86 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[March, 
exceptions one-quarter of the whole were only what may 
he rated as first quality; one-half, second quality; and 
the rest poorly fatted oxen and dry cows which sold low 
to packers and contractors. Much of this “scallawag” 
beef, it is said, goes to the city charitable institutions, 
and of course at a high price for such stuff. It would be 
strange if a market like New York in a term of five weeks 
did not present some prime animals. Those worthy of 
special notice were a lot of 10 grade Durhams from Mich¬ 
igan, very heavy and fat; they were too large for retail 
trade and found a slow market. They were, however, sold 
at the close of their second day in the market to one of 
our '■ fancy butchers ” at 20c. per lb., on the actual weight 
of the dressed quarters. Two steers, also grade Dur¬ 
hams, one of them raised and fatted by the wife of a not¬ 
ed cattle broker, sold for 20c. per lb., or about $"00 for the 
two ; they were really fine animals. A lot of Ayrshires 
deserve mention because of their great beauty; they were 
round and plump, dark red, with clean white faces; 
would dress about 1014 cwt. and sold for 1914c. per lb. It 
was considered a good bargain by both parties. The 
“tops” of each drove, as a general thing, found a ready 
market at above-quoted prices; while the coarse steers, 
half-fat oxen and cows found a dull, low market, often re¬ 
maining over until next day. In January, owing to heavy 
snow which made transportation uncertain, the yards 
were filled with poor State cattle, which, in the lack of 
better stock, sold for more than good sleek steers would 
bring in February. Therefore, with a belter market to 
choose from, and a steady falling olf in price, there has 
been a decline of at least lli@2c. per pound since our 
last report, for the same quality of beef. Milch 
Cows. These have come to market in numbers equal 
to the wants of buyers. They usually sold in small lots 
to city milkmen. State “ springers,” in good order, 
brought from $70@$S9. Good young cows with calves, 
from $90@$100. Extra milkers, mostly grades of Ayrshire 
or Jersey, sold for $120@.$150 each. Good cows, how¬ 
ever, have been scarce, and but few have come to market. 
Most of the stock, being second quality, sold slowly at 
from $55@$70; while some poor cows sold as low as $-10. 
The supply for the week ending Feb. 13th was much 
greater than the demand, and many remained over to 
next week_ Calves. Veal has been in good demand 
all the month, and anything in market goes off rapidly at 
a fair price. Live calves may be quoted from 9c.@,12c. 
for fine animals. A few fat, good-sized extras brought 
13c.@1314c. Many have come in dressed without remov¬ 
ing the skin. Such “Ilog-dressed” calves sold for from 
12c.@17c., according to age and quality. There have 
been fewer in market for the past two weeks, and prices 
range about Qc. higher than in January... Slicep. 
Prices range from 7?4c.@Sc. for extra lots. Some few 
prime lots, very fat, brought 9c. ; while the lightest ones 
sold for 5c.@C>!4e. per pound. The market has boon 
lively all the month, all qualities finding a ready sale. 
One lot of 11S head, sold on Feb. 10th, for 9c., are 
worthy special notice. They were native sheep fed in New 
Jersey, and averaged 139 pounds each. The pelts from 
such sheep now sell for about $2.50 each. One butcher, 
not finding what he wanted in market, went to Litchfield 
Co., Conn., and bought some Cotswolds of very large 
size. He gave 10c. per pound, or about $20 a head, the 
sheep averaging 200 pounds each. The increased arrivals j 
for the week ending Feb. 13th so far exceed the demand 
as to make the market a little dull, and a slight falling oil' 
in price for medium lots is the result. The demand, how¬ 
ever, is large, and mutton is in request, while beef keeps 
up to its present high figure_ Swine. There has 
been a gradual falling off in numbers, as will be seen 
by the figures given above, with a gradual upward ten¬ 
dency in price. Live hogs find a ready sale at from 7%c. 
©8J4C- per lb.; while with the light supply for the week 
ending Feb. 13th, some sales reached as high as S%c. per 
lb. Western dressed have come in largely during the 
cold weather, and sell for from 9^c.@10c.; while city 
dressed bring 10J4c.@10!4c. These quotations are very 
high, and many packers have stopped operations until 
there is a falling off in price. They confidently believe 
the high price will not continue long. 
.^’cw "Wotrlc Sstrie AgTic!ilt8m*ss,l 
ciety—Officers for 18GS.—At the Annual Meeting, 
held in Albany, Feb. 12th and 13th, the following officers 
were elected for one year; — President, Thomas H. Faile, 
of New York. Vice Presidents , for Judicial Districts, 
1st, John Haven, of New York; 2nd, Samuel Thorne, of 
Dutchess ; ,3d, Adin Thayer, Jr., of Rensselaer; 4th, Milo 
Ingalsbc, of Washington ; 5th, Harris Lewis, of Herkimer; 
Gth, IV. M. Ely, of Broome ; 7th, II. Ten Eyck Foster, of 
Seneca; 8th, George A. Moore, of Erie. Cor. Secretary, 
Benj. P. Johnson, of Albany. Recording Secretary, Thom. 
L. Harison, of St. Lawrence Co. Treasurer, Luther H. 
Tucker, of Albany. Executive Committee, chosen at large, 
Samuel T. Taber, of Queens; J. D. Wing, of New York ; 
Wm. M. Burr, of Madison; A. B. Cornell, of Tompkins; 
James Gectdes, of Onondaga; L. D. Mitchell, of Monroe ; 
B. F. Angel, of Livingston; Eicliard Church, of Alle¬ 
ghany. (It is understood that the Recording Secretary, 
Mr. Harison, will hereafter assist the Corresponding Sec¬ 
retary in the labors of his office, as may be needed.) The 
question of the location of the next Fair was discussed, 
and strong claims put in for Rochester and TTtica; the 
decision was referred to the Executive Committee. 
Further editorial reports of the Annual Meeting reach us 
too late for the present number. 
containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
Blow to ISciaaiJ :—C'Ssct’lss on .View 
York ISanks or Kanlrei’S are best for large sums ; 
made payable to the order of Orange Jiuld &c Co. 
Post-Office Money Orders may be obtain¬ 
ed at nearly every county seat, in all the cities, and in 
many of the large towns. We consider them perfectly 
safe, and the best means of remitting fifty dollars or less, 
as thousands have been sent to us without any loss. 
ISeglstercd Letters, under tlse new system, 
which went into effect June 1st, are a very safe 
means of sending small sums of money where P. O. Mon¬ 
ey Orders cannot he easily obtained. Observe, the Reg¬ 
istry fee, as well as postage, must be paid in stamps at 
the office where the letter is mailed, or it will be liable 
to he sent to the Dead Letter Office. Buy and affix the 
stamps both for postage and registry, pvt in the money and 
seal the letter in the presence of the postmaster, and take his 
receipt for it. Letters sent in this way to us are at our risk. 
— To our published terms for the 
American Agriculturist, postage must in all cases he ad¬ 
ded when ordered to go out of the United States. For 
I Canada, send twelve cents besides the subscription money 
with each subscriber. Everywhere in the United States, 
three cents, each quarter, or twelve cents, yearly, must he 
pre-paid at the Post-ofiicc where the paper is received. 
SPECS1B. BgSiQtIJEST.—On page 84, 
the Publishers have partially set forth the advantages of 
reading. They are ambitious to reach and beneficially 
influence as large a circle as possible. To help on the 
enterprise, we invite all our readers who do not try for 
the prizes, to favor us with their good words and acts. 
Suppose each present reader induce at least one more to 
become a reader during this month. It can he done 
readily, except in certain towns where every person al¬ 
ready takes this journal. While we shall appreciate the 
response to this request, we feel sure that every addition¬ 
al reader secured will bo benefited. 
“ IPiease Answer isi t3ae E®ssj»ei' ** is 
a request a thousand times made—often by those who 
omit their address. Our space is too valuable, by far, to 
write personal letters in. As a rule, only topics interest¬ 
ing to a good many persons can be alluded to in type. 
Subjects or questions of interest to only one or two per¬ 
sons are answered by letter, when we have time. 
A«lvertisicim;Bi8si Ea.i*55er, IP Ion 
Please. —It is necessary that all advertisements be re¬ 
ceived at this office before the 5th of the month. Three 
2 iages received later are left out for want of room, al though 
four extra pages were added to accommodate our custom¬ 
ers. Had these been sent a few days earlier, we could 
have made calculations by which all might have appeared. 
See tHae “ IBisag'.” —The Kansas friend whose 
letter was unanswered, hopes that it is not the case with 
us, as with the Farmers’- Club, that it is necessary to be 
“ in the ring” to be noticed. We cannot answer for the 
Farmers’Club, but for ourselves we can say that we do 
not know personally one in a thousand of those to whom 
we reply. We try to treat all alike, and if any feel that 
they are neglected, it is from no personal reason, hut 
solely because we have not space for everything that we 
would like to publish. 
r lTlie Cosnaell University. —The “First 
General Announcement” of the Cornell University in¬ 
forms us that it will be opened on the last Wednesday in 
September next ; examination of candidates for admis¬ 
sion to take place on the Monday and Tuesday preced¬ 
ing. The Departments are to he those of Agriculture, 
the Mechanic Arts, Civil Engineering, Military Engineer¬ 
ing and Tactics, Mining ancl Practical Geology, and 
History, Social, and Political Science. We cannot give 
space to a general sketch of the plan of instruction ; 
those who are interested in this, as well as in the terms 
of admission, should apply for a copy of the Announce¬ 
ment to Francis M. Finch, Secretary, Ithaca, N. Y. 
A Yew Staritliii-il A g ricnlt lEi'al 
Wo rk.—We are gratified to be able now to announce a 
work in press, by Prof. S. W. Johnson, of Yale College, 
to which the best labors of many years have been devot¬ 
ed. It treats of the relations of the Plant to the Air, of 
the Plant to the Soil, and of the Philosophy of Fanning 
in.general—Manuring, Feeding, etc. There are very few 
men in the world who can bring to the labor of preparing 
such a work greater erudition, better practical dews, 
plainer common-sense, or sounder reasoning. Professor 
Johnson was bred upon a good farm, on the edge of an 
almost unbroken wilderness, and has a knowledge of na¬ 
ture in her primeval wildness, and of the most “ inten¬ 
sive ” culture in Europe. A familiarity with European 
languages, thorough chemical knowledge, great thorough¬ 
ness, patience, and perseverance, and unusual aptness for 
teaching, make him just the man for so arduous an un¬ 
dertaking. The work, so far as we have perused the 
manuscript, is simply written, clear, explicit, and full of 
tacts; it cites authorities freely, and is thorough, progres¬ 
sive,— leading the reader from step to step to as clear 
an understanding of agricultural phenomena as has yet 
been arrived at. The work will he adapted to the use of 
the general reader, and to be used as a text-book in agri¬ 
cultural and other schools and colleges. It will he pub¬ 
lished in the course of the season. 
AAlaat is t3a« flatter vvitn 4lic Mule 
Team ?—The picture on the front page of the February 
number has caused a great deal of fun and some perplexity 
to many of the readers of the Agriculturist. Wc can 
easily imagine the indignation of Scipio Africanus at 
being represented astride of tlieoff mule, and the “guf¬ 
faw ” of the old army teamster as his quick eye sees what 
is the matter. Wc admit also that the mules would feel 
very uncomfortably and would he hard to keep in the 
road if they were hitched up and driven in this way. Wc 
sincerely hope that neither ourselves nor our artists may 
again he chagrined at finding, when too late to remedy 
it, that a drawing had not been reversed when put upon the 
block. Few persons not familiar with the processes of 
printing and engraving are aware how the drawings and 
engravings, as well as the type, look. The drawings ap¬ 
pear exactly as the pictures after they are printed do, when 
seen in a looking-glass. If our friends will hold up the 
mule picture to a mirror, the driver will he on the right, 
that is tlie left or nigh mule, and all will he correct. 
The action of the white lead mule is perfectly correct. 
Sundry —Please stop sendiug 
us money to pay the “5 per cent, cash assessments ” on 
prizes pretended to have been drawn for sundry people by 
A. A. Kelly,by Clark,Webster & Co.,and others of their ilk. 
(These very kind men draw grand prizes for all their cus¬ 
tomers. Of course they take all the blanks themselves— 
generous rich mien that they are.)Enongh casli to constitute 
a small fortune has been sent us thus, this year. We have 
| returned all such money to the senders without charge, hut 
if it keeps coming we shall have to deduct a “ 5 per cent, 
cash assessment ” to pay for time, clerk hire, and postage, 
to say nothing of the risk of being considered swindlers 
ourselves, if the money chances to miscarry in coming 
and going. Wc repeat that all these proposed “ prizes ” 
are humbugs. The “ $150 prize ” is a so-called certificate 
for 150 shares in a bogus company, and so of the “ $100,” 
and of other prizes. They are not worth a farthing—not 
one of them,—and every dollar .forwarded is an absolute 
loss to the sender.... The “ Gettysburg Asylum Scheme ” 
continues to he advertised—to the profit of the operators 
and the newspapers. Consistency must he at a discount, 
when leading journals act like the Daily Tribune of Feb. 
G, which in its editorial columns warns the people against 
this scheme, yet in the same paper publishes a displayed 
advertisement of the Gettysburg Concert, so called. We 
dislike to appear to oppose anything even professing to 
aid our noble soldiers who have become crippled or in¬ 
valids in their country’s service, but such schemes as this 
Gettysburg affair will in the end do them more harm than 
good. We have followed our soldier; to the battle field, 
and when sick and wounded have nursed them night and 
day in the hospital tents, in the field, and in the woods, for 
weary weeks and months, and we will gladly contribute 
further to furnish homes for them, but we prefer to have 
them receive the full dollars contributed, and not a cent 
or two on each dollar, if they get anything, of the sums 
solicited by the Gift Enterprise men. It is high time that 
all these sympathy-pleading concerns received their 
quietus. Let a bona fide enterprise be started to aid the 
soldiers, by well-known, reliable men, let it he devoid of 
all clap trap of enormously over-estimated larms, unsal¬ 
able jewels, old hooks and boats, etc., and tenfold more 
actual money will he received, than will ever come from 
