204 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[June, 
first week in June is early enough to set the plants. 
See notes and page 175 last month. 
Tomatoes .—As the vines grow, keep tied up to a 
trellis, or place brush to keep them from the ground. 
Flower-Garden and Lawn. 
LawrBt .—Mow often and leave the clippings on 
the grass. A few hours of sun make them invisible, 
and they serve both as mulch and manure. 
Bedding Plants will now need attention. Keep 
the weeds down until the plants cover the beds. 
Annuals may be transplanted and seed be sown. 
Tuberoses need a warm and rich spot. Plants 
that have been started under glass may be obtained 
and will grow rapidly. 
Bulbs .—Do not remove the leaves from those that 
have passed out of flower until they begin to turn 
yellow. Take up Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissuses 
as soon as the failure of the leaves shows that the 
growth is over. Spread under cover until the 
leaves are dry, and then store in a cool and dry 
place until time to plant in the fall. 
Boses .—When the Remontants pass out of flower, 
cut them back. Remove the remains of the flow¬ 
ers of the Ever-blooming varieties. Shake off 
rose-bugs. 
Neatness is secured by constant attention to little 
things. Keep straggling plants tied up. Remove 
unsightly flower-stalks unless seeds are wanted.— 
Rake off remains of flowers and dead leaves. Clip 
or pinch shrubs disposed to grow out of shape. 
{3reeit“house and Window Is. 
These will likely all be out of doors, and they 
must be disposed of according to their needs.— 
Some may be set in full sun, while Fuchsias, Ca¬ 
mellias and other broad-leaved evergreens need a 
partial shade. Some may be disposed of as or¬ 
naments to the veranda, while others may be 
plunged in the borders. Place a little coal-ashes 
under plunged plants to keep worms from enter¬ 
ing. The earth in the pots dries rapidly, and care 
must be taken that they do not suffer for want of 
water. The pots containing tall plants should be 
protected from strong winds. Procure sods for 
potting soil, and look after supplies of manure. 
Lig-htning-Rods. 
The peeping of frogs is no surer indication of the open¬ 
ing of spring, than is the appearance of the lightning-rod 
pedlers. There may be some respectable men engaged 
in hawking about lightning-rods, but most we have met 
are unmitigated nuisances. Our letters indicate that 
many of them are swindlers, and that when one gets a 
chance at a house, the owner is made to pay roundly. 
There has been so much that is unpleasant and suspicious 
attached to the lightning-rod business, that some whose 
opinions are regarded as authority, have asserted that all 
lightning-rods are humbugs. We cannot agree with this 
view, but think that a properly constructed rod is a pro¬ 
tection. There are many cases in which buildings furnish¬ 
ed with rods have been injured by lightning; this is 
no testimony against lightning-rods in general, but only 
against those particular pieces of work. The kinds of 
rod offered for sale are numerous ; and by twists and other 
externals are made to look very unlike. The cheapest 
material is iron ; copper is a better conductor, but its ex¬ 
pensiveness leads to the use of a larger rod of iron. A 
solid iron rod of an inch in diameter, is found to be 
best and cheapest. It should be as continuous as pos¬ 
sible, using screw couplings where the lengths cannot be 
welded. The rod may be painted black as a protection 
against rust. Iron fastenings are as good as the glass in¬ 
sulators, sometimes used. When glass is wet, the insulat¬ 
ing power is destroyed. The upper end should terminate in 
one or more platinum points. Merely covering with gold- 
leaf is a poor protection against rusting. The lower end 
of the rod should terminate in permanently moist ground. 
All the better if it can terminate in a well, below the 
lowest point the water ever reaches. In cities, the lower 
end of the rod may connect with the main gas or water 
pipes. A tin or other metallic roof should be connected 
with the rod. The number of rods required will depend 
upon the size of the surface to be protected; the rule 
given by electricians is, that a rod will protect a space 
around in every direction from its base equal to twice its 
bight. In practice we believe rods are put nearer together 
than this rule would require. There are no objections, 
save those of expense and appearance, to having any 
number of rods, provided they are properly constructed. 
We have given what are considered by the best au¬ 
thorities the essential requisites in a lightning-rod. The 
various “improvements” which have been patented from 
time to time are not considered to be of practical import¬ 
ance. We believe that our best constructors of rods do 
not claim to have any patent about the matter. If some 
one would make and advertise platinum points, any person 
could put up his own rod, with the aid of a blacksmith. 
-->-«- 
.Provisions have been more sought after at higher 
rates, but close less buoyantly.Cotton has been in 
active request, and has been quoted dearer.Wool 
has been very slow of sale, though buyers have had every 
existing advantage as to price. Tobacco, Hay, and 
Seeds have been in fair demand; Grass seeds have been 
much firmer.Hops have been quiet, but steady. 
New York Live-Stock Ufarkets.— 
week ending. Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tot'l. 
April 18th. 5.718 123 2,419 17.3G1 10,171 85,892 
do. 26Hi.G.003 G8 3,569 13,433 12,730 35,802 
May 3d. G,41G 74 4,813 11,431 15,197 37,931 
do. 10th. G,924 GO 4,083 15,346 18,985 45,404 
Total in 4 Weeks.... 25,121 331 14,924 57,573 57,OSS 155,032 
do.forpn'ev. 4 Weeks 22,325 532 5,835 63,021 42,579 134,282 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
Tlie following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist, 
show at a glance the transactions for the month ending 
May 13,1S70, and for the corresponding month last year. 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT TUI NEW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Hour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Harley. Oats. 
25 dayst/u'4 m'tli.231,000 936,000 243,500 12,500 139,000 230,000 
27 days last ill’th.221,500 478,000 153,000 2,630 313,000 217,000 
Beeves. Coivs. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week. 
...6,280 
84 
3,731 
14,393 
14,271 
do. 
do. last 
Month .., 
.. .5,581 
133 
1,450 
15,755 
10,645 
do. 
do. pren’s Month.. 
,..6,069 
130 
790 
25,202 
13.7S5 
Average per Week, 
1869. 
6,275 
92 
1,752 
28,836 
15,348 
do. 
do. 
do. 
1868 
5,733 
105 
1,588 
27.182 
18,809 
do. 
do. 
do. 
3867. 
5,544 
64 
1,320 
22,154 
20,605 
do. 
do. 
do. 
1866. 
5,748 
94 
1,200 
20,000 
13,000 
do. 
do. 
do. 
1865. 
5,255 
its 
1.500 
16,091 
11.023 
Total 
in 1869. 
4.827 
91,083 
1,499,509 
798,199 
Total 
in 1868, 
.298,128 
5,466 
S2.571 
1,413,479 
978,061 
Total 
ill 1867. 
.293,832 
3,369 
69,911 
1,174,154 
1,102.643 
Total 
ill 1866. 
298,880 
4,835 
62,420 
L010.000 
672,000 
Total 
ill 186"). 
270,271 
6,101 
77,994 
836.733 
573,190 
Total 
in 1864. 
267,609 
7,603 
75,621 
782,462 
600,277 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
25 days this m’tli .243,000 2,411,000 1,170,000 26,000 154,000 1,206.000 
27 days last m’ch.216,000 1,485,000 897,000 18,500 321,000 659,000 
H. Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
25 days 1870.231,000 986,000 243,500 12,500 139,000 230,000 
26 days 1869.182,000 387,000 541,000 11,000 41,000 237,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
25 days 1870.243,000 2,414,000 1,170,000 26,000 154,000 1,206,000 
26 days 1S69 .217,000 1,098,000 1,448,500 76,500 121,000 986,000 
3. Exports from New York, Jan. 1 to May 13; 
Barley. 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. 
Bye. 
1870 . 
.570,313 3,993, 
275 108,046 
6,708 
1869. 
.337,339 2,613,: 
860 1,173,235 
— 
1868. 
.319,202 1,708, 
175 2,909,014 
153,093 
4. 
Stock of gi 
"din in . 
store at New 
B Wheat, 
Corn, 
Bye, 
Barley , 
1870. 
bush. 
hush. 
bush. 
hush. 
May 10.. 
.1.158,052 
110,829 
20,502 
126,043 
April 11 
.1,845,186 
285,910 
23.249 
187,172 
March 7 
.2.509.608 
484.176 
39,089 
278,905 
Feb. 11.. 
... 2,902,638 
534,003 
62,112 
322,425 
Jan. 12.. 
. 4,423,028 
591,903 
38.2S9 
34,900 
1809 
Dec. 11.. 
. 3,810,502 
833,909 
50,013 
285,906 
Kov. 10. 
693,085 
31,700 
31,584 
Oct. 11.. 
. 978,272 
445,008 
31,467 
5,948 
Sept. 6. . 
. 745.121 
127,736 
56,081 
_ 
Aug. 9. 
. 634,262 
253,155 
75,797 
361 
July 10.. 
. 531,657 
328,613 
71.418 
2,966 
June 7.. 
. 637,877 
385,241 
107,546 
383 
May 11.. 
. 1,056.018 
394,156 
107,502 
17,684 
Apr. 10. . 
. 1,631,633 
1,080,769 
105,003 
48,281 
77,097 
66,782 
67,094 
134,870 
105,458 
97,177 
109.716 
77.677 
06,664 
Current Wholesale Pricks. 
Price op Gold . 
April 14. 
. 112 % 
Flour—S uper to Extra State $4 30 © 5 45 
Super to Extra Southern_ 5 25 @9 75 
Extra Western.. 4 55 ©9 25 
Extra Genesee. 5 75 © 7 25 
Superfine Western. 4 30 @ 4 50 
Rye Flour... 3 90 © 5 00 
Corn-Meal. 4 30 @5 25 
Wheat—A ll kinds of White. 1 27%@ 1 GO 
All kinds of lied and Amber. 95 @125 
Corn—Y ellow. 
Mixed .. . 
Oats— Western. 
Stale. .. 
Rye.*. 
Barley. . 
Hay—B ale id 100 lb. 
Straw, I< 100 lb. 
Cotton—M iddlings, Si lb_ 
Hops—Crop of 1869, lb. 
Feathers—L ive Geese, Si lb. 
Seed—C lover, lb . 
Timothy, Id bushel... . 
May 13. 
114 % 
$4 90 © 5 90 
@10 00 
© 9 75 
© 8 00 
© 5 20 
© 5 65 
6 25 
5 25 
6 00 
4 90 
4 30 
4 75 
© 5 SO 
1 35 © 1 85 
1 00 @ 1 36 
Sugar— Brown, id lb. 
Molasses. Cuba, figal. 
Coffee— Rio.(Gold, in bond) 
Toracco, Kentucky, &c„It lb. 
Seed Leal, id lb . 
Wool— Domestic Fleece, Id lb. 
Domestic, pulled, ¥ lb. 
1 08 
@ 1 10 
1 17 
© 1 20 
90 
© 1 10 
1 04 
© 1 17 
57 
© 
68 
64%@ 70 
64 
@ 
68 
69 
@ 70 
95 
@ 1 10 
1 03 
© 1 14 
70 
© i 
10 
70 
@ 95 
80 
@ 1 15 
90 
© 1 25 
65 
© 1 00 
60 
© 1 00 
23%© 
34% 
23%@ 24% 
10 
© 
25 
10 
@ 25 
80 
© 
85 
80 
© 85 
14 ' A ® 
14% 
14 
© 14% 
6 2 ~i 
@ 6 
i5 
7 50 
© 8 00 
2 10 
© 2 20 
2 15 
@ 2 25 
8 
© 
n % 
8 
@ 11% 
20 
© 
45 
20 
© 45 
9%@ 
13% 
10 
@ 14 
7 
© 
13% 
6 
@ 13 
8 
© 
65 
8 
@ 70 
42 
© 
06 
40 
@ 63 
22 
© 
46 
20 
© 47 
15 
© 
32 
15 
© 29 
Tallow, 1Mb . 
Oil-Cake— ton. 
Pork— Mess, %i barrel. 
Prime, id barrel . 
Beef— Plain mess. 
Lard, in tres. & barrels, V ft. 
Butter —Western, lift. 
State, i? lb. 
Cheese. . 
Eggs— Fresh. Id dozen 
Poultry —Fowls & Chickens 
Turkeys, id lb. 
Geese, Id lb.. 
Apples— id barrel.. , _ 
Sweet Potatoes, id bbh. 
9%@ 9% 
9%@ 
9% 
35 00 
©39 00 
39 00 
@40 00 
27 75 
@28 00 
29 12 
@29 50 
20 50 
@21 50 
22 00 
©23 50 
8 00 
@14 (10 
10 00 
@18 50 
14%@ 16% 
15 
17 
15 
© 28 
20 
© 
35 
18 
© 38 
20 
© 
33 
6 
© 16% 
6 
@ 
17% 
1 20 
© 2 4(1 
1 20 
© 2 
50 
1 10 
© 1 25 
97 
© 1 00 
27 
© 29 
16 
© 
18% 
21 
© 24 
20 
© 
21 
26 
@ 20 
21 
© 
22 
16 
© IS 
15 
© 
13 
1 25 
© 2 00 
1 00 
© 2 00 
8 50 
@10 00 
7 00 
@ 8 00 
3 00 
© 5 25 
1 50 
© 4 50 
— 
© - 
— 
@ 
— 
1 50 
@ 2 00 
.— 
@ 
— 
6 00 
@10 00 
7 00 
@10 00 
4 50 
© 5 50 
@22 00 
4 00 
© 7 
00 
10 00 
— 
@ 
— 
11 
@ 15 
10 
© 
14 
. . 
© - 
75 
@ 1 
00 
_ 
@ — 
1 50 
@ 3 00 
— 
@ — 
2 50 
Ot) 4 50 
— 
© - 
25 
@ 
40 
Cabbages— id 100. 
Onions— id libi.. 
Cranberri es id bbl. 
Broom-corn— id lb. 
Tomatoes, new. per box. 
Peas, green, per crate. 
Rhubarb, per 100 bunches- 
Asparagus, per bunch. 
Gold has been in more active, speculative demand and 
has advanced.There has been more inquiry for the 
leading kinds of Breadstuff's, the offerings of which have 
been less extensive, and prices have been quoted firmer. 
Beef Cattle. —The supply of stock has been a little 
larger for the past mouth and of better quality. The 
prices paid range about as those given for last month, 
and the market is firm. We notice some few early 
“ grass ” beeves in market. They look plump, hut butch¬ 
ers are rather shy of sucli stock. Early “ grass ” beef is 
apt to dress light, and some butchers found their stock to 
have cost as high as 19c. per pound. Prices run very 
even ; 17>4 being the top of the market for best grades. 
Some few extras brought lSc.,but the majority of good 
cattle brought only 17c. per pound. The quality lias so 
much improved in the past week or two that few sales 
are made below 13c., and these for bulls and cows. There 
has been some call for working cattle, but none were on 
sale. Below we give the range of prices, average price, 
and figures at which the largest lots were sold. 
Apr.18.rangedl2K@17bIc.Av. 15%c. Large sales 14%@16 
do. 26th, do. 13%@17%c. do. 15%c. do.' do. 15 @16% 
May 3d, do. 13 ©ISc. do. 16 c. do. do. 15%@17 
do. 10th, do. 13 @17%c. do. 16 c. do. do. 15%@16% 
milch Cows. — The arrivals have been rather 
small, and prices a little better. Milkmen are ready to 
pay $90@|100 for a good fresh cow, and even those of 
only medium quality bring good prices. Some fancy 
stock was sold as high as $110@$120 during the past 
month, hut these were very extra cows. Prices may he 
quoted as $90l©$100 for good, $S0©$90 for medium, and 
less for poor cows. Calves have been plenty and 
cheap this month, and prices have gone down proportion¬ 
ally, and the market rather dull. Good, fat calves may he 
had at from 9c.(S)10c., if very extra 10!4 will be paid. 
Medium quality bring Sc.@S?fc., and buttermilk fed 
0c.@7c., per pound. Sheep. —There has been but 
little change since our last report. The quality of the 
stock offered is a little improved, and prices about the 
same. More sheep are coming in, minus their woo], and 
sell readily. Prices range from 5j4c.@Sc., with some 
very extra selling for SJ4c. per pound. Spring Lambs are 
beginning to come in quite plenty, and go quickly at 
about 15c.@18c. per pound. Swine.— The trade 
keeps steady, and we note but little change. Almost all 
the hogs go direct to the slaughter-pens. We quote 
dressed hogs at from ll!4c.@12c. per pound. 
Draining- JPonds.— A farmer in Ohio lias 
a farm with several ponds on it. lie wishes to drain 
them, and the low land adjoining, with tiles, and wants to 
know what size of tiles will be needed, and whether he 
should put hoards under the tiles; also whether it would 
not he well to dig a hole in the center of the ponds three 
or four feet deep, stone them up and have the drains 
run through them.—If the ground is firm, no boards are 
needed under pipe tiles. If the drains run through the 
ponds, three or four feet below the surface, and are cov¬ 
ered with nothing but soil rammed in tight, they will 
work well and take off all the water they can carry. He 
need have no fears hut that the water will find its way 
into the drain. Stones on the top of a tile-drain do more 
harm than good. We cannot tell the size of the tiles re¬ 
quired. A common mistake is, to use too small tiles for 
the main drains and too large for the sub-drains. If cut 
in the spring, when the ponds are full of water, there 
will of course be more water for the drains to discharge, 
at first, than they will ever he required to carry again. 
We think the better plan would he, to first cut open 
ditches and let them remain open for a few weeks ; and 
then, by putting single tiles of different sizes in the ditch, 
and ramming some clay on the sides to force all the water 
through the tiles, one can easily ascertain what sized tiles 
are required. The quantity of water a tile will carry off 
is surprising. A two- inch tile will carry off about 4 
times as much as an inch-tile, and a three-inch about 9 
times as much, and a five-inch about 25 times as much. 
