12 4r 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[April 
Parsnips, —Sow last year’s seed in drills 15 inches 
apart; one ounce of seed is enough for 300 feet. 
Peas may be planted on high ground where the 
soil has become thoroughly dry, in double rows. 
Peppers .—Sow in hot-bed the same as Egg-Plant. 
Potatoes , placed in a warm room to sprout last 
month, can be planted out in well-manured soil. 
Radishes. —Sow iu drills tliickly once a week for 
succession. 
Salsify should be sown this month and treated 
like parsnips. 
Spinach for summer use may be sown now; that 
planted last fall will be ready to cut. The Perpetual 
Spinach Beet is valuable for early greens. 
Tomatoes may still be sown under glass; those 
planted last month ought t® be transplanted. Never 
set out in open ground until it is warm and dry. 
Turnips .for early crops should be sown in drills 
one foot apart; thin to 5 or C inches in the drills. 
Manure. —See that the stable manure is not allow¬ 
ed to heat; turn it as often as it becomes hot, until 
ready to be plowed or spaded under. 
Flower-Garden and Lawn. 
Prepare the soil by plowing and spading. New 
beds can be cut, and walks made and repaired, 
as soon as the frost is out of the ground. If the 
soil in the flower garden is of a strong loamy na¬ 
ture, it would be greatly benefited by an applica¬ 
tion of sand well mixed with the soil. Only well- 
rotted manure should be used in the flower-garden. 
Floioering Shrubs. —A few of these will probably 
come into flower the latter part of the month ; give 
them a dressing of fine manure to encourage the 
growth of wood during the summer. If any are 
without a few of the more common flowering 
shrubs, they ought to procure plants and set them 
out this spring. Syringas, Lilacs, Weigelas, etc., 
are perfectly hardy, and with little care will give an 
abundance of flowers during the summer. 
. Climbers. —The hardy climbers are numerous and 
very pretty for covering arbors, or used as screens ; 
Wistarias, Honeysuckles, Virgius Bower, and last, 
but not least, the elegant Akebia quinata, are all 
perfectly hardy, and give an abundance of flowers. 
Annuals started in hot-beds or window boxes 
last month, may be set out when the soil is dry. 
Rulbs of Gladioluses, Japan Lilies, etc., may be 
planted now for summer flowering. 
Lawns. —Care must be taken that nothing is 
allowed to cut up the lawn, and no one should be 
allowed to walk upon it until the ground is entirely 
free from frost and well dried. 
Greenhouse aim! Window Plants. r 
Repotting— At this season most of the greenhouse 
plants need repotting, before they commence their 
growth. When very large plants are shifted, the 
best plan is to plant iu a box of the required size; 
these always look neat, and if proper drainage has 
been provided, the plant will do as well as if plant¬ 
ed in a pot; besides, all danger of breakage is avoid¬ 
ed. The larger boxes ought to have hooks of iron 
attached to the sides, so that poles can be used in 
moving from one place to another. 
Redding Plants. See that there is a good supply 
of bedding plants for out-door decoration as well as 
for growing iu windows or boxes, during summer. 
Dahlias may now be brought out and laid in a 
warm place with a little sand to retain moisture. 
When the sprouts arc a few inches high, remove 
to pots or set out in the open ground if suitable. 
Plants in flower need to be kept near the light and 
free from all insects. 
Seeds of the finer and delicate annuals, like the 
Lobelia, Salpiglossis, etc., ought to he sown in pots 
and then transplanted to the open ground. 
Tuberoses do best if started in pots and planted 
out when the soil is warm. 
Roses and Carnations.—' They are nearly hardy, and 
will do to go out any time after the frost is out. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist , 
show at a glance Hie transactions for the month ending 
March 16,1S71, an . for the corresponding month last year. 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT ME NEW-YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Fin n-. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Bariev. Oats. 
21 days this m’l,li.234 600 307,000 416.000 15,450 111,000 267,000 
25 days last ui’tli.291, DO 254,000 296,000 17,300 104,000 217,000 
Sat.es. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Barlei/. Oats. 
24dnys<Wsm’Hi.317. '001,305,000 1,107,000 49,000 206,000 908,000 
25 days last ni’th.311,'JJ0 1,651,000 879,000 33,500 198,000 716,000 
2. Comparison toilh same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
24 days 1871.231,000 307,0110 416.000 15 450 111,000 267,000 
21 days 1870.193,500 228,500 118,000 1,000 87,000 189,000 
Sai.es. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats 
24 days 1871. .317,000 1,305,000 1,107,000 49,000 206,000 908,000 
22 days-1870. .199,000 1,251,000 806,000 21,000 288,000 734,000 
3. 
1871. 
1870. 
1869. 
1808. 
Exports from New York , Jan. 1 to March 8: 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
.397,126 1,628,358 491,703 --1 9,129 
.295,725 1,717,501 49,327 6,709 - 5,298 
.194,449 1,712,169 656,051 - 31,616 - 
.130,106 437,527 1,797,749 01,692 - 16,211 
Stock of grain in store at New York: 
Wheat, 
bnsli. 
...1,523,785 
4. 
1871. 
March 13. 
Feb. 13.2,203^677 
Jan. 16.3,685,116 
1870. 
Dec. 15.3,060,762 
Nov. 9.2,092,900 
Oct. 10.1.809,921 
Sept. 12.1,387,487 
Aug. 8.1,438,876 
July 11.1,231,913 
June 7 . 706.178 
May 10.1.158,052 
April 11.1,845,186 
March 7.2,509,608 
Corn, Bye, Barley, 
bash. hash. hash. 
204,388 150,514 329.319 
311.471 148,498 481,863 
272,618 157,730 554,491 
Oats, Malt, 
bash. hash. 
1,133,897 218,231 
1,409,995 215,124 
1,736,936 216,394 
231,129 
Current ■Wholesale Prices. 
Feb. 18. 
Price of Gold 
111)4 
Flour—S uper to Extra State$ 5 90 @ 7 25 
Super to Extra Southern.... 0 25 @11 50 
Extra Western..-. 6 65 @10 25 
Extra Genesee. 7 30 @ 9 25 
Superliue .Western.. 5 90 @6 40 
Ryr Flour .... 4 35 @6 85 
Corn-Meat. 3 65 @4 35 
Wheat—A ll kinds ofWhite.. 155 @190 
All kinds of Red and Amber. 1 20 @ 1 62 % 
Corn—V ellow. 82 @ 8?" 
Mixed .. 79 @ 85 
Oats—W estern. 66 54 @ 75 
State. 70 @ — 
Rye . 90 @ 1 10 
Barley.. 85 @115 
Hay—B ale 78 100 10. 120 @115 
Straw, ^3100 Tb. 80 @ 1 35 
Cotton—M iddlings; f) ft_ 15 %® 16 
Hops—C rop ol'1870. ?< ft. 5 @ 12 
Feathers— Live Geese, 7ft ft. 70 @ 80 
Seed—C lover, ^ ft . 
Timothy, if! bushel. 
Flax, id bushel. 
Sugar—B rown, ?! lb . 
Molasses. Cuba, id gal. 
Coffee—R io, (Gold, in bond) 
Toracco, Kentucky, &c„ ?tft. 
Seed Leaf, id ft . 
Wool—D omestic Fleece,?) ft. 
Domestic, palled, id ft. 
California, unwashed,. 
Tallow, ?! ft . 
Oil-Cake—?! ton. 40 25 @42 (10 
Pork—M ess, id barrel. 22 00 @23 00 
Prime, id barrel . 18 50 @19 50 
Beef—P lain mess. 10 00 @15 00 
Laud, in tree. & barrels, ? 
Butter—S tate, ?i ft. 
Western, ^ ft. 
Cheese . .. 
March 16. 
11154 
00 
25 
50 
35 
00 
35 
75 
65 
40 
88 
84 
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69 
1 10 
1 00 
1 10 
@ 7 50 
@11 25 
@10 25 
@ 9 25 
@ 6 50 
@ 6 35 
@ 4 75 
@ 2 00 
@ 1 75 
@ 90 
@ 89 
@ 11 % 
@ 71 
@ 1 20 
@ 1 20 
80 ® 1 35 
85 
© 1 
55 
15)<@ 
16 
14K® 
13% 
5 @ 
12 
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70 ® 
80 
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1214 
75 
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6 @ 
12 @ 
47 @ 
25 @ 
20 @ 
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12 % 
75 
5S 
43 
@ 33 
9 
@42 00 
@22 00 
@18 50 
Bkas—C anada, free,?! bu... 
Eggs—F resh. ?! dozen . 
Poultry—D ressed Fowls... 
Turkeys, dressed, id ft. 
Geese, ?) ft... 
Ducks, ?! ft. . 
Ducks, Wild, ?*pair. 
Quails, per dozen... 
Venison, per ft. 
Potatoes, ?! bbl... 
Garbages—?) 10 
Onions— id bbl. 
Broom-corn—?) ft.. 
Apples— id barrel.. 
!>. 12!4@ 
13)4 
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Gold lias been rather steadier in price, on a more active 
demand for Custom-house purposes, as well as for ex¬ 
port and on speculative account. The supply, however, 
lias been liberal, and has served to prevent any material 
rise. The closing quotation, March 15th, was 11114_ 
Breadstuff's have been in fair request, partly for export; 
and, while flour has not varied remarkably in value, 
wheat, corn, rye, and oats, have been quoted decidedly 
firmer in price, on very limited offerings of desirable 
samples. There has been an unusually free export 
movement in corn, chiefly for English ports. At the 
close, the market was steady, though not active, for all 
kinds of grain_Provisions have shown a moderate de¬ 
gree of animation, the demand having, been partly for 
home use and shipment, but largely on speculation, 
especially iu mess porlc and prime Western steam lard. 
Prices have been irregular, closing with more firmness_ 
Cotton has been offered freely at lower and unsettled 
prices, leading and extensive transactions for both 
prompt and forward delivery. The later dealings show 
a steadier market... .Wool has been in reduced stock 
and moderate demand, at stronger prices_In the line 
of grass-seeds, clover has been the only active article, 
having been purchased freely, mainly for export, and it 
has been quoted decidedly higher... .Tobacco has been 
moderately dealt iu at steady rates... .Hops have been 
more active, closing in favor of sellers. 
Pl’cw-¥ork Lirc°§t«ck Markets.— 
week ending. Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tot'l. 
Feb. 20tli. 7,850 57 739 28,518 9,947 47,181 
Feb. 27th. 5,755 83 9S9 15,887 11,808 34,522 
March 6th. 4,571 82 987 17,091 12,742 35,476 
March 13th..... 5,195 51 947 18,781 14,529 39,508 
Total in 4 Weeks -23,371 276 3,662 80,280 49,026 156,685 
(lo.Jorprev. 4 Weeks 23,608 243 3,398 109,593 56,461 191,308 
Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per 1 Veek .5,843 
do. do. last Month _5,902 
do. do. prev’s Month... .6,247 
Average perWeek, 1870. 6,847 
Average per Week, I860. 6,275 
do. do. do. 1868 . 5,733 
do. do. do. 1867 . 5,544 
do. do. do. 1S66. 5,748 
do. do. do. 1S65 . 5,255 
Total in 1869 .326,280 
Total in 1SC8.29S.128 
Total in 1867.. 
Total in 1866 . 
Total in 1865 . 270,271 
Total in 1861. 267,009 
69 915 20,070 12,256 
61 849 27,398 14,115 
66 863 28,535 20.490 
97 2,240 28,151 17,108 
92 1,752 28,836 35,348 
105 1,588 27.182 18,809 
61 1,320 22,154 2C.605 
94 1,200 20,000 33,000 
IIS 1.500 36,091 11,023 
4,827 91,033 1,499,509 798,199 
5,466 82.571 1,413,479 978,061 
.293,832 3,369 69.911 1,174.154 1,102.643 
298,880 4,885 62.420 1,040,000 672,000 
6,161 
7,003 
71,991 
75,621 
836,733 
782,462 
573,190 
660,277 
Beef Cattle.— Receipts have averaged a little less 
than during the previous month, hut the demand, as is 
usual in Lent, has fallen off so much that a decline of lc. 
per lb. is noted. Trade has been very unsatisfactory for 
the Western shipper. Not nnfrequently have droves 
been sold on this' market at just about what they cost in 
Chicago, thus losing the owners the freight, shrinkage, 
feed-bills, etc. Dealers have held on with the expecta¬ 
tion of a turn in their favor, only to find the market here 
going from had to worse. Their only salvation appears 
to he in getting the rates dotvn at the other end, for it 
looks as though it will be hard to advance the prices 
hers. Poultry lias been very plenty and cheap, with eggs 
glutting the market. These largely take the place of beef. 
Below we give the range of prices,'average price, and 
figures at Which large lots were sold: 
Feb.2l)th,ranged 854@1554c. Av. 1314c. Large sales 32 @11% 
do. 27th, do. S54©15 c. do. 12^c. do. do. 12 @14 
in /TV. 1 X n tin A /I /-» 10 /010 
March6th, do. 10 @15 c. do. 12%c. do. 
do. 13tli, do., 9 @15 c. do. 12%c. do. 
do. 12 ©131? 
do. 12 ©13% 
Ulilcli Cows. —When milk is scarce and high, fresh 
cows can be sold independent of the price of beef. Now 
there is, a near affinity between the two, the very low rates 
of dry cows making a poor market for milkers. One 
other thing greatly injures the trade, and that is the poor 
quality of the cows sent here for sale.' A good coav is 
worth keeping at home, hut the worthless ones must he 
got rid of, and so are sent to this city. They have been 
sold as low as $30 per head, the calf thrown in at that. 
Good milkers are in moderate request. Common cows 
are quoted at $40@$55 each ; medium to good, $65<®$80, 
with a few prime at $90—occasionally $100 ... Calves.— 
The market has ruled weak until within a few days past. 
Prime milk-fed calves run down to lie., but will now 
command 12c. per lb. live weight. A pen of 140 ib. State 
veals was just sold at 12c. There is a falling off in re¬ 
ceipts of dressed, the weather being unfavorable for 
selling them. We call thin live calves worth 7c.@9c., 
with fair to prime at llc.@12c — Sheep.— There has 
been quite a falling off in receipts of stock, farmers 
holding hack for iambs and fleeces. Prices have ad¬ 
vanced a full !4c. per lb. in consequence, and the market 
is active and strong. Thin lots sell at 5%c.@5%c.; medi¬ 
um at 6>4c.@(5!4c., with prime to extra 100@130 lb. sheep 
at 7c.@8c. A few weighing 150 lbs. were sold at 814c. 
One lot of sheared sheep cam£ in from Ohio a few days 
since. They weighed 75 ibs., and sold at 5J4c. Spring 
lambs are expected next week_ Swine.- These are 
also in lighter supply, while Western dressed have almost 
entirely ceased coming forward. They are no longer 
quotable. With this light run of live hogs, prices have 
declined lc. per lb., selling at 7%c.@,7-hc., and city 
dressed at 9J4c.@10c. The packing season is nearly over, 
which lessens the demand for hogs. 
-—.-— ow i . 
Pasturing; SIteep on Wheat.—J. H. 
Sellman, of Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, asks: “ Is pas¬ 
turing sheep upon wheat during the winter months con¬ 
sidered injurious or beneficial to the crop ? Does it have 
a tendency to make the wheat, thinner or thicker?—and 
adds: The practice prevails largely in this neighborhood. 
All acknowledge the benefit to the sheep, but I am scep¬ 
tical about the advantage to the wheat.”—Ans.: It is 
rarely of advantage to the wheat, except when there is a 
great growth of leaves, which smother the crowns and 
keep thpm too warm in case a good fall of snow comes. 
When fed off in the autumn adesirable thickening npof 
tue stand often takes place.but when fed close after growth 
stops, injury occurs. The point is to know when to 
feed and when to stop. We never feed off grain with 
sheep on good farms at the North. Calves are used; 
their feet arc not so sharp, and they do not bite close. 
