92 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Profane Wit.— It is now-a-days so much the 
fashion to be witty at the expense of religion, 
that a man will hardly pass for a genius if he 
does not allow his impious satire to run a-tilt at 
its most sacred truths. The noble simplicity of 
Holy Writ must needs be abused, and turned 
into ridicule at the daily assemblies of the so- 
called wits; for what is there so holy and so 
serious that will not raise a laugh if a false sense 
be attached to it.— Schiller. 
A boy was asked what meekness was. He 
thought a moment, and said: “Meekness gives 
smooth answers to rough questions.” 
-♦ O •- 
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS. 
We find that by using such good paper, our 
volume of 832 pages will be quite large to bind, 
and especially large for those who wish to stitch 
their paper together with an index, without be¬ 
ing at the expense of binding. To obviate this, 
we have concluded to be at the expense and 
trouble of making out an extra index with No. 
20, so as to form a complete volume of the first 
26 numbers. The index for the next 20 num¬ 
bers will be given at the end of the year, or with 
No. 52. This arrangement will make it conve¬ 
nient for all, as the 52 numbers can be stitched 
or bound in two volumes with an index for each, 
or in one volume with the double index at the 
close. 
We hope all will preserve their numbers, for 
there are many single articles each of which will 
be worth the price of the volume, for future ref¬ 
erence. When the paper arrives from the post- 
office, a good plan is to see that it is properly 
folded, and then pin or sew it through the mid¬ 
dle and cut open the leaves. It is very easy to 
stitch 20 numbers together. To do this, arrange 
them in regular order, and with an awl punch 
several holes about one-fourth of an inch from 
the back, and through these run a strong thread 
two or three times with a darning-needle, and 
the work is done. We have scores of volumes 
of papers, pamphlets, and addresses, thus pre¬ 
pared, which serve all the purposes of a bound 
volume, and occupy less room in storing and 
carrying. We would, however, prefer to see 
volumes of agricultural papers neatly bound and 
laid upon the book-shelves or tables of farmers. 
They are much better and more appropriate or¬ 
naments, than gilded volumes of trashy maga¬ 
zines or novels. 
ONE WORD MORE.—We thank our friends 
for the liberal aid they have afforded us in ex¬ 
tending the circulation of the Agriculturist. 
Our list has increased beyond our expectation, 
and we are daily encouraged to labor with the 
utmost diligence, to make our paper worthy of 
the confidence and admiration of our largely in¬ 
creasing list of readers. Our reliance for the 
continuance and increase of our list is upon 
those who are already readers. As stated above, 
we now divide the year so as to give either one 
or two complete volumes of the 52 numbers. 
Number 27 begins the second volume, or half 
of the year. We respectfully request all our 
present subscribers to make a little exertion at 
this time, and each send us on at least one new 
name. If you cannot get your neighbors to 
send on for a year, ask them to try the paper 
for six months, as in that time they will get a 
complete volume. 
To Correspondents. —We have several com¬ 
munications on hand which we will look over 
as soon as we have time, and some of them will 
be published. It is no trifling labor to prepare 
for the printer many communications which we 
receive. Some are written so closely that there 
is not room to put in corrections, without re¬ 
writing the whole. We cheerfully prepare ar¬ 
ticles, unless there is manifest want of care on 
the part of the writer. If he does as well as he 
can, we make all needful changes and correc¬ 
tions. 
As most writers doubtless wish to improve 
their own style, we suggest to them to keep an 
exact copy of their communications, and then 
compare this copy with the printed sheet. They 
may often learn something in this way. 
We are not anxious to receive original poetry. 
We have little space for rhyme, and we have 
good selections enough to last us a year at least. 
Good poetry, however, will not be rejected ; but 
we advise all who attempt to write in verse to 
remember, that good rhyme does not constitute 
good poetry; on the contrary, some of the best 
poetry we have ever seen does not “rhyme" at 
all, while some of the best rhyme contains not a 
single poetic sentiment. 
Uterluis, 
Remarks.— Our advices from Europe are to 
the 4th of this month. Flour and grain have 
advanced there considerably in price, and the 
rise has produced a corresponding effect upon 
our market. The advance in flour the past 
week has been fifty cents to one dollar a barrel. 
The actual declaration of war against Russia by 
the allied powers, with the consequent devasta¬ 
tion and suspension of commerce, will tend to 
raise the price of grain still higher. We can 
hardly judge as yet of the effect upon our mar¬ 
ket of the western stores of grain that will ar¬ 
rive upon the opening of canal navigation. The 
severe snow storm now prevailing will put back 
spring crops considerably. We think farmers 
may at least expect remunerative prices during 
tho coming season. 
Cotton has again fallen about one-half cent, 
per lb. during the past week, and sugar has not 
improved in priee. 
REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. 
[Since the following was in type we have re¬ 
ceived four days later intelligence from England. 
During this short time a considerable advance 
had taken place in Bread Stuffs.— Eds.] 
From the Mark Lane Express, March 27th. 
The official account of the imports into the 
United Kingdom during the month ending 5th 
inst., has just been published. The entire quan¬ 
tity of Grain and Pulse received has amounted 
to 487,999 qrs.; whereof 283,461 qrs. consist -of 
Wheat, and 110,455 qrs. of Indian Corn. Of 
Flour and Meal the total is 400,505 cwts.; 393,- 
300 cwts. being VVheaten Flour. 
This return does not embrace the enormous 
arrival of American Flour at Liverpool during 
the week ending 13th inst., nor any portion of 
the large shipments of Wheat made from the 
Baltic at first open water, and which have only 
reached our shores during the last ten days. 
The extent of the supply confirms the opinion 
which we have always maintained, that however 
great our wants may be, make the inducement 
to consign sufficient, and adequate supplies will 
be forthcoming. 
Individuals will, no doubt, be sufferers by the 
present state of affairs; but, if quotations had 
not been advanced in this country as to afford 
encouragement to foreign merchants to collect 
all they could, (in many cases at considerable 
expense,) we should at present, in all probabil¬ 
ity, have had to complain of scarcity rather 
than abundance. That the important decline 
which has taken place during the last month or 
t vo will tend to check supplies cannot be 
doubted. This will not be immediately felt; 
but we have no hesitation in stating that the 
effect will be as sure as that which was caused 
by the somewhat too rapid rise three months 
ago. To the latter circumstance the plentiful 
character of the supply is clearly traceable; and 
a period of comparative scarcity is almost cer¬ 
tain to be the consequence of the present seri¬ 
ous fall. 
The dull reports from Mark Lane have na¬ 
turally had considerable effect on the trade at 
all the leading provincial markets, and the re¬ 
duction in the value of Wheat has, since our 
last, amounted to 2s. to 5s. per qr. The fall has 
been greater at the ports on the coast than at 
the markets in the agricultural districts, owing 
to the smallness of the deliveries from the 
growers. 
The weather has continued highly auspicious 
for the sowing of Lent Corn, and in many dis¬ 
tricts the work is being brought to a close. 
Farmers are, therefore, no longer so closely en¬ 
gaged in the fields as they have been, but no 
increase has taken place in the home supplies. 
The last account of the quantity sold at the 
towns returning the average price for the King¬ 
dom, is 53,000 qrs. for the week, against 90,000 
qrs. in the corresponding week last year. 
Surely this ought to be regarded as a proof that 
the deficiency of the last crop was not exagge¬ 
rated. 
Our own opinion on that point has not un¬ 
dergone the slightest change. What we stated 
last autumn we now repeat, viz., that the pro¬ 
duce of Wheat of the United Kingdom in 1853 
was at least one-fourth, and probably one-third, 
short of an average. Nothing has occurred to 
lead us to doubt the correctness of this view; 
and we are therefore of opinion that, notwith¬ 
standing the extent of the imports thus far, we 
shall yet require very large supplies from 
abroad. This being our conviction, we do not 
think that the present depression will prove of 
long continuance. We have never shown any 
disposition to encourage the extravagant ideas 
in respect to price entertained by many; but at 
the same time, it would not be safe to conclude, 
because we have a momentary glut of supply, 
that all danger of scarcity is past. It is true 
that good stocks of Wheat and Flour are held at 
London, Liverpool, and a few other large ports; 
but the country is otherwise comparatively bare 
of Wheat. The trade—we mean the millers and 
bakers—have been working out of stock, in an¬ 
ticipation of the large arrivals which are now at 
hand. Some of the largest millers, who have 
imported direct, may not require to buy; but 
this is the exception ; the great majority have 
been waiting for supplies, and are prepared to 
purchase so soon as they consider that the right 
period has arrived. This may be delayed a few 
days, or a few weeks; but we certainly calcu¬ 
late on an early revival in the demand. 
The reported prohibition of exports from the 
Black Sea and Azoff, which we noticed last 
week, has been confirmed; and a telegraphic 
dispatch from Odessa states that the same was 
being so stringently enforced that vessels which 
had not completed their cargoes when the time 
allowed expired (13th inst.) had been compelled 
to discharge before they were permitted to leave 
the port. It is certain, therefore, that we can¬ 
not expect to receive any further supplies from 
that quarter beyond what is now on passage, 
and this is very much less than was the case at 
this time last year. 
The Emperor of Russia having refused to re¬ 
turn any reply to the ultimatum of the Western 
Powers, hostilities will, probably, be forthwith 
commenced in the Baltic as well as in the Black 
Sea. War will, of course, interfere with the 
regular course of trade, and also with supplies 
even from neutral ports. 
PRODUCE MARKETS. 
Wholesale prices of the more important Vegetables, 
Fruits, &c., at the principle New-York. Markets. 
April 15, 1854. 
In our weekly reports we give the prices which producers 
actually get, and not tho prices at which produce is sold 
from the market. 
Vegetables. —Potatoes, Western Reds, $ bbl., $2 25@ 
§2 50; Junes, $2 75®$3 ; Mercers, $3 25@.$3 50 ; Car¬ 
ters, $3 25@,$3 50 ; Merinos, $2 25@.$2 50 ; Beets, bbl., 
$2 50; Carrots, $ bbl., §2 50; Turnips, white, $ bbl., 
$§2 ; yellow, $2 25 ; Spinach bbl., 2 50; Rape Sprouts, 
$ bbl., $2; Onions red, $ bbl., $1 75 ; white, $3 ; yellow 
$2; Parsneps, $ bbl., SI 75; Lettuce, ^ doz. bunches, 
25c.@$l; Radishes, ^ doz., 32c.@.42c.; Asparagus, doz., 
$4 50; Parsley, ^ doz., 62J£c.; Leeks, $ doz., 75c. ; Ve 
getable Oysters, %>! doz., SI. 
