4r 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[January, 
than from cold. The object of putting cabbages, 
cauliflower, lettuce, etc., in frames, is to keep them 
dormant, as well as to shield them from excessive 
cold. If they are stimulated into growth by too 
much heat, they will be as badly off as if severely 
frozen. Beginners err in keeping the plants too 
warfn. Air the frames whenever the outside tem¬ 
perature is near 32°, and in mild weather remove 
the sashes altogether. 
Hot-Beds, for sowing seeds, will be needed this 
month in the Southern States; as the time for mak¬ 
ing these will differ in each locality, we need only 
repeat the general rule that they should be started 
—whether South or North—about six weeks before 
it will be safe to set the plants in the open ground. 
Flower Jisa«8 ELsswk. 
Evergreens are apt to be bent out of shape, by 
accumulation of snow in their tops. It should be 
shaken out while light; in snows heavy enough to 
cover their lower branches, shovel away and clear 
them, or they may be broken as the snow hardens 
and settles. Small evergreens of untested kinds, 
should have spruce or other evergreen boughs 
placed around them for a few winters. 
Pruning Trees and Shrubs should be done only 
when necessary. If shrubs are pruned, observe 
the natural habit of each, and do not expect to 
make one with curving branches grow erect. It is 
the variety of form quite as much as variety of 
color, that gives beauty to a clump of shrubs. 
Never disfigure an evergreen by cutting away its 
lower branches. 
<jia*eenlia©Mse sieddl 
The cultivator of plants under glass, whether it 
be in the costly conservatory, a modest greenhouse, 
or even in a kitchen window, has to contend, first, 
last, and ail the time, with various 
Plant Insects .—No matter how good the soil, how 
careful the watering, the plant will not flourish 
if its vitality is being constantly weakened by 
insects. These not only live upon the juices of 
the plant, but some of them cover its leaves with a 
web, which, though almost invisible, closes the 
pores through which the plant breathes. 
Water , Soap, and Tobacco , are the three chief 
remedies, and they are readily applied in the 
greenhouse, but their use is more difficult upon 
house plants. A bath tub, or a large sink, will 
allow a plant to be laid on its side and its foliage 
thoroughly drenched on both surfaces, with slight¬ 
ly warm water from a watering pot or syringe. 
Ivies, camellias, and other smooth-leaved plants, 
can have each leaf sponged with soap aud water, 
and then with pure water, and if the bark 
appears unhealthy, use strong soap aud water with 
a brush—an old tooth-brush will answer. Tobacco 
infusion is sometimes used, the plant is dipped in 
it, and a little while after rinsed in water. In 
greenhouses the house is regularly smoked—at 
night a pan of coals is covered with damp tobacco 
stems, and the house filled with a dense smoke, 
and kept closed until morning. This should be 
done regularly, at least once a week, whether 
insects are seen or not. For house plants a 
smoking box can be easily contrived. A dry goods 
box, large enough to allow a smoke to be made 
and not heat the plants too much, will answer. 
Scale of all kinds can be picked off, and this is 
the best way to treat the mealy bug, when there are 
but few plants. Those who love plants, will find 
little' difficulty in keeping them clear of insects 
—those who do not, had better not keep them. 
Camellias and Azaleas need more water as they 
come into bloom, and care must be taken not to 
wet the flowers. Keep cool, to prolong the bloom. 
Bulbs. Bring a few pots each week from the 
cellar, or wherever they are stored, and give water 
as they develop. When the flower buds begin to 
push, weak manure water may be used. If it is 
desired to save the bulbs for planting out, the 
foliage must be kept growing after the flowers fade. 
Bust is one of the great enemies of house plants. 
If the plants can not be removed while the room is 
being swept, then contrive a cover of light stuff, 
or even paper, to put over them. Drench in the 
bath tub or sink, and use the sponge.whenever the 
leaves are dusty. 
Watering .—As many house plants suffer from too 
much, as from too little water. It is a very com¬ 
mon thing to see the soil kept thoroughly soaked 
from week to week. This will answer for Callas, 
and a few other marsh plants, but for others nature 
only makes the ground wet occasionally, and often 
it becomes very dry before rain comes again. No 
invariable rules can be given for watering. When 
a plant is at rest, it needs less than when growing, 
and even when growing, it is better to let the soil 
get somewhat dry now and then, before watering. 
If the soil is full of water, no air can enter, and the 
roots need air as well as water. 
-•« *> t —a 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
Nov. 13. Dec. 12. 
Price of Gold . lio 1-1 1115-8 
Flour—S uper to Extra State S3 05 @ 5 05 
Super to Extra Southern_ 4 Go @ 8 25 
Extra Western. 4 TO @ 8 50 
Extra Genesee. 5 50 @ 7 75 
Superfine Western. 3 05 @4 35 
Rye Floor. 4 00 ® 5 25 
Corn-Meal. ... . 4 00 @ 5 10 
Wheat—A ll kinds ot White. 1 22 @ 1 38 
All kinds of Red and Amber. 1 02 @ 1 28 
Corn—Y ellow. 92 @ 95 
Mixed. 83 @ 92 
White. — @ 1 05 
Oats— Western. 
State . 
Rye. . 
Barley ... 
Hay—B ale, iR 100 lbs. 
STRAW', ?! 100 lbs. 
Cotton—M iddlings, TO ® . 
Hops—C rop oi'1874, ?! ®. 
Feathers—L ive Oeese, ?! lb 
Seed—C lover, ?! ® . 
Sugar—R efi’g&Grocery?! ® 6><@ 10 
Molasses, Cuba. ?! gal. . SO @ 47 
New Orleans, $ gal. 03 @ 73 
Coffee—.R io (Gold). 15K@ 21 
Tobacco, Kentucky, &c„ IP lb. 8 @ 23 
Seed Leaf, ?! ®. 7 @ 55 
Wool—D omestic Fleece, ?! tt 28 @ 65 
Domestic, pulled, ?! lb. 25 @ 52 !4 
California, clip. 16 @ 35 
Tallow, 9 lb . 8J$@ 9 
Oil-Cake— IP toil . . 45 50 
Four—M ess, 7' barrel. 19 50 
Prime Mess, iP barrel. 19 25 
Beef—P lain mess.. 9 00 
Lard, in tres. & barrels, %7 lb 14 
$3 70 
4 
5 S3 
. „ ^ 8 00 
4 05 @ 8 25 
5 00 @ 7 00 
3 70 @ 4 40 
4 35 @ 5 00 
4 20 @5 00 
1 25 @ 1 40 
1 05 @ 1 30 
“ @ 94 
@ 96 
89 
S8 
89 
Cl 
@ 
66 
67 
@ 
70 
60 
@ 
6514 
66 
@ 
70 
90 
@ 
95 
92 
@ 
98 
25 
@ 
1 55 
1 
25 
@ 1 65 
55 
@ 
95 
55 
@ 
95 
40 
@ 
65 
40 
@ 
65 
14%C> 
15 
14%@ 
1451 
35 
47 
35 
@ 
50 
35 
65 
35 
@ 
65 
9 y,@ 
9% 
10 
75 
2 85 
2 
75 
@ ‘ 
! 85 
00 
2 10 
2 
15 
@ e 
i 20 
6K® 9 
32 @ 
55 
17 
9 
8 
28 
27 
16 
@40 50 
@20 00 
@20 25 
@10 50 
@ 15 
@ 47 
© 35 
@ 16 
@ 2 65 
@ 1 25 
@ 32 
@ 22 
@ 17 
- 2 25 
Butter— State, IP lb. 25 
Western, IP tt. 19 
Cheese. 6 
Beans—?! bushel. 1 70 
Peas—C anada, free, ?! bu ... 1 18 
Eggs—F resli, # dozen . 24 
Poultry—F owls. 10 
Turkeys—?! lb. 6 
Geese,?! pair. 112 _ 
Ducks, v< pair. 50 @ 1 00 
Pigeons, IP dozen. 1 75 @ 2 75 
Woodcock, ?! pair. 50 @ SO 
Grouse, ?! pair. 40 @ 1 00 
Partridges, ?! pair. 30 @ 90 
Venison,?!® . . 10 @ 16 
TVild Ducks, ?! pair. 40 @ 2 00 
English Snipe, ?! dozen_ 1 25 @ 1 50 
Yellow-leg Snipe, ?! doz . 50 @ 1 00 
Quail, IP dozen. 1 50 @ 3 00 
Plover, IP dozen. 1 50 @ 2 00 
Hares, ?! pair. 65 @ 80 
Rabbits, per pair... — @ — 
Turnips v bbi. 1 00 @ 1 50 
Cabbvges—?! 100. 3 00 @ 7 50 
@ 38 
SU@ 8J; 
43 75 @46 00 
20 62X@20 75 
19 50 @20 50 
9 50 @11 00 
13)4@ 14k 
25 @ 45 
15 ® 35 
6 @ 10 
1 60 @ 2 70 
1 25 @ 1 33 
24 @ 30 
10 @ 15 
16 @ 15 
1 37 @ 2 50 
50 @ 80 
2 25 
50 
40 
so 
10 
30 
@ 2 50 
@ 65 
@ 75 
@ 75 
@ 16 
@ 1 75 
@ - 
90 
Onions—?! bbl. 
2 50 © 3 50 
Potatoes—?! bbl. 1 50 @2 37 
Sweet Potatoes—?! bbl. 2 00 @ 3 50 
BR003I-C0RN. 6 © 10 % 
Grapes,?!®...... 5 @ 10 
Apples—?! barrel. 1 00 @ 2 25 
Cranberries—?! box. 2 50 @10 00 
Green Peas, new r , ?! bushel.. 1 65 @ 2 00 
Sqi)ash, ?! bbl... . 100 @125 
Cauliflowers, ?! dozen. 1 00 @ 3 50 
Horse Radish, per bbl. — @ — 
Peppers, per 100. — @ — 
@ 1 50 
@ - 
@ 75 
@ 40 
@ 1 25 
@10 00 
@ 3 00 
© 2 50 
@ 3 25 
@ 14 
@ 10 
1 00 @ 2 25 
2 25 ©10 00 
© 2 00 
® 1 75 
@ 5 00 
@10 00 
@ 1 00 
50 
35 
1 00 
3 50 
2 25 
1 75 
3 00 
9 
3 
1 65 
1 25 
1 50 
5 00 
50 
Gold has been up to 112f, and down to 110J, closing 
December 12th, at 11 If, as against 1101 on November 12th. 
... .Canal navigation having been closed, for the season, 
at the beginning of the current month, the arrivals of 
produce from the interior have fallen off materially. The 
supplies of Breadstuffs available here—though not very 
heavy—have been quite liberal, as compared with the 
wants of buyers, which have been generally less urgent, 
particularly on export account, and prices have been, in 
most instances, depressed and lower, influenced, in part, 
by the firmer range of ocean freights, and the unsuccess¬ 
ful strike of the stevedores against a reduction of wages 
—which circumstances operated against the export busi¬ 
ness. Toward the close, the stronger range of gold en¬ 
abled holders to obtain rather better prices on stock 
wanted for export. Speculative dealings have been re¬ 
newed in Corn, Oats, and Barley, which served, to some 
extent, to strengthen values....The Cotton trade has 
been quite active, but the heavy arrivals of Cotton at the 
shipping ports, and the unfavorable advices from Liver¬ 
pool, have led to a slight decline in prices,—the market 
closing weak.... Provisions have been pretty freely dealt 
in, more especially hog products, largely on speculative 
account, hut at very variable prices. Pork, Lard, and 
Cut Meats closing easier. Bacon firmer. Beef, Butter, 
aud Cheese, about steady... .Wool has been recently in 
much better demand, chiefly ou manufacturing account, 
closing rather in favor of sellers. The main inquiry has 
been for domestic fleece and pulled, and for Texas and 
California product. The current arrivals of California 
Fall are rather poor as to quality and condition... .Hops 
have been in more request for home use and shipment, 
and have been on the advance... .Hay and Straw have 
been quiet, at essentially unaltered rates... .Seeds have 
been very moderately sought after. The main call for 
Clover Seed has been from export buyers, who have 
recently reduced their bids to our quotations for prime 
samples_An active trade has been reported in Tobac¬ 
co, mostly for shipment, at stronger prices, but the mar¬ 
ket closes rather tamely. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist , 
from our daily record-during the year, show at a glance 
the transactions for the month ending Dec. 13th, 1874, 
and for the corresponding month last year: 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT THE NEW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Barley. Oats. 
25 cl’s this m'th367,000 2,376,900 1,404,000 129,000 307,000 1,312,000 
26 cl’s last ni’tli3>4,000 3,115,000 1,807,000 104,000 471,000 1,306,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. llye. Barley. Oats. 
25 cl’s this m’tli360,000 3,001,000 2,315,000 92,000 289,000 1,209,000 
26 d’s last m’tli 309,000 4,318,000 4,106,000 87,000 385,000 1,504,000 
il. Comparison toilli same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Eye. Barley. Oats. 
25 days 1874... 367,000 2,370,000 1,-104,000 129,000 307,000 1,312,000 
25 days 1873.. .331,000 3,230,000 2,066,000 0 400 537,000 922,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. ltye. Barley. Oats. 
25 days 1874.. .360,000 3,001,000 2,315,000 92,000 289,000 1,209,000 
25 days 1873.. .306,000 3,873,000 3,932,000 106,000 446,000 1,532,000 
3. Stock of grain in store at New York. 
Wheat. Corn. Eye. Barley. Oats. Malt. 
bnsli. bnsli. bush. bush. bush. bush. 
Dec. 7,1874.-4,513,396 1.220,973 15,925 16 S,391 890,899 135,622 
Nov. 9, 1874..3,6S0,141 1,727,510 19,123 117,1S5 791,722 135,882 
Nov. 10, 1873.-1,720,338 3,133,896 22,907 232,942 755,153 82,674 
4. Eeceipts at head of tide-water at Albany each season 
to Dec. 1st. 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Eye. Earley. Oats. 
bbls. bush. bush. bush. hush. bush. 
1874 ...165,200 23,791,500 17,723,200 337,600 3,428,400 3,584,500 
1873.. ..153.500 22,761,700 18,552,200 950,260 2,153,000 3,385,900 
1872.. ..137.300 11,349.100 29,928,700 474,000 4.518,600 5,090,000 
1571.. . .290,700 21,313,400 20,042,300 1,107,900 3,839,400 6,639,400 
1870.. . .430,400 17,124,700 4,805,100 587,500 3.984,700 6,167.500 
New Y«rSs ljiv«i»§flo<L*i£ Miirlcets. 
RECEIPTS. 
week ending Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tot'l. 
Nov. 16. 8,731 48 1,755 29,813 53,943 94,320 
Nov. 23.10,307 67 1,297 29,240 53,559 94,470 
Nov. 30. 7,935 90 981 23,OSS 48,937 81,031 
Dec. 7. 8,028 60 1,0S6 28,855 51,018 89,053 
Dec. 14. 6,271 80 1,224 25,709 89,955 73,239 
Total for Z Weeks. .41,272 351 6,310 130,732 247,412 432,113 
Cio.forprev. 4 Weeks 39,271 236 7,080 119,549 108,409 333,845 
Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week . 8,254 70 1,269 23,346 49,442 
do. do. last Month... 9,817 59 1,770 29,887 42,177 
do. do. prev’s Month..W,308 57 2,541 29,748 35,074 
EJeeff Cattle.—The market for the past five weeks 
has been almost entirely without change. Had it not 
been, however, for a scarcity of good beeves, there would 
have been a decline. The sale of poor stock has been 
dull and slow, and a slight over supply would have 
brought down rates 4e. per lb. The strong demand for 
good beeves has been very marked. A year ago choice 
beeves sold at 12@12Jc. 13 lb. All through this month 
they have rated at 13@.13£c. very steadily. At the close 
of the last week of our report, the market was £c. fb 
higher, extra holiday beeves selling for 13t@16c. $ Jb to 
dress 63 to 05 $ cwt., a few were held at 17c., but not 
sold; good native beeves brought 9@.llc. $ ft to dress 
56, and Texas and Cherokces 74c.@10c. $ fl> to dress 55 
to 56 lbs. cwt. 
The prices for the past five weeks were as follows: 
week ending Eange. Large Sales. Aver. 
Nov. 16. G^@13^c. 9k5@10Kc. 10 c. 
Nov. 23. 6K@135fc. 9J4@10p 2 c. 10 c. 
Nov. 30. 65f@13Mc. 9M@10Kc. 10 c. 
Dec. 7.6M@13 ><c. 9^@10>^c. 10 c. 
Dec. 14. 7>4®15 c. 10 @11 c. 10>4c. 
Milch. Cows.—Theree has been a steady demand 
for cows, with a fair supply'; prices are unchanged, good 
cows selling at $40$80 per head_ Calves.— The 
good supply of cheap poultry has made a dull market 
for calves, and prices have gradually weakened day by 
day, without, however, falling off more than a shade. 
Good hog-dressed veals sold at the close at 12|@13 cts. 
<[3 lb., and grassersat $6.00@$6.15 per head—Slieep 
and kaiaubs.—Good sheep have been firm throughout 
the past month ; lambs have cased ofl", and are Jc. II lb, 
lower. Some Colorado sheep sold for 4@4}c. 13 lb; 
good Canada sheep brought G^c. $ ft. Closing rates 
were 5@7c. ^ ft., for sheep, and 6@7fc. for lambs — 
Swine.—There has been a firm market for hogs, not¬ 
withstanding the large receipts, an average of over 9,000 
more than last month. The market closed irregular, 
and with a tendency downwards. Live hogs are quoted 
at 6$®7ic., and dressed 8}<a>8Jc. 13 ft- 
