culture than the Holland Bulbs. Hyacinths 
and the Polyanthus Narcissus are the most popu¬ 
lar, because, besides their bright colors, they are 
delightfully fragrant. Tulips, Crocuses, etc., are- 
showy, but lack odor. Bulbs may be grown in 
sand, moss, sponge, or in water, but such methods- 
are merely fanciful, and do not give a strong bloom 
like those in rich soil in pots. Equal parts of good 
garden soil, old cow-manure and sand, will give a. 
good mixture. Pot the bulbs at once—it should 
have been done last month—and set in a dark 
cellar until roots are formed. 
“ Winter Greeneries at Home ” is the title of the 
best work on window culture that we know of. It 
is also the title of what every one may have, with a 
little care. If our rooms are not suited to flowers, 
there are none that will not admit of abundant 
green. There can be no more beautiful decoration. 
to a room, however humble, or however grand, than, 
green foliage. The best of “Winter Greeneries”' 
is Ivy—of course the true or “European”—whether 
“English,” “Scotch,” or “Irish,” the same thing 
being often called by all these names. A note on 
page 423 gives the essential points in treating it. 
Insects .—Success in the fight with these depends 
upon promptness and perseverance. Do not wait 
until the plants get so bad that in despair you: 
write to ask us what to do. Tobacco water, soap¬ 
suds, and a soft tooth-brush, a pointed 6tick for 
the Mealy Bug, with the thumb and finger applied 
wherever “life is seen,” are sufficient. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables. Care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist, 
from our record kept daily during the year, show at a 
glance the transactions for the month ending Oct. 12 thy. 
1878, and for the corresponding period last year: 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT THE NEW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. 117 ieat. Corn. live. Harley. Oats. 
26d’s2A.4.‘ini’tli462,0(IO 7,782.000 5,413,000 605,000 508,000' 2,311,000 
27d'stnstni’tli396,000 8,312,000 5,187,000 534,000 16S,000 1,689,008 
Sat.es. Flour. Wheat, (lorn. live. Harley. Outs. 
26d’sW/isiii’th507,000 11,154.000 7,815,000 617,000 312,000 2,214,000 
27 d’s/ust Ill'll 1473,000 11,916,000 8,104,000 691,000 5S.000 1,936,000- 
A. Comparison with, same period at this time last year , 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1878. .462,000 7.782,000 5,413.000 605,000 508,000 2,311.000 
26 (lays 1877. .403,000 4,118,000 3,419,000 329,000 974,000 1,107,000 
Sai.ks. Four. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Harley. Oats. 
26 days 1878..507,000 11.154.000 7.845,000 617,000 312,000 2,214,003 
26 days 1877. .441,000 5,913,000 4,851,000 437,000 353,000 1,329,000 
3. Exports f rom New York, Jan. 1, to Oct. 10. 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. Peas.. 
hbls. busb. bush. bash. hush. bush. bush.. 
’78.1,892,300 41,971,000 22.817,400 3,421,550 1,516,200 2,930.3 0 315,200 
’77.1,005,200 10,662,600 19,982,250 1,632,300 803,2:0 157,000 190,IW 
’76.1,517,090 20.121,369 14.215,477 816,474 39,392 460,481 470,830 
’75.1,442,211 20,631,499 10,760,680 154,510 225 104,323 240,832 
4. Stock of grain in store at New York. 
Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. Malt . 
bush. bash, basil. bush. bush. bush. 
Oct. 7. 1878. .1,763,70S 1,485.016 199,918 200,275 1,216,554 125,764 
Sep. 10,1878. .1,162,808 1,113.458 71,886 202,774 697,668 131,841 
Aug. 12, '78. .1.126,813 598,736 62,647 203,224 472.366 137,003; 
July 11,’78..1,591,132 720,784 138,832 174,000 207.769 663.075 
May 7, 1378.. 743,196 263.020 75,229 207,576 570.298 258,327. 
Apr.15,1878,.1,370,081 541.648 106,375 396.861 857,273 253,424 
Jan. 10,1878..2,5S6,715 105.909 2.86,333 913,898 1.687.985 321,474' 
Dec. 10,1877. .2,341,982 1.723.229 399,077 864,787 1,379,052 358.849' 
Nov. 5, 1877.. 984.7174 2,643.502 166.949 368.429 1,770,759 328,388. 
May 7, 1877.. 761,686 468,809 193,016 174.375 317,881 291,65* 
Jan. 8,1877..3,668,(110 8.077,504 34 ,750 905,615 1.088,104 425,406. 
Dec.ll, 1816..3,110,283 3,385,554 213.841 873,310 1,182,7122 512,041 
5. Tide-water Receipts at Albany, from opening of nav¬ 
igation to Oct. 8: 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye. Harley. Oats. Malt , 
bbls. bush. bu«h. bush. bush. bush. bush. 
1873 4,100 17,922,400 18,408.900 1,377.809 683,7100 3.605,100:797.900; 
1877.. 7,7710 4,021,S00 18.342,400 7"9,200 839.300 2,7109,800 5I8,:!0»- 
1816.. 19,800 8,690.100 7,775,700 491,100 396.600 2.231.400 560,600; 
1875.. 77.600.13,4>9,200 6,668,300 102,000 531,400 1,31.5,200 590,m 
Gold has been up to 101X, and down to 100>4. closing 
Oct. 12at 101 M as against 100% on Sept. 12 ; 100% on Ang.. 
12 ; 100% on July 13; W0% on June 13 ; 100} on May 13 ^ 
100% on April 17 ; 102% 0,1 Jan.12; 103 oil Dec. 12; 102% 
on Nov. 12; 103onOct. 12, 1877_Extensive receipts, 
sales, and shipments of Breadstuffs have been reported 
since our last. Prices have been generally depressed, 
lower, and irregular; holders in most instances having 
shown much urgency in their offerings. Foreign market 
advices have been, ns a rule, unfavorable, and tended to. 
impede the export movement. Speculation has been 
quite active, especially in Wheat and Corn, which, how- 
