4= 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[January, 
keep the plants as dormant rts possible. If snow 
falls upon them while the plants are frozen, it need 
not be removed, but if mild, remove when the 
storm has passed. 
Seeds.— See that all seeds not yet cleaned are at¬ 
tended to at once, so that arrangements may be 
made for ordering what are needed. It is always 
best to order early to insure prompt attention, and 
to get such varieties as arc wanted; later in the 
season the stock of some of the best sorts is often 
exhausted. In order to test the vitality of seeds, 
sow in a shallow box of soil and place in a warm 
room. They will germinate in a few days, and if a 
large proportion are not good it will not do to 
rely upon the seed for a crop. 
Flower-Garden and Lawn. 
Winter is the season to prepare plans for future 
improvement of the lawn and garden. Where one 
is possessed of abundant means, it is best to ob¬ 
tain the services of a good landscape gardener. 
Most people, however, will prefer to make their 
own plans, unless they are to entirely remodel : 
their grounds. Where there is plenty of space, the 
lawn should be so arranged that it can be extended 
if desirable. It is best to commence with a few 
improvements at first, and from year to year such 
additions may he made as suggest themselves. 
Where one stereotyped arrangement of beds and 
herbaceous plants is employed each season, it fails 
after a while not only to interest the proprietor, 
hut also the passers-by. Something new each 
season is to he sought; abed of sub-tropical plants 
in one spot this season, and in another the next. 
Rustic Work is an important embellishment iu 
the surroundings of a house. There are many 
climbing plants well adapted to rustic trellises and 
arbors, and rustic flower-boxes placed here and 
there upon the lawn for ornamental plants add 
much to the beauty of a place. A little taste iu the 
selection of materials and skill in making up these 
rustic ornaments are all that is needed ; Laurel and 
Cedar are the woods most used for this purpose. 
Stakes and Labels .—Prepare a good supply of these 
for use in the spring. Give all a coating of paint, 
for convenience in reading the names when written. 
If the ends which are to be placed in the ground 
are soaked in petroleum they will last much longer. 
Plants in cellars and frames should be aired when 
the weather will allow. Do not water unless they 
are very dry. 
Greenliuusc and Window Plants. 
The greenhouse will show at its best during this 
season if properly attended to. In order to grow 
and flower most plants successfully, the tempera¬ 
ture during the day should be at least as high as 
GO 0 or 05°. At night, most plants will not be injured 
if the heat is from 10° to 15° less. 
Ventilation. — Give free ventilation when the 
weather will allow. Always admit air from the 
side opposite that from which the wind blows, so 
as to avoid a sudden chill. One of the great hin¬ 
drances to a healthy growth of plants in the house 
is the absence of plenty of fresh air, and the pre¬ 
sence of dust. If the breathing pores of the plant 
eau not be kept open, plants soon languish. The 
dust can be removed from the foliage of many 
plants by sponging the leaves once or twice a week, 
and from others by sprinkling the whole plant often. 
Insects must be looked after, or they will soon 
become so abundant as to ruin the plants. The 
Red Spider may be destroyed by keeping the house 
moist. The Green-fly or Aphis is best kept under 
by smoking the houses thoroughly with tobacco 
smoke. House plants may be put under a barrel 
or in a box, and a few pieces of leaf-tobacco placed 
upon live coals put inside. 
Water .—Give water only when the surface of the 
pots becomes dry, and then give plenty of it. If 
only a little sprinkling is given, the soil towards 
the bottom of the pot remains dry, and the plant 
soon perishes. 
Bulbs .—Bring out the pots of bulbs which have 
been put into the cellar, to start a growth of 
roots. If only a portion are brought out at a 
time, and the others left until later in the winter, a 
supply of Hyaciuths and other flowers may then 
be had until spring. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist , 
show tire transactions for the month ending December 
12, 1S72, and for the corresponding month last year. 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT TUB NEW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Jlarleu. Oats. 
25 (1*9 this m'th.374,000 2,891,000 2,216.000 64,000 961,000 912,000 
24 d’s last m'th.343,000 2,817,000 3,569,000 26,000 1,111,000 895,000 
Sales FI our. Wheat. Corn. Iti/r. Harley. Oats. 
25 d’s (Aism’tli.281,000 2,279,000 2,953,000 36,000 342,000 1,251,000 
24 d’s last rn'th.313,000 2,438,500 3,597,000 41,000 416,000 1,490,000 
a. Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hue. Barley. Oats. 
25 days 1872... 374,000 2,891,000 2.216,000 04,000 901,000 972,000 
24 days 1871.. .321,000 2,973,000 2,344,000 298,000 933,000 1,783,000 
Sat.es Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Harley. Oats. 
25 d’s 1S72 284 000 2,270,000 2,053,000 36,000 312,01101,251,000 
24 d’s 1371... .257,000 2,201,000 2,673,000 156,060 1,045.000 1.800,000 
3. Exports from Neio York, Jan. 1 to Dec. 12. 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hye. Harley. Oats. 
1872.1,104.472 12.477.6S3 25,001,476 60S,547 22,656 31,288 
1871.1,601,110 21,729,721 12,056,059 507,782 98,745 44,145 
1870.1,835,876 17,773,810 417,328 92,431 - 27,786 
1869.1,512,020 17,903,887 1,619,970 142,542 - 48,538 
1868. 842,393 4,S09,527 ,5,015,795 153,093 61,598 149,479 
4, Stock of grain in store at New York. 
Wheat, Corn, 
187a. bush. bush. 
December 9.1,305,975 5,075,730 
November 6. 429.760 4,788,420 
October 7. 23,141 3,842,181 
September 9. 95,674 2,661,932 
August 12.... 83,321 429,104 
Hye, Harley, Oats, Malt, 
bush. bush. bush. bush. 
51,665 624,551 1,608,865 215,326 
81,374 376,750 2,191,362 250,930 
39,925 40,025 2,505,006 12,535 
80,839 51,135 2.638,976 311,611 
130,161 53,7S9 2,077,893 215,408 
Dec. 12. 
1134 
5i5 05 © 7 90 
6 10 
0 75 
90 
@12 75 
@13 00 
@10 00 
5. Receipts at head of tide-water at Albany each sea¬ 
son to Nov. 30 th : 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Hye. Barley. Oats. 
bbls. bush. bush. bush. bush. busli. 
1872.131,100 11,320,800 29,770,100 400,800 4,159,200 5,639,800 
1811.200,700 21,313,400 20,042,300 1,107,900 3,830,400 6,639,400 
1870.430,400 17,124,700 4,805,100 587,500 3,984,700 6,167,500 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
Nov. 12. 
Price op Gold. 113 'A 
Flour—S uper to Extra State $5 05 @7 75 
Super to Extra Southern_ 5 50.. @13 00 
Extra Western... 6 75 @13 00 
Extra Genesee. 7 80 @10 00 
Superllne Western. 
Rye Flour. 
Corn-Meal.. 
Buckwheat Flour— 1 $ 100 li. 
Wheat— All kinds of White. 
All kinds of Red and Amber. 
Corn— Yellow. 
Mixed . 
Oats—’W estern. 
State . 
Rye .. 
Barley. 
Hay—B ale, It 100 Its. 
Straw, 100 its. 
Cotton—M iddlings, It it — 
Hops—C rop of 1872. |t lb. 
Feathers —Live Geese, 70 It. 
Seep—C lover. 70 It . 
Flax, If bushel. 
Sugar—R efi’g& Grocery 70 It 
Molasses, Cuba. 73gal. 
New Orleans, It gal. 
Coffee—R io (Gold). 
Tobacco, Kentucky, &c., 70 It. 
Seed Leaf, 70 it. 
Wool—D omestic Fleece,70 It. 
Domestic, pulled, ill It. 
California, clip. 
Tallow, 70 It . 
Oil-Cake— 70 ton .... . - ,. 
Pork—M ess, 70 barrel- la 8i @16 12 
Prime, 70 barrel. 13 30 @12 dj 
Beef—P lain mess. 3 i5 @ 7 ia 
Lard, in tres. & barrels, 70 It 
Butter —State, l< it. 
Western, 70 It. 
Cheese. . . 
Beans— 70 bushel. 
Peas—C anada, free. |t bu— 
Eggs—F resh, 70 dozen . 
POULTBY— Fowls. 
Turkeys—V It. 
Geese, 7f> pair.. 
Ducks, If pair. 
Woodcock—11 pail- 
5 
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@ 34 
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@ 22 
75 @ 3 00 
624© 1 00 
70 "@ 85 
Partridges... 6;>f@ I S 
@ 2 50 
@ 3 00 
® 21 
@ 80 
@ 50 
@ 1 75 
Wild DucK-|f pair. 3a 
Quail— 73 doz..— 2 00 
Venison— l> it. 13 
Harks— 70 jpair. a0 
Rabdits—| f pair. 3a 
Turnips— l> barrel . 1 00 
Cabbaoes—70 100. 6 00 @10 00 
Onions— 70 100 bunches. 2 a0 © 3 50 
Onions—I f bbl. 2 50 @ 4 50 
Bboom-oorn— 70 it. 2 © a 
Apples— new, 73 barrel. 12a @ 3 ,>u 
Potatoes — 70 hbl. 1 »a @ 3 00 
Garlio— 70 100 bunches.. 
Sweet Potatoes—| t bbl 
Squashes — U bbl. 
Carrots—|) bbl. 
Celery— 70 doz. 
Cauliflower- 70 doz. 100 
Pears — 70 bbl. 4 00 @25 00 
GRAPKS-Ult.... 2 50 f 3 50 
- @ - 
15 00 
2 00 
2 00 
1 37 
@18 00 
@ 3 00 
@ 1 00 
@ 2 50 
@ 1 75 
© 3 00 
@13 75 
@12 50 
@12 00 
8H 
40 
25 
i4k 
1 10 @ 1 12 
32 @ S7 
6 @ 16 
8 @ 17 
1 50 @ 2 50 
50 ® 87 
- ® - 
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@ 2 50 
@ 1 50 
@ 21 
@ 70 
@ 40 
@ 1 50 
6 00 @10 00 
3 50 © 4 00 
3 00 @ 4 00 
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02 
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1 25 
3 50 
1 50 
1 50 
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4 CO @10 00 
7 @ 10 
2 50 @3 50 
5 00 © 7 00 
Cranberries—| t crate. 
Quinces— 73 bbl. 
Gold has been down to 112?4— closing December 13th at 
112%.The closing of canal, river, and lake naviga¬ 
tion for the season has been against active produce 
movements within the past month, especially so since 
the earlier days of December.Breadstuff arrivals 
have fallen off materially, and the main reliance of the 
trade here has been the supplies iu store or yet afloat 
here in boats—the railway receipts having been compara¬ 
tively quite moderate. The demand for the leading kinds 
of Breadstuff's has been fair for home use and for ship¬ 
ment ; though the export inquiry has been checked by 
the extreme scarcity of ocean freight room. Prices have 
been generally well maintained, Flour, Wheat, Corn, and 
Oats closing rather in favor of sellers. Prime lots of 
Winter Wheat are in very limited Stock at this point, 
and are wanted for milling purposes. Barley lias been 
exceptionally heavy, and at the close lower, the offer¬ 
ings having been in excess of the urgent wants of pur¬ 
chasers. In Barley Malt, the business has been more 
satisfactory, at comparatively firm prices. The heaviest 
dealings were at the very close.Cotton has been 
freely sought after, closing a trifle stronger, though the 
receipts at the ports have been very liberal, and holders 
generally quite prompt in responding to the demand. 
Provisions have been moderately active. Hog products 
have declined materially. Beef steadier. Really good 
to strictly prime Butter firmer. Cheese heavy.To¬ 
bacco, Hay, and Seeds have been in fair though not active 
request, at full rates.Wool opened decidedly higher, 
influenced largely by the destruction of stock by the 
Boston fire, which stimulated the demand ; but the mar¬ 
ket closes tamely at the improved figures, which yet 
represent the views of holders.Hops have advanced 
sharply on an active inquiry, closing strong. 
New York Live-Stock Msu'keis. 
week endino Beeves. Cores. 
November 18th. 8,832 87 
November 25th.10,769 82 
December 2(1.7,531 127 
December 9th. 9,073 137 
Total for 4 Weeks _36,205 433 
do.forprev. 5TFeets..42,292 351 
Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tot'l. 
1,370 28,884 57,835 97,008 
1,441 28,599 45,4S0 86,372 
1,621 32,342 64,143 105,761 
1,376 22,533 51,016 84,135 
5,809 112,358 218,471 373,276 
Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week .9,051 108 1,452 28,089 54,618 
do. do. last Month _8,458 70 1,869 27,575 46,561 
do. do. prev’s Month —9,956 80 2,652 28,947 43,S29 
Beef Cattle. —The supply has beei* quite large 
during the past month, and a heavy feeling pervades the 
markets. Stock usually runs poor at this season of the 
year, when farmers send off such trash as they do not 
care to put upon winter feed, but it would seem as though 
they were now of poorer quality thau usual, or owners 
have been more particular to reserve only good cattle. 
Texas turned out a great many droves. Those which had 
been wintered in the cultivated States showed fair quality, 
but the “ through drive ” was poor. The total number 
of Texans entering Kansas over the noted Chisholm 
trail was 350,275 during tire year, against 455,901 in 1871. 
If this rate of diminution continues, our Western States 
must go more largely into cattle-raising. Fat cattle have 
been in good request during the past month, hut poor 
trash ivns at a discount, and lots hang over from one 
market-day to another. Trade has not been satisfactory 
to dealers. One cause of the dullness was the abundance 
of poultry sold at low prices, and largely eaten after 
people got over their scare relative to diseased stock. 
Pork and mutton are also low. Wc are beginning to 
receive some of the advance guard of Christmas steers, 
a few of which wore sold at 15c. @ 16c. ^ lb., weighing 
10 @ 12 cwt. net. 
The prices of the past 4 weeks were: 
Range. Barge Sales Aver. 
Nov. IS.S @15kc. 10 ©14 c. like. 
Nov.25.7 @15 c. 9 @13 c. like. 
Dec. 2.7 @15 C. 8 ®124c. 11 c. 
Dec. 9.6 @16 c. 8 @l24c. 11 c. 
IUilcli Cows.— The fresh-cow trade has been vari¬ 
able, owing very much to the fluctuation in milk, which 
varied from $2.25 @ $5 per can. At one time, milkmen 
could not be induced to buy cows, while at another, per¬ 
haps only a few days after, they could not get enough. 
Prices have advanced about $5 average during the month. 
The rates are $40 la) $52 each for very ordinary to thin- 
nish cows of small size; $65 la) $80 for fair to good milk¬ 
ers, and $85 @$90 for prime to extra large cows. 
Calves.— There has been an increase in the receipts of 
live calves, while dressed were sent iu very plentifully, 
cool weather favoring shipping from quite a distance. 
Prices have declined, and Jive go slowly, most butchers 
preferring them ready dressed. Quotations for live, $4 @ 
$10 each for grass-calves; 6c. (a) 9c. $ !b. for ordinary to 
prime milk-veals ; 4c. @ 7c. for bog-dressed grass-calves, 
and 9o. @ 13c. for poor to fat milk-veals_ Sbeep 
and Lambs.— With a slight increase in receipts, the 
market has been unfavorable for owners of stock, save 
where very choice sheep were sent in. The greatest run 
was of poor quality, such as feeders usually manage to 
get rid of before feeding time. Some of these were sold 
as low as 4c. $ lb. Trade closes very dull for all save 
prime sheep. Lambs are generally sold with the sheep, 
and at same prices. Some holiday stock of 150 @ 175 
lbs. is on the way here. Sheep pelts average about $2 
each. The quotations are: for sheep, 4c. la) Sc. for poor 
