218 
THE CULTIVATOR. June 
domesticated in several instances in Europe, and we 
hope its introduction to our own country, may be 
the means of adding it permantly to our list of do¬ 
mestic birds. 
Clod Crusher.—Robert Chisolm, Esq., of 
Beaufort, S. C., writes —“ Since I wrote you last I 
had one of the clod crushers I alluded to, made and 
tried on very stiff clay-swamp land, where in con¬ 
sequence of the roots and its roughness, I could not 
use any harrow; and was quite pleased with its 
working. It will require four oxen or horses to 
draw it, but I think it cheaply worked even at that, 
and a light harrow after it would put the land in 
excellent order for sowing any of the small grains.” 
A. W. P.—We notice your advice in regard to 
the publication of “foolish articles,” but to us it 
appears as “ foolish” to ask how to prevent hens 
from scratching , as to tell how to prevent them 
from sitting. 
Vegetable Cutter. —We have seen a machine 
for cutting vegetables, invented by Willis Avery, 
of Salisbury Centre, N. Y. It is in some respects 
different from any which has before come to our no¬ 
tice. It is made of different sizes, according to 
the usses required. A small size is adapted to 
cutting potatoes into slices suitable for frying, &c. 
It it sold at $5. It can be regulated to cut the 
pieces of any thickness, and does its work perfectly. 
A larger size is adapted to cutting all kinds of vege¬ 
tables for stock, and is sold at $8. This size, it is 
said, will cut a bushel in two minutes. 
Answers to (Eorrapontaita. 
Cultivation of the Cranberry. —L. H. H,. 
St. Lawrence county, N. Y. The best directions 
we have seen on this subject, were given in our vo¬ 
lume for 1847, p. 34. 
Bone-dust and Lime. —S. P. R., Stephentown, 
We presume the application of bones, and perhaps 
lime, also, would benefit your land; but the actual 
profits arising from the use of either, in any particu¬ 
lar case, can only be determined by an experiment in 
which they should be compared with other manures. 
Stone and Wooden Drains. —B. McS., Virgi¬ 
nia. Covered drains of boards and scantling will 
answer a very good purpose, and in a clayey soil, 
will last many years. Drains of stone are often 
made, and will draw if well constructed, and well 
covered with turf, so that the earth cannot wash in. 
Stones broken to the size of a hen’s egg are consi¬ 
dered best; but those of two or three pounds weight 
are sometimes used. Tiles, are, however, consi¬ 
dered more effectual than any other article for drains. 
See May No. of the current vol. Cultivator , pp. 
163, 164, and vol. for 1849, pp. 174 to 176. 
To Prevent the Scratching of Hens. —A. W. 
P., Rye, N. Y. If grain is soaked in a solution of 
copperas, or in urine, or is coated with tar, as is 
mentioned in regard to corn, in our April and May 
Nos., fowls will not eat it, and will soon get tired 
of scratching for it. Fowls may be prevented from 
scratching in various ways. They may be fet¬ 
tered by a string or strip of leather fastened to their 
legs so as to allow them to waddle about, but not 
permitting sufficient stretch of the legs to scratch 
much; or a piece of cloth, or thin pliable leather, 
may be tied over each foot and around the leg. We 
have seen the nail of the longest toe broken off with 
a hammer, which entirely prevents the fowl from 
scratching while it remains sore, and is, to some ex¬ 
tent, a prevention afterwards; but it is too barbar¬ 
ous to be recommended. 
Prices of Agricultural Iprobucto. 
Albany, May 20, 1850. 
[Review of the Market for the last month.] 
FLOUR —During the past month there has been a good demand 
for flour, with considerable fluctuation in quotations. The market, 
at the close of last month became gradually firmer, and prices conti¬ 
nued to advance steadily until the 8th or 10th instant, (mainly indu¬ 
ced by the difficulties in the navigation of the canal,) when the price 
fell off’ and the large receipts caused a dull market. These receipts 
having been worked off, the market within a day or two has again 
advanced and quotations mark a higher figure than we have seen for 
several months, and the tendency of prices is to a still further im¬ 
provement. The receipts by canal are now light, and the prospect 
of supplies from the Western States, as shown by the receipts at 
Buffalo, is in a measure cut off, the favorable time of the Southern 
Markets of Cincinnati, St. Louis, &c., drawing everything in that 
direction. The sales during the month have been 25,000 to 30,000 
bbls., chiefly of the better grades of State and Western; the market 
at the close may be quoted at $5a$5.25 for ordinary to good State, 
$5.25a$5.37£ for favorite do.. $5.37£a$5.62£ for mixed to straight 
Michigan and Ohio. $5.62£ for Pennsylvania, $5.62|a$5.8H for pure 
Genesee, $5.87|a$6 for fancy Genesee and Ohio, and $6.12£o$6.374 
for extras. 
GRAIN.—There has been a good milling demand for prime wheat, 
but the receipts have checked operations ; the sales have only been 
of prime Genesee, which rateably commands higher figures than 
flour; the sales add 9,000 bushels at I31al34c., closing firm at the 
higher figure, with an upward tendency. The only sale of Canal 
Rye reported was a lot of 2,000 bushels at 56|c. 561b3. In Barley, 
there has been a fair business done, though the greater portion of the 
receipts by canal had been sold to arrive; the sales reported were 
about 10,000 bushels, four-rowed chiefly, at 68a69c., closing at 65a 
66c., and 18,000 do., two-rowed chiefly, at 68a70c., and closing at 64 
a65c.; some lots which were held above the views of buyers, and 
shipped to N. Y., have been purchased there on Albany account, at 
lew figures; the season is now over. Oats have been in active de¬ 
mand, exceeding the supply, which is very good, and prices have 
steadily advanced ; the sales reported have been 54,000 to 55,000 
bushels canal, at prices ranging from 42|a44|c., closing fairly at the 
higher figure. Corn has been in brisk demand, and the market since 
the opening of the canal, has had a gradually improving tendency ; 
an active demand both for the home trade and for shipment, is anti¬ 
cipated which the gradual advance of the article abroad supports; the 
sales reported, of all descriptions during the month, have been about 
135,000 bushels, ranging from 58a60J,c. for Northern Yellow, 58a60c. 
for flat Yellow and high mixed, and 57a60c, for western mixed, clo¬ 
sing firm at our outside figures. In malt, we noticed sales 50C0 bush, 
at 80a81|c. 
WHISKEY.—The light receipts have restricted sales; the transac¬ 
tions for the month are 740 to 750 brls., closing at 23|c., 23£ for 8. 
P., and including a small parcel Ohio brls. at 23c. 
PROVISIONS.—The sales have been confined almost exclusively 
to cut meats; we notice one or two small parcels of Mess Pork, ci¬ 
ty packed, at $12a$12.50, and of Mess Beef, at $10. In cut meats, 
sales 50,000 to 60,000 lbs. at 9c. for smoked hams, city cured, and 7 
a7§ for western do.; 6c. for city cured shoulders, and 3c. for sour 
hams; we also notice a sale of 700 packages Chicago cut meals at 
6c. for hams and 4c. for shoulders. 
SALT.—The first cargo of salt was taken at 10c. for bags, and 
106|c for barrels, to the extent of 7500 packages. 
HOGS.—We notice sales of several hundred head live hogs, at 3 
5-16a3^c. 
SEED.—The business is closed; we have no sales of moment to 
report. 
WOOL.—Until the new clip is received, business witl be dull; the 
transactions during the month have been unimportant. 
Prospects for the Clip of Wool of 1850. 
We are indebted to a gentleman who has been for years familiar 
with the wool-trade, for the following article, for which we return 
our thanks. We are happy to inform our readers that we expect 
similar reports for each month.— Eds. 
The depresssion in the wool manufacturing and wool-growing in¬ 
terests of the United States in 1848, caused something of gloom in 
regard to the market value of wool in the spring of 1849; and it was 
confidently anticipated in all quarters that prices would rule but lit¬ 
tle higher than in 1848, for the then approaching clip. After the 
shearing season was over, however, a nev/'impulse was felt, and the 
prices of all grades, particularly for medium and low qualities, gra¬ 
dually advanced until February, 1850,when they had reached a point 
from 4 to 6 cents a pound higher than in February, 1849. The dif¬ 
ference between prices in the latter year, as compared with 1848, 
was greater from August to January, than at the period above men¬ 
tioned. This advance was caused partly by an active spirit of spe¬ 
culation, and partly by the brightening prospects of the manufactur¬ 
ing interests. 
The stock of domestic wool now remaining on hand is very small, 
and consists chiefly of the fine Saxon grades, for which there is less 
demand than for the lower qualities; and prices nave receded since 
February The stock of woolen goods in the market, both foreign 
and domestic, is large, the spring sales having fallen short of the ex¬ 
pectations of both manufacturers and Merchants. The rates at which 
recent sales have been made are about the same as in November last, 
excepting for some styles of the finer fabrics, which have declined ; 
and it is believed that the manufacturers of this description of goods 
