162 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[May, 
IVevr Yorlt Rive Stock Markets.— 
•week ending. Beeves. Cotes. Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tot'l. 
March 
22d. 
.. 5,187 
79 
972 
21,162 
do. 
29th. 
.. 5,981 
106 
1,033 
22,159 
April 
5th. 
.. 4.708 
89 
721 
19.570 
do. 
12 th. 
... 7,482 
74 
1,312 
22,756 
Total in 4 Weeks.. 
.. 23,358 
389 
4,038 
85,597 
Ao.for prev.iWeeks 20,935 
376 
2,824 
87,935 
Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week . 5.839 84 1,009 21,399 15,117 
<!o. do. last Month.. 5,246 9) 705 21,984 10,181 
do. do. prev's Month. 5,545 84 535 21,844 8.059 
Average per Week, 1808 5,733 105 1,588 27,182 18,809 
do. do. do. 1807 . 5,544 64 1,320 22,154 20,605 
do. do. do. 1SCG. 5,748 94 1,200 20,000 18,000 
do. do. do. 1S65. 5,255 118 1,500 16,091 11,023 
do. do. do. 1864 . 5,161 145 1,511 15,315 12,676 
Tota, in 1868. 298,128 5,466 82.571 1,413,479 97S.061 
Total ill 1867. 293,832 3,369 69,911 1,174,154 1,102,648 
Total in 1866.. .....298,880 4,885 62,420 1,040,000 672,000 
Total in 1865............ 270,274 6,101 77,991 836,733 573,190 
Total ill 1864. 267,609 7,603 75,621 782,462 660,277 
The weekly arrivals of lieef cattle have been rather 
light for the increased demand after Lent, and the market 
has been brisk. There was a wide range in quality, and 
none really first class were for sale. The average quality 
was only what would be called medium. This estimate 
does not include some few droves of really poor steers 
of the “scallawag” order. The very best “tops” of 
good droves brought 17 * 40 . per pound, net weight, while 
the majority of good steers sold for 17c. The weather 
has been unsettled, and rainy market days are always bad 
for owners. Those who were fortunate enough to he on 
paved yards got along pretty well, but those off the stones 
complained of mud and bad sales. Buyers have been 
more plenty for the two weeks ending April 12th, and 
competition quite lively. This state of things always 
makes stock men feel in good spirits, whether their 
cattle are really fat or not. The cattle were most of them 
sold on market days, and but little “ peddling ” was done. 
The following list gives the range of prices, average 
prices, and figures at which the largest lots were sold : 
Mar.22d ranged 12 @ 17 * 40 . A v. 15Yc. Largest sales 15 @16)4 
do. 29th do. 12 @17!4c. do. 15>^c. do. do. U'A@W% 
Apr. nth do. 13*4@17Xc. do. 16c. do. do. 15 @16% 
do. 12th do. 11 @17 c. do. 15%c. do. do. 14%®16)4 
While 17!4c. was the highest price paid this month for 
good beef, and the figures given vary hut little from those 
for last month, still we think it safe to place the market 
at least * 4 c. higher for the same quality of cattle. Medium 
steers that last month sold for 15@15*4c., this month 
brought 16c., and in some cases 16i4c. per pound, net 
weight.. . I?Iilc5* Cows.—The demand for cows has not 
been great and the market has been a dull one. There 
has been a little increase in numbers, and sellers had to 
drop a few dollars per head for common cows. The 
highest prices paid this spring for milcli cows were for 
two Ayrshires, which brought $400. Yery good cows 
sell for $80. Prices range from $60@$90, with poor milk¬ 
ers and old ones at $50, or even less... .Veal Calves 
are not plenty enough to make a brisk trade, and there is 
but little change in prices. Live calves sell readily if 
they are good and not too young. Butchers do not like 
to buy “ bob ” calves, for fear of having them confiscated 
after they are hung up in the stalls. “Bobs” therefore 
sell slow at low prices by the head. Good live calves 
sell for 12c.@13c. ; medium, 10 c.@llc. “ Hog-dressed,” 
fat and fresh, sell all the way from 12c.@lSc. per pound, 
according to quality.... Slicep.—There are agreat many 
shorn sheep now coming into market, and they sell for 
l*4c.@2c. per pound lower than those unshorn. The ar¬ 
rivals have been light and the market rather lively. Shorn 
sheep, if fijt, sell readily. Prices range from 5*4c.@7c. 
per pound for shorn, 7c.@9)4 for unshorn, according to 
quality_ Swine. —The live hog market has been more 
active for the last month. Western dressed are less 
abundant, and notin so great demand. Prices have kept 
firm all the mouth and the market steady. Good hogs sell 
quickly for 10>4c.@llc.; for a few very fat and extra good 
ll} 4 c. was paid. Dressed hogs keep firm, at 13%c.@14c. 
1,500,0011 Headers !—A canvasser fora 
premium, in a Western State, just tells us that lie found 
103 families who regularly read the American Agricultur¬ 
ist. although his club numbered but 24 copies. By ex¬ 
changing papers, and borrowing, these 24 copies reached 
all of the 103 families, which averaged 4*4 readers in each. 
(In one case 26 persons read the same copy regularly). 
If the above were the case generally, there would be 
between three andfour mUlionrenAcvsot this journal. But 
cutting down the estimate more than half, we still have 
a million and a half of Readei-s —quite enough to stimu¬ 
late the Editors to constant exertions and care. 
Mints to Advertisers.—A business man 
at first objected to our terms, but readily offered to fur¬ 
nish a neatly printed card to put in every paper if we 
would slip them in for 25 cents per 1,000. He thought if 
one in a large number of these cards reached a customer, it 
would pay. A little calculation showed him that it would 
cost over $600 to provide the cards alone, while our charges 
were only $30 to print the same card in the paper, where 
it would be seen several times over, both by the sub¬ 
scribers and their friends, and not be in danger of drop¬ 
ping out. ...A nurseryman kept a large force of men, and 
sold about $25,000 worth of stock annually, which just 
about paid expenses. Ho then spent $5,000 in advertis¬ 
ing, and thus ran up his sales to about $65,000, while the 
increased cost of the nursery was only $15,000 per an¬ 
num. Many business men keep up large establishments 
that pay very lightly. With no increased expense for 
rent, etc., they might quadruple their trade by making 
their business known.... One man scattered his adver¬ 
tisements in little items here and there, and found it paid 
moderately well. As an experiment, he put in a large, 
striking advertisement, that cost him over $1,000. It 
was of such size and display that it attracted general 
attention; he was run down with customer, and made 
a small fortune in a brief time. 
containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form , for want of space elsewhere. 
Postage. — To our published terms for the 
American Agriculturist," postage must in all cases be add¬ 
ed when ordered to go out of the United States. For 
Canada, send twelve cents besides the subscription money 
with each subscriber. Everywhere in the United States, 
three cents , each quarter, or twelve cents , yearly , must he 
prepaid at the Post-office where the paper is received. 
How to Hemit ;—Checks on Aew- 
York Banks or Bankers are best for large sums ; 
made payable to the order of Orange Judd & Co. 
Post-Office Money Orders may be obtain¬ 
ed at nearly every county seat, in all the cities, and in 
many of the large towns. We consider them perfectly 
safe, and the best means of remitting fifty dollars or less, 
as thousands have been sent to us without any loss. 
Registered Letters, under the stew 
(system, which went into effect Oct. 1,1868, are a very 
safe means of sending small sums of money where P. O. 
Money Orders cannot he easily obtained. Observe , the 
Registry fee, ns well as postage, must be paid in stamps at 
the office where the letter is mailed, or it will be liable 
to be sent to the Dead Letter Office. Buy and affix the 
stamps both for postage and registry, put in the money , and 
seal the letter in the presence of the postmaster, and take his 
receipt for it. Letters thus scut to us are at our risk. 
Hound Copies of Volume SS¥BI 
(1868) are now ready. Price, $2, at our office, or $2.50 
each, if sent liy mail. Any of the previous eleven vol¬ 
umes (16 to 26) will be forwarded at the same price. Sets 
of numbers sent to our office will be neatly bound in our 
regular style for 75 cents per volume, (50 cents extra if re¬ 
turned by mail.) Missing numbers supplied at 12c. each. 
How to Study Insects.—The Guide to 
the Study of Insects, by Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr., supplies 
what has long been needed—a work which will enable 
one to study the structure and transformations of insects, 
and learn the principles upon which they are classified. 
The work is published in parts, at 50 cents each, and is 
very abundantly illustrated. It is sent by mail from the 
office of the American Agriculturist on receipt of price. 
A Book for Young fanners.— 
“Thomas’ Farm Implements and Machin¬ 
ery.”—The basis of this admirable work was an essay 
published in 1850, in the Transactions of the N. Y. State 
Agricultural Society, which was enlarged, and in 1854 
published by the Harpers. It has been, and remains, the 
only work in which the principles of Natural Philoso¬ 
phy, namely, the mechanical powers, and the powers of 
water, wind, and heat, are systematically discussed as 
applied to the operations of the farm. There has been 
unlimited discussion of the principles and facts of Agri¬ 
cultural Chemistry and the general philosophy of farm¬ 
ing, while the principles of mechanics, etc., most im¬ 
portant for every farmer to know, have had little 
attention. This work has now been most carefully re¬ 
vised by the author. It is much enlarged, and a great 
part has been re-written, while the illustrations, before 
abundant, now number two hundred and eighty-seven. A 
large number of new implements are described, with 
the heavier farm machinery, and the use of steam, both 
in cooking and as power on the farm, is clearly dis¬ 
cussed. The whole work is of a thoroughly practical 
character, and the application of the principles taught to 
the farmer’s daily work makes its instructions of very 
great value. There is not an agricultural writer that 
could he named more respected than John J. Thomas, 
or one whose judgment and freedom from personal 
bias in discussing new implements could be more im¬ 
plicitly relied upon. It contains 292 pages, 12mo. 
Published by Orange Judd & Co. Price, $1.50. 
Moistening Chopped May for 
Horses.—This practice is becoming more and more 
general. It is undoubtedly very beneficial. For horses 
that have any tendency to heaves, it is indispensable. 
The advantage, however, is not due merely to the fact 
that cutting the hay and moistening it with water ” lays 
the dust”: it does more than this; it softens the hay 
and meal, and renders it more easily digested. This, in 
fact, is the main point. And this suggests the question 
whether we can not carry the system farther. Steaming 
would be best, but at this hurried season it is out of the 
question on most farms. But cannot some way of soak¬ 
ing the hay be adopted that will involve little labor, and 
which will make the hay more digestible, without wash¬ 
ing out the soluble nutritious matter, or inducing fer¬ 
mentation ? If nothing more was done than to mix the 
food for the next meal, say at morning for noon, at 
noon for night, and at night for next morning, the hay 
and meal would be softened materially, and would ap¬ 
proximate nearer to fresh grass. We soak our dried 
apples before cooking them; why not our dried grass ? 
Parsons on tlic Rose.—By Samuel B. 
Parsons, Flushing, N. Y. New York: Orange Judd 
& Company. The Rose is the only flower that can 
he said to have a history. It is popular now and 
was so centuries ago. In his work upon the Rose, 
Mr. Parsons has gathered up the curious legends 
concerning the flower, and gives us an idea of 
the esteem in which it was held in former times. A 
simple garden classification has been adopted and the 
leading varieties under each class enumerated and briefly 
described. The chapters on multiplication, cultivation, 
and training, are very full, and the work is altogether tho 
most complete of any before the public. In preparing 
this edition a large amount of new matter has been added 
and the whole has been thoroughly revised. Illustrated. 
$1.50 by mail. 
A Poultry Numl»cr.-Tlie very general 
interest manifested in all parts of the country in regard 
to poultry warrants us in devoting a large share of space 
in this issue to the subject. The Great Exhibition de. 
scribed elsewhere has furnished one of the weekly papers 
an opportunity to bring out an English Engraving, which it 
offers ns portraits of the fowls at the show. Another 
gives us caricatures of a Wood Duck and hen , etc. As 
we have already published full length engravings of the 
leading breeds, we here give the heads of several of 
those now attracting attention. They are drawn with 
great care from life, and will he found to present the 
peculiar markings which distinguish these breeds more 
distinctly than any illustrations have heretofore done. 
But few arc aware of the difficulties attending the por¬ 
traiture of these restless birds, and the artists as well as 
engravers are to bo congratulated upon their success. 
Sundry llMm'biigfs.,—The various swin¬ 
dling concerns, under the guise of “Mutual Benefit As¬ 
sociations,” of this and other cities, seem to have nearly 
died out, or taken other disguises. An entirely new Insur¬ 
ance scheme, now before us, may he one of the old 
“mutual” concerns. This association purports to he 
connected with a weekly journal of this city, and is un¬ 
der the management of one J. S. Rigney. The associa¬ 
tion proposes to engage agents everywhere, and pay 
them by giving one-half they collect of persons who be¬ 
come members of the “Mutual Society.” The member¬ 
ship fee for an adult man is $2.00; for a man and his wife, 
$3.00. Besides this “liberal offer” to agents, they throw 
in a few lottery tickets, these tickets to draw valuable 
prizes in jewelry, and “upon presentation, accompanied 
with $2.20 to pay expenses,” etc. The old story. The 
plan is too old to catch many, and we warn all against 
them. Remember, every dollar sent to such and similar 
concerns is lost money. ..If any person or persons in 
Brooklyn are doing business under the name of “West- 
cott's Express,” and have not found out that they arc the 
medium of a great deal of wicked and unlawful traffic, it 
is time they did. Williamsburgh has some bad men, and 
one particularly wicked one by the name of Turner. Mr. 
Turner seems to have everything, including liis letters, 
sent to care of Westcott’s Express. Now wc suggest to 
Messrs. Express Co. to pay particular attention to this 
Mr. T’s orders, and for the good of their own name, 
order Mr. T. to find some other medium of communica¬ 
tion, or quit swindling people with pretended " Gift 
Lotteries,” and selling poisons and wicked publications. 
_Kelley, the well-known “Kelley Lottery” man, who, 
some time last fall, was locked up by the Buffalo authori¬ 
ties, is at his old tricks again. This time we are in¬ 
formed it is 11 most positively the last notice," It is tho 
