164= 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[May, 
Parsnips .—'The earlier these are sown the better 
&he crop is likely to be. Use only last year s seed. 
Hoe and weed as soon as the plants appear. 
Rhubarb .—Do not gather from plants set last year. 
Cut off all flower-stalks as soon as they appear. 
Squashes for late use should be planted by the 
middle of the month in rich soil. Treat the early 
sorts the same as cucumbers. 
Tomatoes .—Transplant as soon as warm enough 
to the open ground, setting the plants 4 feet apait. 
Turnips .—Dust air-slaked lime or ashes on the 
young plants as soon as up to destroy the black fly 
which. attacks them. 
Flower Warden and Lawn. 
Planting will form the main work in this depart¬ 
ment for the first part of this month. Evergreens 
succeed best when planted some time during this 
month. Great care must be used not to allow the 
mots to dry by exposure to the winds, as when 
'this happens the tree seldom survives. Set out 
amamental trees at once before they commence 
their growth. If any trees need moving attend to 
it at once. 
Lawns .—Clear up all dead leaves, sticks, etc., 
if not done before. The lawn should be cut 
often in order to keep the surface neat and smooth. 
If the grass is not too thick allow it to remain on 
the ground ; it will serve as a fertilizer, and also 
prevent the sun from drying out the roots. 
Shrubs.— A selection of early flowering shrubs will 
give a place an attractive appearance in spring be¬ 
fore the leaves have started on the ornamental 
trees. Shrubs flower better if properly pruned. 
Edgings around walks and beds should be kept 
neatly cut, and no grass or weeds allowed to grow 
on the paths. 
Paths.— If any new paths or drives are needed 
make at once, and use plenty of broken stone as a 
foundation, and finish with gravel. 
Annuals.— Sow as soon as the ground becomes 
warm—at least by the middle of the month. Keep 
the beds clear of weeds. 
Perennials should be sown in a separate bed from 
the annuals. Sow seed of those now coming into 
lower as soon as ripe. 
Bidbs .—Set out Gladiolus, Tiger-flower, and Lily 
Jiulbs in rich soil. Tuberoses do best if planted in 
pots and started in the house before setting out. 
Climbers.— Sow seeds of Sweet-pea, Cypress-vine, 
Morning Glory, etc., where a screen is needed and 
for covering trellises. 
Dahlias started in the house may be planted out 
aow, and as soon as they commence their growth 
they must be tied to stakes. 
Greenhouse and Window Plants. 
Do not put all the greenhouse plants out of 
ioors, as is sometimes done, but keep the house 
looking well the year round. This can easily be 
lone if a little paius is taken with shading. 
Shelter .—Some shelter is needed for Camellias 
and other greenhouse evergreens when they are 
placed out of doors during the summer. The best 
thing is a sheltered spot surrounded by trees, but 
sot under their drip, and the ground where the 
pote are to be placed covered with coal ashes to 
teep out worms. Florists use a lattice-work shed 
hu3Tf,fbr the purpose. 
ETumfing is sometimes resorted to with plants 
which it is not expedient to turn out of the pot, 
and also when it is desirous to use greenhouse 
plants for decorating the lawn. Such plants as 
Palms, Yuccas, Ficus, and other subtropical things, 
may be used for this purpose with fine effect. 
Redding Plants .—Do not set out until settled 
warm weather, and then in good soil, and give 
water until the plants are well established. 
Summer Propagation may be carried on in a cool 
greenhouse kept shaded during the middle of 
the day. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
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 April 13th, 1874, 
and for the corresponding month last year: 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT TUB SEW YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rr/e. Hurler/. Outs. 
24 d’s this m’th296,000 1,317,»00 2,673,0.i0 6,900 131,' 00 794,000 
24 d’s last m’tli31T,000 1,912,000 411,000 141,000 150,000 ISO,000 
Sai.es. Flour. Wheat. Corn. line. Hurler/. Orris. 
24 d’s this m’tli258,000 2,101.000 2,316,000 39,000 239,000 1,097.000 
24 d’s last lii’tli 229,000 2,419,000 1,017,000 116,000 329,000 1,104,000 
53. Comparison with same period rtl this time last .near. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rr/e. Barley. Orris. 
24days 1S74...296,000 1,317,000 2,673,000 0,'900 131,000 794,000 
25 days 1873...191,000 207,000 381,000 2,750 59,000 613,010 
Sai.es. Flortr. Wheat. Corn. line. Barley. Oats. 
24 days 1874.. .258,000 2,104,000 2,316,000 39,000 239,000 1,097,000 
25 days 1873.. .225,000 087,000 1,395,000 4,500 187,000 1,115,000 
3. Stock of grain in store at New York. 
Wheat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. Malt. 
hush. bush. biisli. hush. bush. bush. 
April 6,1871.. 1,036,091 128,692 20,379 118,820 468,073 45,475 
Mar. 9, 1874. .1,320,813 754,511 26,378 61,416 751,375 22,276 
Feb. 9, 1874.. 1,070,649 511,800 14,608 40,906 735,992 23,769 
Jan.12,1874..1,235,418 1,146,202 1,131 186,208 514.117 3", 482 
Dec. 10,1873.. 1,553,313 2,093,544 — 244,885 579,742 00,815 
4. Exports from New York, Jan. 1 to April 9: 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye. Barley. Oats. reas. 
bbls. bush. bush. bush. bush. hush. bush. 
1874....612,380 7,330,021 3.018.839 254.340 — 
- 39.5S1 69.162 
1873....296,843 1,0 0,712 3,182,533 
1,004 11,830 6,102 18,380 
1872....217,804 1,873,515 3,579,949 179,320 - 
- 8,1 
30 67,317 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
March 13. 
April 11. 
Price op Gold. 
113 
113% 
Flour—S uper to Extra State $5 65 
7 65 
45 85 
@ 7 75 
Super to Extra Southern_ 
6 50 
@10 to 
6 30 
@10 75 
Extra Western. 
C 35 
@10 75 
6 35 
@10 50 
Kxtra (Jenesee. 
7 75 
@ 9 50 
7 85 
@ 9 50 
Superfine W estern. 
5 65 
(ib 6 25 
5 85 
@ 6 45 
Rye Flour . 
4 75 
@ 5 75 
4 75 
@ 5 85 
Corn-M eai . 
3 50 
@ 4 50 
3 75 
© 4 50 
Buckwheat Flour, V 100 its. 
3 00 
IS 3 50 
Nominal. 
Wheat—A ll kinds of White. 
1 G5 
@ 1 95 
1 65 
@ 1 90 
All kinds of lied and Amber. 
1 35 
@ 1 75 
1 41) 
@ 1 75 
Corn—Y ellow . 
88 
© 91 
88 
@ 94 
Mixed . . 
86 
@ 92 
84 
@ 94 . 
White. .*. 
88 
® 91 
86 
@ 92 
Oats - Western .. 
62 
@ 66% 
62 
@ 66% 
State . 
62 
@ 66 
62 
@ 66 
Rye . 
1 00 
@ 1 05 
1 05 
@ 1 12 
Barley . 
1 70 
@ 2 10 
1 no 
@ 1 95 
Hay— Bale, If* 100 lbs . 
1 00 
@ 1 85 
1 00 
@ 1 40 
Straw, ?* too tbs . 
60 
@ 95 
60 
@ 95 
Cotton—M iddlings, if* lb 
J6%@ 16% 
17 
@ 17% 
Hops—C rop ol JS73, ^ lb. . 
20 
@ 45 
15 
@ 35 
Feathers—L ive Geese, if* ib 
65 
@ 75 
65 
@ 75 
Seed—C lover, if* lb . . 
9%@ 9% 
9k® 10% 
Timothv. ?* bushel . 
3 15 
@ 3 30 
— 
@ 3 00 
Flax. 19 bushel . 
2 DO 
@ 2 70 
2 70 
® 2 80 
Sugar—R efi’g& Grocery?* Ib 
6 k@ 8% 
6k@ 8% 
Molasses. Gulm. 3Rgal. 
20 
@ 40 
3*2 
@ 43 
New Orleans, V gal .. 
60 
@ 75 
60 
@ 75 
Coffee— Iiio(Uold) . 
23 %@ 26% 
19 
@ 22% 
Tobacco. Kentucky, &e..?*Ib. 
5%@ 14 
5 
@ 13 
Seed Leaf, if* Tb . ... 
5 
@ 6o 
5 
@ 65 
Wool— Domestic Fleece, I* Ib 
82 
@ 65 
30 
@ 60 
Domestic, pulled, ?* Ib . 
30 
@ 55 
25 
@ 50 
California, clip .. 
18 
® 37 
16 
@ 35 
Tallow, ?* ib .. 
7k® . 7% 
7%@ 7% 
Oil-Cake— f> ton . 
43 00 
@44 00 
44 Of) 
@45 00 
Pork—M ess, 3* barrel _.... 
— 
@16 60 
17 00 
©17 12% 
Prime, if* barrel . . 
13 50 
@13 75 
14 00 
@14 50 
Beef—P lain mess . 
10 00 
@11 50 
9 50 
@41 00 
Lard, in tres. & barrels,?* Ib. 
8%@ 914 
9%@ 10% 
Butter—S tate, 1* lb . 
32 
@ 55 
27 
@ 35 
Western, $ Ib . 
30 
@ 42 
20 
@ 33 
Ciiekse.. . . 
5 
@ 17k 
5 
® 17 
Beans— tR bushel .. 
1 50 
@ 4 00 
i r.o 
@ 4 25 
Peas—C anada, free, ?* bu ... 
1 20 
© 1 25 
1 25 
@ 1 27 
Eggs—F resh, if* dozen . 
18 
@ 22 
18K@ 16 
“ Limed ?* dozen . 
11 
@ 14 
Nominal. 
Poultry—F owls __ 
10 
@ 17 
10 
@ 19 
Turkeys— if* Ib . 
8 
® 16 
10 
@ 18 
Geese, ?* pair . . 
1 37 
@ 2 50 
1 75 
@ 3 00 
Ducks, ?* pair . 
70 
© 90 
75 
© 1 25 
“ ^ Ib . . 
12 
@ 17 
12 
® 24 
Ducks, wild. T* pair .— 
— 
® - 
30 
@ 1 75 
Plover. ?* dozen . 
— 
@ - 
1 00 
@ 1 25 
Snipe, ?* dozen. . 
— 
@ — 
1 50 
@ 1 75 
Capons, ¥* ib . 
— 
@ -- 
35 
© — 
Pigeons, ?* dozen . 
— 
@ - 
2 no 
@ S 60 
Turnips ^ bbl . 
60 
@ 75 
50 
@ 75 
Cabsvges—¥* 100 . 
2 00 
@10 00 
4 00 
@ 8 01) 
Onions—?* bid . 
4 50 
@ 5 50 
3 60 
@ 6 50 
Potatoes—?* bbl . 
2 25 
@ 3 25 
2 25 
@ 3 12% 
Sweet Potatoes—?* bbl . 
4 50 
@ 6 75 
7 00 
© 7 50 
Carrots-?* bbl . 
1 50 
@ 2 00 
2 00 
© 2 50 
Broom-corn.. . . 
6 
@ 11 
6 
@ 11 
Strawberries—?* quart . 
— 
@ - 
30 
@ 90 
Apples—?* barrel . 
1 50 
@ 5 on 
1 50 
@ 6 00 
Cranberries—?* bbl . 
11 50 
@14 50 
11 00 
@15 00 
Beets. ?* bbl . 
2 00 
@ 2 25 
2 00 
@ 2 25 
Celery, $ doz .. 
1 00 
@ 1 50 
2 00 
@ 2 50 
Green Peas, ?* bushel . 
1 60 
@ 1 75 
1 50 
@ 1 75 
Water-Cresses. ?* basket. .. 
— 
© — 
40 
@ 75 
Rhubarb—?* bunch . 
— 
® - 
12 
@ „ - 
Radishes—?* 100 hunches.... 
— 
@ - 
3 00 
@ 3 50 
Maple Sugar . 
— 
® - 
8 
@ 15 
Ginseng . 
— 
@ - 
1 25 
@ 1 35 
Gold has been up to 113% and down to 112—closing 
April 11th at 113% as against 112 on March 12th. 
The receipts and sales of Breadstuff's have been on an 
extensive scale for the season. The arrivals of Corn 
have been unusually heavy. The demand for Flour, 
Spring Wheat, and Corn has been active, largely for ex¬ 
port. Prices have been variable, closing generally with 
more firmness. The dealings in Oats have been quite 
liberal, and the market closed strong; prime samples of 
both Mixed and White, scarce, and wanted for trade 
purposes. Rye has been in better request, and much 
firmer toward the close. Barley has been plenty, and 
seriously depressed in price, with less inquiry for sup¬ 
plies. Spring Wheat and Mixed Corn has been sold to a 
considerable extent for forward delivery at the ruling 
figures. There lias not been mucli call for Wheat, millers 
having been the principal buyers, and purchasing only to 
meet urgent wants. The rise in ocean freights toward 
the close tended to check operations on export account 
. Provisions have been more active, the transactions 
in Pork, Lard, and Bacon having been largely on specu¬ 
lative account at firmer rates. Beef easier; Butter and 
Eggs much cheaper; Cheese about steady.There 
has been a fair movement in Cotton for prompt and for¬ 
ward delivery, closing, however, in favor of buyers. 
Tobacco, Seeds, Hay, and Straw have been moderately 
sought after within our revised range... .Wool has been 
in fair demand, and though somewhat irregular during 
the month closed rather stronger, with very scant sup¬ 
plies of really desirable grades available. From Califor¬ 
nia the reports are that shearing is now quite general, 
and that the San Francisco market will be quite liberally 
supplied in the course of a few weeks. A lot of 48 bales 
new Spring Clip has been sold in San Francisco at 25c., 
gold. The Wool was from Santa Cruz Island, light con¬ 
dition with few burs. According to recent advices, 
fully a fourth part of the sheep in Northern California 
has been lost, which loss, however, will probably be made 
up by the increase of the clip in Southern California, so 
that the quantity of Wool raised in 1874 will doubtless 
ahi ut equal the clip of 1S73.Hops have declined 
materially, on a very dull market.In most other 
articles trade has been without notable activity. 
,>ew York I.ive-Sioclc illarkels. 
RECEIPTS. 
week ending Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Strive. Tot'l. 
March 23.7,893 99 715 16,712 25,065 50,514 
Marchs').8,227 200 835 16,755 29,820 55,897 
April 6.9,374 100 1,260 14,078 33,576 58,388 
April 13.7,517 SO 1,990 19,205 37,631 66,423 
Total for 4 Weeks. .33,011 539 4,800 06,730 126,092 231,222 
do.forprev. 5 WeeksSJ/153 274 3,111 98,760 143,093 279,817 
Beeves. Cores. Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week . 8,253 134 1,200 16,695 31,523 
do. do. last Month... 6,9,5 55 622 19,753 24,619 
do. do. prev's Month.. 8,238 47 606 24,080 31,822 
Beef Cattle.— The regularly increasing supply of 
cattle lias to some extent prevented an advance in prices 
that the good demand might have warranted. At the 
close of last month an increase of over 1,000 head per 
week broke the market, which remained dull until the 
still further increased receipts at the beginning of April 
reduced prices fully %c. $ lb. Prices are yet too high 
for liberal consumption, and the market is sustained only 
by the unexpectedly good demand. Trade has been active 
during the month since our last report, and as we close 
we have to note a falling off in the demand and a shrink¬ 
age in prices, extra beeves selling at 12%c. @ 13c. to dress 
00 lbs. $ cwt. ; steers and oxen bringing 10c. @ 12%c. to 
dress 56 to 5S lbs.; and rough cattle, dressing 55 lbs., 
selling at 9%c. $ lb. 
The prices for the past four weeks were as follows; 
weekending Range. Large Sales. Aver. 
March 22. 9%@13 c. 11 @11%C. like. 
March29.9 @13%c. 10%@ll%c. ll%c. 
April 6... 8>..@13%c. 10%@ll%c. 11 c. 
April 13.8><@13 c. 10k@Hkc. 10%c. 
Milch Cows.— The demand has been steady, with 
a fair promise of advanced prices; but the heavy receipts 
of March 29 were too much for the trade to dispose of 
without a reduction, and prices were marked down $5.00 
per head. At the close the market was tame, with a 
little better feeling, the range being from $40 to $S0 for 
cow and calf. Calves.— The receipts of this stock 
have been steadily increasing, hilt the demand lias been 
steady also, and prices remain firm at 8c. @ 10c. ^ lb. for 
veals and 11c. @ 14c. tp lb. for liog-dressed. Sheep 
and Lambs, —After a week or two of dullness, the 
market lias fully recovered its tone, and sellers ask full 
prices, without, however, raising quotations. Buyers 
can get no reductions, and sales are about equal to sup¬ 
ply. Unshorn sheep sold at ttie close at 7)4c. @ 9%c. 
lb., and spring lambs of poor quality brought $0.50 @ 
$8.00 $ head. Swine. —The market for live hogs 
has been practically dead ; there have been no offerings 
for many days, and those offered early in April were not 
good. Thin Ohio hogs averaging 121 lbs. brought 5c. 
lb., and good hogs would bring 0c. Dressed hogs have 
been easy throughout, and the quotations as we close are 
7%c. @ 7%c. tp B>., with 7%c. as the ruling price. 
As to BSreetling’ Sows.— “D. L. G.,” 
Honey Creek, Mo. Although it is stated by some writers 
upon “ the pig” that if a sow is not brought to the boar 
when her pigs are two or three days old oho will not 
breed again until the pigs are weaned, that is not always 
the case. On the contrary, sows are sometimes brought 
to breed when their pigs are four weeks old, as in your 
case, hut more frequently they are not. If the sow is al¬ 
lowed plenty of exercise, and is well fed, she will less 
often fail to breed than when kept up in a pen. No 
directions can be given for spaying sows. The operation 
must lie learned by practice only. 
