8 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
RECORD OP THE BAROMETER FOR NOVEMBER, 1863. 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 
29 30 
30.50, 
30.401 
30.30 
30.20 
30.10 
30. 
29.90 
29-80 
29-70 
29-60 
29-50 
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Barometrical Records. 
In the Agriculturist for July, 1863, (page 205,) 
two diagrams were published showing the vari- 
tions made by the barometer during two months, 
accompanied with notes on the use of tlie 
barometer, which need not be repeated. Quite 
a number of our subscribers suggest that it 
would be interesting to many who keep similar 
records in different locations, to compare them 
with one kept in this city. To gratify such, and 
also to show how regularly changes of the 
weather are marked by the instrument, we pur¬ 
pose presenting the record from month to mouth. 
As we go to press before the beginning of the 
month, this report will necessarily be a month 
behind the date of each issue. In the diagram, 
the perpendicular lines mark the days of the 
month, as noted in the figures at the top; the 
horizontal ones at the side, indicate the bight 
of the mercury in inches. Each horizontal line 
represents ten hundredths of an inch. The. 
irregular white line shows the course of the 
mercurial column from day to day. Two obser¬ 
vations are made each 24 hours; at 7 A. M. and 
9 P. M. The dots in the irregular line show the 
position of the mercury at those times. 
Price of Corn—The Markets. 
“Mixed Corn” has been sold in our markets 
to-day (Dec. 18), at $1.33 per bushel!—a price 
not before reached within our recollection. 
When on the farm at the west, we used to think 
our corn well sold if we obtained 25 to 30 cents 
per bushel. Less than two years ago corn was 
burned as fuel in some parts of Illinois, because 
there was no market for it even at 12 cents a 
bushel. It is now quoted as high as $1.00 per 
bushel in Chicago. These prices are in part due 
to an unprecedented speculation, promoted by 
the abundance of money, and the premium on 
gold; but after allowing for this, the value set 
upon corn is the result of an extensive failure 
of the crop in Indiana, Illinois, and elsewhere. 
In the States named, there was little corn ripen¬ 
ed sufficiently for seed, north of latitude 40 °. 
This state of things brings much perplexity and 
real want to many farmers—all feel it. Cattle 
and swine are pushed forward to market half 
fed. The soft corn which was saved will not 
fatj^n them, and it brings a good price ; so the 
animals are sent to market, and the corn is sold 
to the eastern dealers; and the packing houses 
of the west are glutted with poor-beef and pork. 
The New York markets have also been largely 
supplied with beef cattle and hogs, so that 
meats have not kept pace with other products, 
though at the last general market, Dec. 16th, 
good beef cattle sold at prices equivalent.to 10) 
to 11) cents per pound for the dressed carcasses, 
and very extra animals at 12 to 12) cents. Good 
corn-fed hogs at 6 to 6) cents per pound live 
weight. Sheep are also sent to market quite 
freely, owing to the scarcity of winter feed in 
some sections. They sell now at prices equal 
to 6 and 6) cents per pound, live weight. The 
carefully-prepared, condensed Market Tables on 
page 27, will afford much information upon the 
transaction during the past month and year. It 
will be seen that almost all farm products have 
advanced during a month. 
The Wool Market. 
The steady advance of domestic fleece since 
shearing time, and during the most active sea¬ 
son known to the trade for many years, has 
awakened an unusual interest in this article, 
affecting as it does, so large a number of farm¬ 
ers. All are desirous of being able to judge of 
future prospects. At the Colonial wool sales, 
' in London, in November, previous high prices 
were not only maintained, but an advance was 
established on most grades. There will, there¬ 
fore, be no unusual tendency to this market 
of foreign wools, unless exchange is much more 
in favor of importers than at present. This 
maj'- happen through great Union successes in 
the field, or Federal legislation that will hinder 
speculation in the precious metals. The stock 
of wool now in store is small, and there is very 
little business doing, nor will there be before 
the middle or last of the month. Manufacturers 
and buyers are generally, busy, as usual, in 
closing up the business of the old year. Hold¬ 
ers are generally very strong, and able to carry 
their stocks, in view of the great ease in the 
money market. There is, therefore, no pros¬ 
pect of a fall in prices before business is again 
active, unless there be a fall in gold and 
exchange, in which case even the relative price 
of wool and gold will doubtless be maintained. 
Water in the Stock Yard and Barn. 
Perhaps no improvement can be suggested 
which, if carried out, will give more satisfaction 
to the majority of farmers, than that of the in¬ 
troduction of flowing water into the barn and 
cattle yards. The advantages of having water 
ready at hand are apparent to all, but the 
methods of accomplishing it are so various, that 
it is well to consider several of them. 
Direct flow with slight fall .—Where water can 
be obtained by conducting a stream from a 
brook or pond so as to distribute it in the tanks 
and troughs set in convenient places, it is only 
necessary to protect it from an over supply iD 
time of freshets, and from freezing in winter. 
The former may be done by providing a box— 
which, in case of any excess of water, will 
overflow and not surcharge the conduit; the 
latter by laying selected drain-tile, dipped in 
thin hydraulic cement, using cement so as to 
close the joints, and covering this pipe two feet 
underground. Wooden pipe (bored) will also 
answer an excellent purpose. If pitched within, 
and painted on the outside and in the joints 
with coal tar, this is very durable. 
Direct flow with great fall .—When springs upon 
the hills are brought- down to the farm 
buildings, and the difference of level is great, 
stronger pipes are ordinarily required. Lead 
pipe is now very expensive, and besides, it poi¬ 
sons some waters. Iron pipe is cheaper and 
very durable, but fills with a rusty concretion 
under some circumstances; most waters how¬ 
ever rust it but little, and it is on the whole to 
be highly recommended, and easily obtainable. 
Cisterns and Reservoirs .—With sufficient reser¬ 
voir or cistern room we may maintain a con¬ 
stant and abundant supply of water for the sea¬ 
son that cattle are generally kept up. The 
cheapest cisterns are made by excavating a hole 
of proper diameter, making the bottom and wall 
as smooth as possible, and laying a flat centre 
stone to stand upon at last. Then lay on a 
surface of cement mortar 1) to 2 inches thick, 
made with mixed gravel and sand, from quite 
fine to the size of a large pea; follow this 
with a coat of the same, in which, however, no 
stones are larger than wheat grains, to leave a 
smooth surface—to be finished by “floating” 
it over with a thin coat of cement in which there 
is only a little fine sand. Thus used, a barrel of 
cement will cover 170 square feet of surface. 
The top of the cistern will be a foot below the 
top of the ground, and may be covered with 
plank painted with coal tar and covered with 
earth. A pipe running directly from near the 
bottom of the cistern, or a siphon, the short leg 
of which shall dip nearly to the bottom, will 
supply water at any lower level. 
Wells on higher ground .—It not unfrequently 
happens that a well (15 to 30 feet deep) dug on 
a hill side, will deliver a constant supply of 
water. A siphon may be used in this case, and 
the water delivered in a constant stream, at a 
penstock down the hill. Water rams, wind¬ 
mills, and Artesian wells, may form a subject 
for future consideration. 
Filling Ice-Houses. 
An ice-house should always stand above the 
reach of floods; if near a stream or pond, as 
where ice-houses are built for supplying villages 
or for storing large quantities of ice, it is always 
best to place them near as possible to the water, 
so that a “way” may be constructed, upon 
which the cakes may be slid up to the requisite 
level. When the ice must be moved a distance 
to the ice-house, provide two joists upon which 
to slide it up into the sled or cart. The cakes 
should be cut as large as they can be conve 
niently handled, and so as to fit the house. The 
ice ought to form nearly a solid block, when the 
house is filled. Each course should break joints 
with the one below, and the spaces between the 
cakes should be filled with pounded ice, and six 
inches between the ice and the walls of the 
building with sawdust, or chips from the planing 
machine. It is more agreeable and better to 
handle ice, and to fill an ice-house, when the 
weather is very cold, than when it is thawing 
