170 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[May, 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist , 
6how at a glance the transactions for the month ending 
April 14,1868, and for the corresponding month last year: 
1, TRANSACTIONS AT TUB NEW-YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 (lays this m’til .148,000 202.500 913,000 66,500 153,000 77.000 
23 days last m'th .131,000 89,000 985,000 23,000 41,000 109,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days this m’th,264,000 741,000 1,422,000 142,500 68,000 1,177,000 
23 clays iasi m’tli,296,000 957,000 1,546,000 153,000 973,000 875,000 
ti, Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
23 (lays 1868....148.000 202,500 913,000 66,500 153,000 77,000 
22 days 1867....154,000 159,000 141,000 3,800 54,000 51,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheal. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1868..264,000 741,000 1.422.000 142.500 68,000 1,177,000 
26 days 1867 . 278,000 1,040,000 2,914,000 596,000 709,000 - 
3. Exports from New Yorlc , Jan. 1 to April 14: 
Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Oats. 
1865 .205.245 S15.8S9 2,393,946 148,822 24,407 
1867.114,83S 32,742 1,981.639 127,282 78,535 
1866 .283,495 109,467 1,824,243 125,263 566,000 
1365.353,290 155,701 129,719 141 24,302 
-1. Stock of grain in store at New York : 
Wheat, Corn, Bye, Barley, Oats, Halt, 
1868. bush. bush. bush. hush. bush. bush. 
Apr. 13. 686,630 1,228.259 8,276 13.235 891,199 - 
Mar. 10.1,175,152 1,719,822 43,542 46,614 1,794,212 84,102 
Feb. 11.1,507.679 1,705,380 182,111 93,032 2.1.31.191 65,237 
Jan. 13.1,617,418 1,431,553 189,330 161,313 2,379,826 69.3S9 
1867. 
Dec. 11.1,804,215 1,653,091 202,900 392,815 3,199,563 83,445 
Nov. 12 . 941,129 1,9.54,706 131,543 361,053 2,246.752 52,155 
Oct. 15. 167,608 967,664 7,300 32,793 890,897 57,977 
Sept. 10. 120,532 1,154.892 500 9,376 135.737 61,508 
Aug. 13 . 90,174 863,724 32,785 12,376 200.819 48,632 
July 15 . 215,509 160.780 66,986 21,390 206,763 81,700 
June 14 . 578,279 217,976 117,257 69,613 379,865 16,311 
May 15. 731,330 261,092 186,801 115,700 608,491 16,461 
Current 5Viiolesale Prices. 
April 14. 
138% 
$ 9 00 @11 25 
9 30 
@15 00 
9 75 
@15 00 
9 90 
@15 50 
9 80 
@15 50 
11 10 
@14 50 
11 30 
@14 25 
8 90 
@ 9 00 
9 00 
@ 9 50 
7 65 
@ 9 60 
7 50 
@ 9 GO 
5 75 
@ 0 25 
5 25 
@ 6 25 
2 S5 
@ 3 50 
2 90 
@ 3 35 
2 30 
@ 2 85 
2 30 
@ 2 90 
1 23 
@ 1 28 
1 25 
@ 1 27 
1 22 
@ 1 27 
1 20 
® 1 25 
82^@ 83 
86%@ 86% 
Nominal. 
Nominal. 
1 80 
@ 1 88 
1 87 
@ 1 94 
2 05 
@ 2 10 
2 no 
® 2 35 
1 05 
@ 1 55 
75 
© 1 30 
1 15 
® 1 no 
80 
@ 1 40 
95 
@ 1 15 
00 
@ 80 
24 %@ 26 
31 
@ 32% 
15 
© 60 
10 
© 55 
75 
@ 90 
75 
© 90 
13%© 14% 
9%@ 10% 
2 i 5 
@ 3 00 
2 30 
@ 2 50 
2 75 
@ 2 85 
2 60 
© 2 80 
4 
40 
28 
18 @ 
UK® 
13% 
10 
@ 
13% 
55 
37 
@ 
55 
18 
13%@ 
18% 
24 
8 
© 
24 
65 
5 
® 
50 
60 
40 
© 
60 
48 
28 
@ 
47 
82 
20 
@ 
33 
11% 
12%@ 
12% 
00 
43 00 
@56 00 
March 14. 
Price op Gold. 13911 
Flour—S uper to Extra State$ S 85 @11 00 
Super to Extra Southern_ 9 30 
Extra Western. 9 90 
Extra Genesee. 11 10 
Superfine Western.. 
Rye Flour. 
Corn Meat. 
Wheat—A ll kinds of White. 
All kinds of Red and Amber. 
Corn—Y ellow... 1 23 
Mixed. 1 22 
Oats— Western. 
State. 
Rye. ... 
Harley. 2 05 
Hay—B ale 19100 ft. 103 
Loose. 
Straw, ?! 100 It.. 
Cotton— Middlings, ?! ft 
Hops—C rop oflS07. ?! ft . 
Feathers—L ive Geese, ? 
Seed—C lover, ?! Hi . 
Timothy, ?! bushel. 2 75 
Flax, $ bushel. 2 75 
Sugar—B rown, ?! lb. 10%© 
Molasses. Cuba, ??gal. S7 @ 
Coffee—R io, (Gold price)?! tb 12%@ 
Tobacco, Kentucky, &c.,fin. 
Seed Leaf, ?! lb. 
Wool—D omesticFleece,?! E>. 
Domestic, pulled. ?! lb. 
California, unwashed,. 
Tallow, ?iib . 
Oil-Cake—?! ton.. 48 00 @56 00 
Pork—M ess, ?! barrel. 23 12 @24 15 
Prime, ?! barrel.. 20 00 @21 00 
Beef—P lain mess. 14 00 @20 00 
Lard, in barrels, ?! lb... 
Butter—W estern, ?! lb. 
State, ?! lb. 
Cheese.. 
Beans—?! busliel. 5 50 
Peas—C anada. ?! busliel. 
IOggs—F resh, ?! dozen... 
Poultry—F owls, ?! lb... 
Turkeys, ?l)b. 
Potatoes—?! bhl... . 3 75 
Apples—?! barrel.. 4 00 
Cranberries, ?! barrel. 7 00 
Gold has been very moderately dealt in, since our last, 
closing at 138%.. .Brcadstuffs have been in good demand, 
as a rule, but quite variable in price. The offerings of 
the leading articles have been moderate. The flour and 
wheat market closed strong and buoyant, on a reduced 
supply, and improved inquiry. Prime parcels of spring 
wheat have become scarce here; they are wanted by both 
millers and shippers, and are on the advance. Winter 
wheat is in very meagre stock, and held above the views 
of purchasers. Corn has been quoted much firmer within 
the closing week, on a good home and export trade. 
Oats have also been firm and active, within the last half 
of the month. Rye and Barley are very scarce and quiet. 
... .A brisk business has been transacted in Provisions; 
26 00 @27 15 
22 00 @22 50 
15 00 @20 50 
14%@ 
16 
17 
@ 
18 
33 
© 
50 
18 
© 
42% 
47 
@ 
60 
20 
53 
9 
@ 
16% 
9 
© 
16% 
5 
50 
@ ; 
5 80 
5 
65 
© 
6 
10 
1 
55 
@ 
— 
1 
55 
@ 
— 
28 
@ 
31 
22 
@ 
24 
18 
@ 
20 
20 
© 
22 
20 
@ 
25 
22 
@ 
25 
3 
75 
@ 5 00 
3 
75 
© 
4 
75 
4 
00 
@ 9 00 
5 
00 
© 
6 
00 
7 
00 
© 9 50 
7 
00 
@10 
00 
hog products have advanced materially, on an active 
home, speculative, and export demand. Beef lias also 
improved materially in price. Butter and cheese have 
been quoted easier, on abetter supply... .Colton lias again 
advanced very sharply, on unusually heavy transactions, 
closing firmly at extreme figures... Wool has attracted 
much less attention, and has favored buyers... .Hay has 
been less active and much cheaper. Straw has also de¬ 
clined_Hops and Seeds have been slow of sale at re- 
thicecj figures.... Tobacco has been steady, but ina<;f/iYe. 
Neiv Yorlc JLive Stoclc Markets.— 
week ending. Beeves. Cows. Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tot’l 
March 16.4,325 116 1,180 19,015 11,220 85,856 
March 23.3,941 84 1.255 14,773 13,806 33,859 
March 30.4,847 175 1,624 16,461 19,281 42,392 
April 6.4,514 152 1,907 15,879 12,584 35,036 
April 13.5,311 152 2,271 20.074 12,588 40,336 
Total in five Wests....22,988 679 8,237 86,206 69,479 187,497 
do for previous 4 Weets .18,318 307 2,625 86,875 42,573 150,693 
Beeves. 
Cows. 
Calves. Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week . 
3,588 
136 
1647 
17,241 
13,896 
do 
do last Month. 
4,579 
77 
656 
21,719 
10,643 
do 
do prev's Month. 
5,107 
84 
614 
24,104 
11,353 
Average per Week, 1807. 
5,544 
G4 
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 
118 
1,500 
16,091 
11,023 
do. 
do. do. 1864. 
5,161 
145 
1,511 
15,315 
12,676 
do. 
do. do. 1863. 
5,150 
129. 
604 
9,941 
21,670 
Total in 1867.293,832 
3,369 
69,911 
1,174.151 1,102,643 
Total in 1SG6 .298,880 4,885 62,420 1,040,000 672,000 
Total in 1865 .270,271 6,161 77,991 836,733 573,197 
Total in 1864 .267,609 7,603 75,621 782,462 660,270 
Total in 1863 .264,001 6,470 35,705 519,316 1,101,617 
The above tabic gives the weekly receipts for the four 
weeks ending April G, the total number of all kinds for 
each week, also the number of each kind for the four 
weeks, as well as the sum of all kinds for the month. 
During the Lenten Season there is usually a small run 
of stock, hut this year the numbers have been unusually 
small, and prices at least l@lyjc. higher than for the same 
season last year. The average weekly number of beeves 
for the past month has only been 4,407, or 1.137 less than 
tlie weekly average for last year, and the market is dull. 
At the time ive close our report, April 11th, there is a bet¬ 
ter feeling manifest, both with sellers and buyers, for it is 
expected that when Lent ends, the demand for beef will 
increase. Drovers are aware of this, and large lots are 
looked for. Stock men assert, however, that few good 
cattle are to he had, and predict a continued light run. 
One thing which tends to keep prices up is the fact that 
very little commission business is done. Many drovers 
and feeders ivho formerly came to market with their 
stock, and had them sold on commission, now seldom 
come; most of the cattle are bought up on the road, or as 
soon as they arrive, by large dealers, and are held by them 
at high prices. To show how this tends to concentration 
in trade, we mention, that out of 4,514 head in market last 
week, 1,125 were held by three individuals or firms. It is 
difficult to conjecture what will he the future condition of 
the market if this state of tilings continues.. Beer.—The 
number of beef cattle in market this month was still less 
than last month, and prices for fair beef have been at 
least lc. per ib. higher, though not so many head 
were sold at the highest figures. The market has 
been pretty even as to quality, hut the size of the ani¬ 
mals varied greatly. There was really no “prime” beef 
to he had. The few head that sold for 20c. were not 
equal to those bought in for Washington’s Birthday or 
for Christmas, and do not deserve special mention. The 
following list gives the range of prices, average price, 
and the figures at which the largest lots were sold: 
Mar. 16th ranged 12@19c. Av. 17c. Large sales 16 @18 
do 23d do 13%@19c. do 17%c. do do 16 @18% 
do sotu do 14@19c. do 17%c. do do 16%@18 
April 6th do 14@20c. do 17%@18c. do do 17 @19 
It will he seen by comparing the above with the prices 
given last month, that no sales were made as low, by 2c. 
per ib., as some then given. Low priced beef became 
gradually higher; there have been very few really poor 
cattle for sale, and with the exception of the few head 
that went at 20c. the market was very even. Sales were 
made rather slowly, and many days the market would 
drag until late in the afternoon, the butchers often going 
home in the hope that to-morrow would be better for 
them, hut after all they had to he content with few cattle 
and small profits_ Milch Cows.— Cows have been 
more plenty, and some weeks rather glutted the market. 
We have no change to report from the prices paid last 
month. It is seldom a cow brings over $100, and a fair 
animal may he had for $80; $60 to $S0 is a good price for 
an ordinary cow; $00, if she have a good calf with her; 
while inferior milkers are hard to dispose of at $40@,$50. 
.. .Veal Calves.— Calves have come in more abundant¬ 
ly this month, both hog-dressed and alive. The market 
for them lias been a little dull, and prices lower than last 
quoted. The scarcity of beef helps their sale somewhat, 
and the market is generally cleaned out. Prime live 
calves are ivorth 12'%©13c.; from this, prices run down 
to 11c. and 10c., and if less than this they are generally 
sold by the head. “Hog-dressed” calves have a wide 
range, both in quality and price; a good one will bring 
lGc. per ib., and so on down to 9c. per ib., and even 7c. 
for poor ones, while “ Bobs ” go by the carcass very cheap. 
... Sheep.— 1 The decrease in the sheep trade has been 
quite marked, probably due to the near approach of shear¬ 
ing time, many prefering to sell after the “ clip.” Some 
feeders, taking advantage of the warm days, have kept the 
fleeces, and sent the sheep to market quite naked ; they 
sold a little under the market. A few spring lambs were 
in last week, hut of course were small; a lot of ten 
head sold for $7 each. Very superior sheep sold as 
high as lO^lO'^c, per ib., while smaller opes brought 8'4 
@9c. One lot of very large, fat sheep brought the owner ; 
$16 a head, and many whole droves averaged $10, $11, ; 
and $12 each, These are very high prices_ Swine.— • 
Hogs have been more plenty, with quite a decline in 
price. Western dressed come in less abundantly, and 
live hogs sell steadily. There is a falling off in the price i 
of at least %®lc. per Ib. on live hogs, and fine fat animals I 
may he bought now for 9J4@9j4c. per ib.; smaller ones 
for 8i4@9c. per ib. live weight. Some car loads of really i 
prime hogs, very fat, hronglft 10@10Hc., the week ending 
March 23d, and at closing our report, April 11th, the same 
quality may he had for 0J4c. per Ib. The market looks 
dull and heavy at present and is still on the decline, many 
thousand head remaining over from day to day unsold. 
i-O- 
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. I 
How to I&eiait:—Claecks on Yew- 
York Banks or Bankers are best for large sums ; 
made payable to the order of ©range Judd Sc 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. 
Registered Letters, under tlie 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 Beg- 
istry fee, as well as postage, must be paid in stamps at 
the office where the letter is mailed, or it will he liable 
to he sent to the Dead Letter Office. Buy and affix the 
stamps both for postage and registry, put in the money and 
seal the letter in the presence of the postmaster, an d take his 
receipt for it. Letters sent in this way to us are at our risk. 
To Subscribers.—Change of Ad¬ 
dress.— When the address of a subscriber to the Agri¬ 
culturist is to be changed, notice should he sent us three 
weeks before the paper for the month following the 
change will he due, in order that we may have time to 
make the address right before the wrappers are written. 
If the notice is not sent in time, one number of the 
paper goes to the old address, before tlie change can be 
made. Subscribers will please to notice this request. 
Premiums for Everybody Yow.— 
Special attention is asked to the Publishers’ proposals ou 
pages 168 and 169. A single subscriber, sent this month, 
will secure a valuable work free, and the offer will extend 
beyond this month to those too distant to respond within 
that time. It will he noted, also, that the general pre¬ 
miums are still continued, and those who have lists par¬ 
tially made up can complete them any time before the end 
of June. Many new lists were started and completed dur¬ 
ing last May. There are certainly many excellent articles 
in the Table of Premiums which are abundantly worthy 
the small effort required to obtain them. Many more per¬ 
sons have secured premiums this year than in any former 
year, and the work need not slacken at all now. Indeed, 
this is a very favorable season for it—just the time when 
people feel the need of information most keenly. 
Postage Only 3 Cents per Quarter. 
—Complaints have come to us that some Postmasters 
charge 20 to 36 cents per year. The legal postage ou the 
Agriculturist is only 3 cents per quarter, or 12 cents a 
year, if paid in advance where the paper is received, on 
papers or magazines, issued monthly, and not weighing 
over 4 ounces. The law is so simple and explicit on this 
point that no one able to manage the smallest office can 
fail to understand it, if he tries. This paper is always 
kept a trifle under 4 ounces. If circulars, advertising hand¬ 
bills, etc., increase the weight, they are put in by the local 
officers. We never allow anything of the kind to he en¬ 
closed in our paper. If any Postmaster shall hereafter 
charge over 3 cents per quarter, or 12 cents per year, 
please show him this note, and then, if necessary, report 
his case to us, to he laid before the Postmaster General. 
Croquet Arena.—“O. O.,” Delplios, Ohio. 
Th: j is no other rule for the size of the arena, than the 
co: ,'nience of the players. The larger the number of 
p!. jrs, the more room will be needed. The player can 
d . re his ball at one stroke as far as the lines run straight. 
The hall must go through the hoops, in the order in which 
they are umnbqrecj hi the diagrams given in April, 
