1879.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
171 
is best; but, if sloping, let the plots run up and 
down the slope, so that any wash by rains will not 
cany the fertilizers from one plot to another. As 
far as possible, a fair sample of the whole field is 
desirable, and in a field which is nearest like the 
majority of the whole farm. 
For testing the wants of the soil itself, that 
which is poor or nearly worn out should be 
selected. Also one not having remaining in it much 
of previous fertilizers or manures, or of green crops 
plowed in. We then get the effect of the experi¬ 
mental fertilizers alone upon the natural soil itself. 
To test the action of the fertilizers upon a par¬ 
ticular crop, soils in better condition may be used. 
Remember, particularly, to have the fertilizers well 
mixed with the soil, otherwise they may injure the 
young plants. 
Plant or sow precisely the same number of rows, 
drills, or hills, on each plot, and see that no shade 
trees or other circumstances affect one plot differ¬ 
ent from another. 
One of the most important items is, to leave plots 
without any fertilizer, for comparison—to show 
just what is the cffest of each fertilizer or combi¬ 
nation of fertilizers as compared with no manure. 
We have advised leaving one such vacant plot on 
each side. It will be still better to leave one 
through the middle, or even two interior ones—say 
the fourth, and the seventh or eighth. It will be in¬ 
structive, also, to add other plots, and try upon 
them, severally diSerent farm manures, lime, and 
other materials at hand. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially lor the American Agriculturist, 
from our record kept daily during the year, show at a 
glance the transactions /or the month ending April VUh, 
1879, and for the corresponding period last year: 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT Tint NEW YORK MA1IKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Parley. Oats 
S6d’s«*fa ni'tli. .413,000 3,457,000 2,916,000 814,000 207,000 811,000 
23 (I’s last m’tli. .359,000 3,215,000 2,119,000 97,000 226,000 409,000 
Sai.es. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Darien. Oats. 
26 d’s W/ism’tli395,000 8,431,000* 5,687,000* 439.000 201,0001,213,000 
23 d’s last m’th378.000 8,103,000* 4,207,000* 372,000 263,000 1,093,000 
* Including sales for forward delivery. 
2. Comparison with same period at this time last year 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Due Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1879..413,000 3,457,000 2,916,000 314,000 207.000 811.000 
27 days 1878. .271,000 3,10-2,000 1,413,000 293,000 387,000 496,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1879. .395,000 8,431,000 5,687,000 439,000 291,000 1,213,000 
27 days 1878. 326,000 3,491,000 3,105,000 412,000 563,000 019,000 
3. Stock of grain in store at Fete York. 
Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. Jltalt. 
bush. bush. hush. bush. hush, hush 
Apr. 8,1879. .2,629,068 804,584 403.233 432,832 650.308 85,577 
Apr.10,1878.. 1,370,081 541,648 106,375 396.861 857,273 253,424 
4. Exports from New York. Jan. 1, to April 10. 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. Peas. 
bbls. bush. bush. bush. bush. bush. hush. 
1879. .824,400 10,708,000 7,691,500 850,700 68,700 85,200 142,850 
1878. .770,100 12,893,746 5,232,029 974,966 1.153,912 84,564 145.351 
1877. .373,057 2,873,510 5,658,140 851,280 121,229 53,125 117,660 
1876..509,514 4,994,177 3,668,928 43,320 63,894 258,251 
tions. Export inquiry light_Hay and Straw weaker 
in prices, and without much animation in the dealings. 
.... Tobacco has been in pretty fair demand, within the 
previous range....Petroleum and Naval Stores more 
sought after, and quoted higher... .Ocean freights have 
been fairly active, but rates have been ruling very low 
on nearly all classes, due in good part to the sharp com¬ 
petition of the ocean steam lines for cargo, both of 
local and through freight. Some improvement in the 
carrying interest is looked for on the resumption of 
inland navigation, now near at hand. 
Current Wholesale I'ricics. 
Mar. 12. 
Apr. 32. 
Flour—S uper to Extra Slate $3 37 
@4 25 
♦3 25 
@ 4 25 
•• Super lo Extra South’ll. 
8 85 
@ 6 50 
3 25 
@ 6 50 
’• Extra Genesee. 
4 00 
@ 5 75 
4 25 
© 5 75 
•• Superline Western.. 
3 35 
@ 3 75 
3 25 
@ 3 60 
■■ Extra Western . 
3 75 
@ 9 00 
3 60 
@ 8 15 
“ “ Minnesota. 
3 8.7 
@ 8 75 
3 65 
© 8 50 
I’ve Flour, SupeTliue_ 
2 7.7 
® 3 25 
2 75 
@ 3 25 
Corn-Meal. 
2 00 
a 2 70 
2 00 
@ 2 40 
Oat Meal, ifcbbl. 
3 00 
@ 6 00 
3 00 
® G 00 
\\ iieat—A ll "kinds of White. 
1 05 
@ 1 16 
95 
@ 3 35 
Red ami-Amber. 
82 
uc 1 15 y 2 
9.7 
@ 1 15 
Spring.. 
78 
® 3 08 
75 
© 3 0.7 
Corn—T eilow. 
45 
@ 53 
44 V® 52X 
” White. 
45 
@ 53 
45 
@ 52 
• • Mixed. 
44 
® 47 
43 
© 46X 
Oats. 
31 
® 37)4 
30 
@ 42 
Rye .. 
60 
@ 63 
57 
a 63 
Barley. .. 
70 
© 1 20 
50 
© 3 07X 
IIay—B ale, ft 100 lbs. 
30 
@ 80 
30 
© 75 
Straw, ¥ ion n>s. 
80 
a co 
25 
@ 55 
Cotton—M iddlings, ft lb. .. 
9%® 9% 
n%® 3i x 
Hots—C rop oi IS78.7R n> . 
5 
@ 35 
5 
© 33 
1877, ?! Ib. 
3 
@ 5 
2 
© 4 
” olds, ?f lb. 
2 
@ 4 
1 
@ 2 
Feathers—L ive. Geese, ill lb 
30 
@ 45 
SO 
@ 45 
Seed—C lover, West. & St.ftib 
. 6 
@ 7)4 
6 
© 7 
” Timothy, ?d bushel. 
1 30 
a 1 so 
1 30 
a 3 50 
•• Flax, id bushel. 
1 35 
@ 3 40 
3 35 
@ 3 40 
Toracco, Kentucky, &e„ ?Ub. 
2 X© 32 'A 
2X@ 32X 
■ ■ Seed Leal, id lb . .. 
7 
@ 50 
7 
a so 
Wool—Domestic Fleece, ft lb 
20 
@ 38 
38 
© 37 
■ ’ Domestic, pulled, id lb .. 
17 
@ 35 
16 
® 35 
” California. 
32 
@ 25 
11 
@ 25 
Tallow, V n> . 
6X® 654 
6X@ 6X 
Oil-Cake— id Ion . . 
27 00 
@28 00 
27 00 
a — 
Fork—M ess, id barrel . _ 
9 05 
@10 05 
9 S7X@10 62 X 
Extra Prime, id barrel.. 
— 
® - 
— 
@ - 
Beef—E xtra mess. 
10 50 
@11 50 
10 50 
@11 50 
Lard, ill tres. & bbls, id 100 lb 
6 40 
@ 6 85 
6 30 
@ 6 87X 
Butter—S tate, ft n>. 
32 
© 25 
9 
© 20 
■ • Western.poor to fey. lb. 
7 
@ 28 
6 
© 28 
Cheese.. . ... .. 
3 
@ 9X 
3 
® 854 
Eggs—F resh, $ dozen _ 
35)4® 37 >4 
33X® 33X 
Poultry—F owls, ?! Ib. 
8 
@ 32 
10 
© 35 
•• Chickens, ft lb.. 
30 
@ 37 
11 
© 36 
id pair. 
— 
@ - 
50 
© 3 00 
•• Roosters,?! lb. 
— 
@ - 
7 
® 30 
Turkeys—id lb. 
30 
© 16 
35 
@ 20 
Geese, id pair.... 
3 00 
@ 3 75 
75 
© 2 00 
?! lb.. 
— 
@ — 
•5 
© 14 
Ducks, id pair. 
45 
@ 90 
50 
@ 90 
ft lb. 
30 
@ 38 
32 
© 21 
Ducks, Wild, ?! pair..... _ 
15 
@ 2 00 
20 
© 1 00 
Snipe, per doz. 
— 
© - 
1 25 
@ 1 50 
Pigeons, id doz. 
75 
@ 3 00 
3 25 
@ 4 50 
Hickory' Nuts—?! bush. 
1 50 
® 2 37 
— 
© - 
A tpi.es, id barrel. 
3 00 
@ 2 75 
1 00 
© 2 50 
Oranges, $ bbl. 
4 00 
© 8 00 
6 00 
@10 00 
?1 box. 
3 25 
@ 4 00 
— 
© - 
Strawrerries, ?i quart. 
’ - 
@ — 
25 
@ 35 
Beans— id bushel. 
3 30 
@ 2 40 
1 35 
@ 2 70 
1*eas—C anada, in bond, ft bu 
70 
a 73 
— 
@ 78 
new So., ?! eraic. 
5 00 
@ 6 00 
3 25 
a 4 co 
String Beans, new, ?! hush. 
— 
@ — 
4 00 
© 4 50 
Potatoes. ?! bbl. 
2 00 
© 3 25 
2 00 
© 3 37 X 
new. 
5 50 
© 7 00 
9 00 
@11 00 
•• Sweet, ft bbl. 
2 00 
(cl .1 37V. 
3 00 
@ 4 00 
Turnips ?! bbl. 
87)4® 3 2.7 
75 
@ 1 25 
Tomatoes, new, ?! small box. 
25 
@ 65 
1 00 
@ 1 25 
Radishes, new So. |i 100 bun 
1 75 
@ 2 50 
3 00 
© 1 50 
Broom-corn. 
2 
© 5X 
2 
@ 5X 
Beets, new, ft crate. 
— 
® - 
3 50 
©’2 00 
Asparagus, new. 3)100 bunc. 
— 
® — 
6 00 
@ 9 00 
Cabbages— ft 100.. 
4 00 
@ 8 DO 
4 00 
© 7 00 
Spinach, So., ?t bbl. 
2 75 
@ 3 .70 
2 00 
© 3 00 
onions—?! bbl. 
2 50 
@ 5 50 
4 00 
@ 5 00 
Celery, per dozen. 
65 
@ 1 00 
@ - 
H'ew York Livc-Slock Markets. 
Liberal receipts of Produce from the interior, and 
generally less favorable reports from foreign as well as 
Western markets-the latter reflecting, in part, the en¬ 
couraging prospects for the winter-sown crops—have 
served to depress prices of Breadstuffs during the month, 
especially toward the close, without stimulating busi¬ 
ness materially, whether for shipment, home use, or on 
speculators’ account. Winter Wheat left off very 
heavily, Spring Wheat weak, and Corn, Barley and most 
grades of Flour, also in favor of buyers. Rye compara¬ 
tively steady, benefited by the requirements of pur¬ 
chasers for the Continent. . .Dealings in Provisions have 
been more extensive—in Hog products, particularly 
Lard, of unusual magnitude, at however, variable fig¬ 
ures. The speculations in Lard were mainly in con¬ 
nection with the export trade, and chiefly for Germany, 
quickened by the apprehensions of adverse changes in 
the tarifl' of that country. At the close, Pork, Lard and 
Bacon showed less firmness ; Butter and Cheese ruled 
lower, and not in much request; Beef, steady, but quiet; 
Eggs, much cheaper.In Cotton an extraordinarily 
active movement has been reported, almost wholly in 
the speculative line, carrying up prices nearly 2 cents 
per pound, on reports of light arrivals at the shipping 
ports and reduced crop estimates, the market closing 
rather buoyantly, though feverish and sensitive_Wool 
has been yielding slightly in values, on somewhat freer 
offerings and a moderate call for supplies, the near ap¬ 
proach of the season for the new clip tending to lessen 
the confidence of operators ... Seedshave met with much 
less attention, and have been quoted more or less nomi¬ 
nal....Hops have been offered lower, and have been 
rather difficult to market at even the reduced quota- 
RECEIPTS. 
week ending Reeves. 
Cows. 
Calves. 
Sheep. 
Sirin e. 
Mar. 17. 7,741 
88 
1,272 
19.933 
30,153 
Mar. 24 . 9,204 
34 
1.933 
21,821 
20,931 
Mar. 31. 9,602 
115 
2,300 
17,904 
31.369 
Apr. 7. 9,755 
40 
2,820 
21,785 
34,797 
Apr. 14 .. 8,148 
49 
3,182 
20.073 
26,995 
Total for 5 Weeks. .44,250 
326 
11,515 
104,516 
143,645 
Ao.for prev. 5 3Feeis48,279 
450 
5,511 
115,991 
169,723 
Reeves. 
Coios. Calves. 
Sheen. 
Swine. 
Average per Week . 
. 8,850 
67 
• 2,303 
20,903 
28,729 
do. 
<lo. last Month 
..9,656 
90 
1,602 
23,199 
33,944 
do. 
do. prev’s Month 
10,143 
193 
866 
22,724 
36,620 
The prices for the past five weeks were as follows: 
The prices for the past five weeks were as follows: 
weekending Range. Larger Sales. Aver. 
Mar. 17. 8X@H c. 9 © 9^c. 3'AC. 
Mar. 24. 8 @105fc. 8^@10 c. 9 c. 
Mar. 31.8 @11XC. 9 @10Xc. 9XC. 
Apr. 7.7 @ll%c. 9 @lOJ4c. 914c. 
Apr. 14. 7X@ 1L c. 9 @10Xc. 9Xc. 
Beeves. —The market has been unusually irregular 
the past month. Constant changes from day to day have 
occurred which have made business very unsatisfactory. 
The see-saw action resulting from the depressing influ¬ 
ence of the dead-meat trade on the one hand, and the 
helpful one of the foreign export on the other, has left 
the market, after its many changes, very nearly where it 
started, and at the close of our report it remained firm, 
with a somewhat slow trade. Among the notable sales 
was one of corn-fed Colorado beeves at 9% to 10c. per lb., 
to dress 5G lbs. to the cwt. 550 head were taken for 
export on the 1st April, at 10% to 10%c. per lb.; good 
native steers sold at 1014c. per lb., to dress 57 lbs., and 
extra cattle brought 10% to 11c. per lb. Dressed beef 
was heavy at 7% to 8c. peril) ...Cows. —There has been 
a light business in coavs at $25 per bead for poor, to $00 
per head for choice stock Calves. —A decline of % 
to lc. per lb. is to be noted in veals. Common to prime 
closed at 4to5Xc. peril)., live weight. Hog-dressed were 
lower, at 5 to 7c. per lb. for New York State, and G to 
H%c. for New Jersey_ Sheep and Lambs —Prices 
are lower for this stock, the decline marking y 2 c. per lb. 
Clipped sheep sold at the close at 4% to5J4c. per lb., alive; 
fair to prime wooled siteep were 4>4 to G%c., and choice 
wethers brought 0% to G54c. per lb. Spring lambs are 
selling at $G per bead to 10c. per lb., and dressed mutton 
at 8 to 9c. per II)_ Swine. —Business has ruled dull 
at 3J£ to 4c. per lb. for Western live hogs; City-dressed 
were irregular at 5 to 5%c. per lb; and Country-dressed 
were steady at 6 to GJ4c. lor light, and 5J4 to 5%c. perlb. 
for heavy. 
The Horse Market. —Arrivals have been large, 
chiefly of small horses from the West. Several car-load3 
of Canadians, among which were a few fine carriage 
horses, have come in. The demand lias been active, hut 
without advance in prices. Tne usual spring demand 
from farmers has begun, and promises to be good at 
$250 to $275 for fair teams, and $300 and over for choice 
pairs. Single horses have been taken for city use at $100 
to $125 for light, and $225 to $325 for heavy cart horses. 
The breeding of the latter class of horses promises to be 
worth the aoticc of those concerned. A regular trade is 
now begun in Shetland ponies by Mr. Kirby, 54 Court- 
land Street, New York, who has received his second con¬ 
signment of 23 head. The shipment of 500 mules to Af¬ 
rica is also a new feature in this market. 
Prices of Feed. 
Bran, per ton.$16.00@$18.00 
Middlings, per ton. 19.00@ 20.00 
Ground Feed, per ton. 21.00@ 23.00 
I.inseed-oil-cake, western, per ton. 35.00© 40.00 
Cotton-seed-cake, per ton. 25.00@ — 
Chandler’s Scraps, per lb.. 2® 3 
Prices of Fertilizers. 
Nitrate of Potash (95 per cent.), per lb. 9 @9Xc. 
Sulphate of Potasli (potash 44 per cent.) per lb_ 3 @3Xc. 
do. do. (potash 27K per cent) per 11).. 
German Potasli Salts (potash 13 to 15 p. c. p. ton.$15.0’0@18.00 
Muriate of Potash (potash 50 per cent), per lb_ 1%®2 c. 
Nitrate of Soda, per lb... Si!4c.@4Xc 
Sulphate of Ammonia (25 per cent.), per lb. 4 w,e.@4^c. 
Dried Blood (ammonia 13 percent) per ton.$40.00(345.00 
No.l.Peruv.Guano 10 p. ct. ammonia, standard, $ ton..$56.50 
do. do. Lobos, do. do. do. 47.50 
do. do. guaranteed,?! ton, cargo J 56.00 
do. do. rectified, per ton, 10.20 p. c.. 69.00 
do. do. do. do. 3.40 p. c. 51.00 
Soluble Pacific Guano, V ton.. . 45.00 
Excelsior Fertilizer Works, Fine Ground Ran- Bone,.. .55.00 
Mapes’ Complete Manure (clay soils) per 1.000 lbs.25.00 
do. do. do. (light soils) per 1,000 lbs. ......25.00 
do. Grass and Grain Top-dressing, 1,000 lbs.25.00 
do. Fruit and Vine Manure, do. .17.50 
do. Bone, strictly pure, meal .per ton.42.00 
do. do. do. medium. do. 36.00 
do. do. do. dissolved. do. 42.00 
do. Potato Manure. .per 1.000 lbs_22.50 
do. Corn do.per 1,000 lbs_23.75 
Stockbridge Corn Manure, per acre. 20.00 
“ Potato do do 10.00 
“ Tobacco do do 50.00 
“ Rye do do 10.00 
“ wheat do do 15.00 
Boivkev’s Hill and Drill Fertilizer, per ton. 45.00 
Baugh’s Raw Bone Phosphate, per ton. 33.00 
Baugh’s Manure for Tobacco and Grain, per ton.. 45.00 
Walton Whann & Co.’s Raw Bone Phosphate. 40.00 
Gypsum, Nova Scotia, ground, per ton. 8.00 
A Creamery and a Farm Butter Dairy. 
Prize Offered for Plans. 
Some forms of association or cooperation being 
profitable are likely to be adopted more generally 
than they are at present. The cheese factory is an 
example of this ; it is a purely American institu¬ 
tion, the rapid increase of which, abroad as well as 
at borne, attests the practicability and profit of as¬ 
sociation among farmers for a specific object. 
By making cheese in the factory, the large quan¬ 
tities operated upon secure uniformity in the pro¬ 
duct ; certain manipulations are essential, and there 
must be a certain expenditure of time by the oper¬ 
ator, whether for one cheese or a hundred, and on 
a large scale there is a great saving in these mat¬ 
ters. One important result of making cheese at the 
factory is a great lessening of the labors of the 
farmer’s wife. These are but a few of the advan¬ 
tages of associated or factory cheese-making, which 
has been so successful that there is a widespread 
desire to apply the system to butter-making also. 
While .there are creameries, as butter factories 
are called, they are far less numerous, and their re¬ 
quirements and workings seem to be less generally 
understood than are those of cheese factories. In 
many neighborhoods where butter is made upon the 
farm the question of associated butter-making is 
earnestly discussed, and in some cases creameries 
have been started without, it is feared, proper 
knowledge of the subject. 
A warm friend of the American Agriculturist, who 
is largely engaged in farming in a locality where 
butter made in the home dairy is a leading product, 
has become, with his neighbors, much interested in 
