AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
208 
place wood that will soon be old and to be removed. 
Neatness is much promoted by using proper sup¬ 
ports for plants. Let the sticks and tying material 
be kept out of sight. Remove all faded flowers. 
Weeds of course must be kept down. Use the 
rake freely. The bayonet hoe and a narrow, long¬ 
toothed rake are the best implements for working 
among the plauts in the flower borders. 
Green and Slot-Houses. 
The plants that are to come out will be outside 
by this time. Those that are left in should be 
properly shaded, watered, and cared for generally. 
Put out such plants as are suited to it, in the bor¬ 
ders. Those that are to be retained in pots should 
be safe from being blown over, dried out, or being 
sunburned.The earlier changes and repairs are 
made in the houses, the better_Provide a good 
supply of potting soil. Well-rotted cow-manure 
and cfeeomposed sods are the essential ingredients. 
Cold Grapery. 
While the vines are in flower, the temperature 
should range from 85° to 90° at mid-day, and sink 
very gradually at night; let watering be suspended 
during this period. Sudden changes interfere with 
the fertilization. When the blossoms are fully ex¬ 
panded, go through the house and give the bunches 
a gentle flirt with the finger, to facilitate the distri¬ 
bution of the pollen. One bunch is sufficient to 
leave to a shoot, and the shoot should be stopped 
at the third leaf beyond the bunch. When the 
berries are as large as peas, thin the bunches, remov¬ 
ing one-half or more of the fruit on each. Tie up 
the shoots as the weight of the bunches increases. 
Commercial Matters—Market Prices. 
The following condensed, comprehensive tables, care¬ 
fully prepared specially for the American Agriculturist , 
show at a glance the transactions for the month ending 
May 14, 1868, and for the corresponding month last year: 
1. TRANSACTIONS AT THE NEW-YORK MARKETS. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 (lays ««.? m’tli.218.000 1.786.000 1,101.000 93.000 337,000 972.000 
26 days last m'tli.148,000 202,500 913,000 66,500 153,000 77,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days this m’tli,325,000 1,967,000 1,858,000 133,000141,000 1,361,000 
26 clays last m'tll,264,000 744,000 1,422,000 142,500 63,000 1,177,000 
3. Comparison with same period at this time last year. 
Receipts. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 (lays 1S68....218.000 1,786,000 1,101.000 93,000 337.000 972,000 
26 days 1867....131,700 224,000 186,000 4,700 89,000 31,000 
Sales. Flour. Wheat. Corn. Bye. Barley. Oats. 
26 days 1808 . 325,000 1,967,000 1,858,000 133,000 141,000 1,361,000 
26 days 1S67 . 284,000 1,807,000 3,269,000 525,000 41,000 - 
3. Exports from New York , Jan. 1 to May 14: 
Flour. 
Wheat. 
Corn. 
Bye. 
Oats. 
1868. 
..319,202 
1,708,715 
2,909,014 153,093 
36,469 
1867. 
..150,471 
35,439 
2,912,: 
114 127,282 
96,790 
1866. 
. .354,050 
109.467 
2,100,516 1 
71,826 
676,620 
1865. 
..439,003 
219,946 
149/ 
167 
141 
24,915 
4. 
Stock of 
grain in store at New 
York : 
Wheat, 
Corn, 
Bye, 
Bariev. 
, Oats, 
Malt, 
1808. 
bush. 
bush. 
bush. 
bush. 
bush. 
bush. 
May 12.. 
1.039,621 
33,341 
— 
493,494 
8,705 
Apr. 13... 
... 686,630 
1,228.259 
8,276 
13,235 
894,199 
— 
Mar. 10.. 
...1,175,152 
1,719,822 
43,542 
46,614 
1,794,242 
34,102 
Feb. 11.. 
1,705,380 
182,111 
93,032 
2,134.191 
65,237 
Jan. 13... 
...1,647,418 
1,431,553 
189,330 
161,313 
2,379,826 
69,3S9 
1807. 
Dec. 11.. 
.. .1,804,215 
1,653,094 
202.900 
392,815 
3,199,563 
83,445 
Nov. 12.. 
... 941,129 
1,954,706 
134,513 
361,053 
2,246.752 
52,155 
Oct. 15... 
967,604 
7,300 
32,793 
890,897 
57,977 
Sept. 10.. 
... 120.532 
1,154,892 
500 
9,376 
135,737 
61.508 
Aiig. 13.. 
... 90,174 
863,724 
32,785 
12,376 
200,349 
48,632 
.July 15.. 
160.780 
66,986 
21,390 
206,763 
34,700 
June 14.. 
... 578,279 
217,976 
117,257 
69,643 
379,865 
16,311 
May 15... 
261,092 
186,804 
145,706 
608,491 
16.461 
Gold has been firmer in price, but not active, since our 
last. The latest quotation was 139?s£_A more animated 
business has been reported in breadstuffs, the receipts 
and sales of which have been on a much more extensive 
scale, though generally at reduced figures. The export 
demand has been quite brisk, chiefly for spring wheat, 
the offerings of which have been largely increased, since 
the resumption of canal navigation. Within the past 
week, the purchases of No. 2, Spring, for shipment to 
British ports, have been unusually heavy, but buyers 
have had any existing advantage. Toward the close, 
Flour was depressed in price, on a light call for all 
grades; while Wheat,Corn, If ye,and Oats, wound up more 
steadily, on a reviving inquiry.Provisions have been 
,in less demand, closing generally with a downward ten¬ 
dency in values, under some pressure to realize, chiefly on 
hog products_Cotton has been less active and lower... 
Wool has been moderately sought after, mainly by manu¬ 
facturers, who have been paying rather stronger prices 
for low and medium grades... .Seeds have been quite 
dull... .Hay and Tobacco have attracted more attention 
at partially advanced prices.. ..Hops have been in slack 
request and decidedly cheaper. 
Current Wholesale Prices. 
May 14. 
April 14. 
Price op Gold. 1.38% 
Flour— Super to Extra State $9 00 @11 25 
Super to Extra Southern_ 9 75 @15 00 
Extra Western. 9 80 @15 50 
Extra Genesee. 11 30 @14 25 
Superfine Western. 9 00 @9 50 
Rye Flour. 7 50 @ 9 60 
139 % 
fS 35 @10 70 
5 25 @ 6 25 
Corn Meal. 
Wheat— All kinds of White. 2 90 @3 35 
All kinds of Red and Amber. 2 30 @ 2 90 
10 10 
9 35 
10 75 
8 35 
8 00 
5 37 
2 80 
2 20 
1 23 
1 17 
87 
@ 1 
i 94 
2 
05 
@ 
2 
10 
: 00 
@ 5 
> &5 
2 
00 
@ 
2 
20 
75 
@ 1 30 
80 
@ 
1 
60 
80 
@ 1 40 
1 
00 
® 
1 
50 
60 
@ 
80 
75 
1 
00 
31 
@ 
32% 
29%@ 
31 
10 
@ 
55 
10 
50 
75 
@ 
90 
80 
85 
9%@ 
10% 
10 
11 
! 30 
@ : 
> 50 
2 
35 
2 
50 
Corn—Y ellow. 1 25 @ 1 27 
Mixed. . ... 1 20 @ 1 25 
Oats—W estern. S6%@ S6% 
State. Nominal. 
Rye 
Barley. 2 00 
Hay—B ale ?! 100 a. 
Loose. . 
Straw, 18 100 lb. 
Cotton—M iddlings, ?! lb ... 
Hons—Crop of 1867, ?< lb. 
Feathers—L ive Geese, ?! lb. 
Seed—C lover, ?! lb . 
Timothy. ?! bushel. 2 30 
Flax. bushel. 2 60 @ 2 80 2 65 
Sugae—B rown, ?! lb . 
Molasses. Cuba. Pgal. .. 
Coffee— Itio,(Gold price)?! Ib 
Tobacco, Kentucky, &c., ?!Ib. 
Seed Leaf, ?t Ib. 
Wool_Do mesticFleece,?! lb. 
Domestic, pulled. ?i lb. 
California, unwashed,. 
Tallow. it . 
Oil-Cake—? l ton. 48 00 _ 
Pork—M ess, ?t barrel. 26 00 @27 15 27 50 
Prime, ?1 barrel . . 22 00 @22 50 23 50 
Beef—P lain mess. 15 00 @20 50 15 00 
Lard, in barrels, ?l lb. 17 
Butter—W estern, ?i lb. 18 
State, V n> . 20 
Cheese. 9 
Beans—?* bushel. 5 65 
Peas—C anada. ?! bushel.. 1 55 
@15 50 
@16 75 
@14 00 
@ 9 35 
@ 9 85 
@ 6 50 
@ 3 20 
® 2 82% 
@ 1 25 
@ 1 1814 
87 %@ 88 
Nominal. 
2 75 
10 
@ 
13% 
10%© 
14 
37 
@ 
55 
35 
@ 
55 
13%@ 
18% 
9 
@ 
13 
8 
@ 
24 
8 
® 
20 
5 
® 
50 
5 
© 
55 
40 
© 
60 
42 
® 
60 
28 
® 
47 
28 
© 
49 
20 
© 
33 
22 
© 
33 
12%@ 
12% 
n%@ 
12% 
00 
@56 00 52 
00 
@56 00 
Eggs— Fresh. ?! dozen. 22 
Poultry—F owls, ?! Ib. 20 
Turkeys, ?! Ib. 22 
Potatoes—?! bbl. 3 75 
Apples—?! barrel. 5 00 
Cranberries, ?l barrel. 7 00 
@ 18 
@ 42 X 
@ 53 
® 16 % 
@ 6 10 
@ - 
@ 24 
@ 22 
@ 25 
@ 4 75 
@ 6 00 
@10 00 
18 
36 
44 
9 
5 40 
1 50 
22 
17 
20 
4 00 
4 25 
7 00 
@28 55 
@24 00 
@20 50 
@ 19 
@ 45 
@ 55 
@ 17 
@ 5 90 
@ 1 55 
@ 24 
@ 19 
@ 22 
@ 5 00 
@ 6 50 
@10 00 
New York I.ivc Stock Markets.- 
Beeves. Coios. Calves. Sheep. Swine. Tol’l 
,.5,381 131 2,521 16,445 13,623 38,101 
WEEK ENDING. 
April 20 th. 
April 27th.5,860 172 2,590 19,750 21,038 49,419 
May 
May 
4 th. 
11th.. 
>,519 
.5,132 
70 2,831 13,783 14.139 36,341 
92 2,554 12,067 24,003 43,848 
Total in four Weeks _21,892 465 10,466 62,045 72,803 167,709 
doJorprevious 5 Weeks. 22,933 679 8,237 86,206 69,479 187,497 
Beeves. 
Cotes. 
Calves. 
Sheep. Swine. 
Average per Week . 
5,473 
116 
2,624 
15,511 
18,204 
do. do. last Month. 
3,583 
136 
1,647 
17,241 
13,896 
do. do. prev’s Month. 
4,579 
77 
656 
21,719 
10,643 
Average per Week, 1867. 
, 5,544 
64 
1,320 
22,154 
20,605 
(lo. do. do. 1866. 
. 5,748 
94 
1,200 
20,000 
13,000 
do. (lo. do. 1865. 
, 5,255 
118 
1,500 
16,091 
11,023 
do. do. do. 1864.. 
. 5,161 
145 
1,511 
15,315 
12,676 
(lo. do. do. 1863. 
5,150 
129 
694 
9,941 
21,670 
Total in 1S67.293,832 
3.369 
69,911 1,174,154 1,102,643 
Total in 1S66 .298,880 4,Si 
Total iu 1865 .270,274 6,161 
Total ill 1864 .267,609 7,603 
Total in 1863. .264,091 6,470 
62.420 1,040,000 672,000 
77,991 836,733 573,197 
75,621 782,462 660,270 
35,705 519,316 1,101,617 
The above table gives the weekly receipts for the four 
weeks ending May 11, 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. 
There has been a marked increase in the number of 
cattle in market over that given for the same period last 
month. The supply for the week ending May 11th is 5,133, 
being 311 less than the average for the four weeks. With 
the large quantity, and a quality more even than 
last month, hut few cattle have sold at the highest figures 
given below. On every market day many good cattle sold 
as low as 18c., and for the week ending May 4th Western 
men were glad to get 17@17j4c. for bullocks that cost 
them 8c., live weight, at Chicago, which was a losing busi¬ 
ness. The week ending May 11th presented a little bet¬ 
ter market for them, 18c. being paid for the same grade 
of steers. More Western men than usual have been in 
market with their own cattle, and talk rather gloomy; 
they say prices have declined l^c. per pound since they 
started from home. The increase in numbers made it neces¬ 
sary to sell some good bullocks lower than the same qual¬ 
ity brought last month. The market kept steady, however, 
and the yards were generally cleaned out. But few really 
poor cattle reached here, Western men preferring to sell 
at Albany to State “ grazers ” for 7@9c., five weight, than 
venture the additional expense of bringing them here. 
The “ tops ” of prime droves brought nearly last month’s 
prices, hut the medium and average ones fell at least y 2 c. 
per pound below, while light steers were slow at ll@13c. 
The following list gives the range of prices, average 
price, and the figures at which the largest lots were sold: 
Ap’l 20tli ranged 15@20c. Av. 1714c. Large sales 17 @18% 
do. 27th do. 13%@19e. do. 16%c. do. do. 16%@17% 
May 4th do. 13%@18%c. do. 16%c. do. do. 16 @17% 
do. Util do. 15%@19c. do.l7%c. do. do. 17 @18 
This is the season of the greatest supply of veal, over 
2,000 arriving every week. Shad, though not so plenty 
as in former years, are cheap enough to enable people to 
buy them instead of beef, and when eggs are abundant, 
they also diminish the consumption. These supplies 
of animal food, and the early vegetables now just finding 
their way into market, reduce the demand for beef, and 
the butchers find that the prices of last winter cannot he 
maintained; consequently, beef lias fallen at least lc. per 
pound since our last report... Itlilcli Cows.— The 
supply has been light, with a moderate call from milkmen 
and others, and trade is dull. Cows are often purchased 
on account of their good looks rather than their milking 
qualities, and some have sold as high as $130@$150 each. 
Such prices are generally obtained from those who want a 
showy animal. Equally good milkers may be had for $80® 
$90. Poor cows sell for $40@$50 each... Veal Calves. 
—The supply has been very large, and prices much below 
last month. A great many dressed calves continue to 
come in, and some from a great distance are in such poor 
order that they sell very cheap, affecting very much the 
sale of live animals. Few live calves bring more than 
11c., live weight, while many really fine ones sell for 10c., 
and ordinary ones as low as 6@8Hc. Owing to the great 
scarcity of sheep for the past two weeks, the market for 
veal has been more firm_ Sheep and Lambs.— 
Receipts have been less each week for the past month, 
and we have a falling off in numbers of 24,101, which is 
a very large decrease. Full one-half the sheep coming in 
now to market have been sheared, and unshorn ones 
are less and less every arrival. We quote sheared 
at 9 1 / 4@10c. for good, S@9c. for medium, while common 
ones, poor and small, sell as low as 7c. Unshorn-extras 
bring 9>4@llc. good to medium, and common from 014® 
flc. Lambs are more plenty, and worth 15@18c. per pound, 
live weight, or $7@.$12 each. The market is very brisk, 
and buyers watch for the arrival of trains very closely, 
not nnfrequently purchasing before their arrival. 
Swine. —Notwithstanding there has been a steady in¬ 
crease in the number of hogs every week since our last 
report, prices have remained about the same. A slight 
decline at the close of our report is manifest. The heavy 
increase of 10,000 head Monday, May 11th, rather 
“glutted” the market, and prices fell about y 2 c. per 
pound. The prevailing rates now are 9%©10c. Some 
very prime lots sold at 10%c., and rough ones at 9@9%c. 
What HJailroads I>o for Farmers. 
—To haul 40 bushels of corn 50 miles on a wagon would 
cost at least $12 for team, driver, and expenses. A rail¬ 
road would transport it for $4 at most. Allowing an aver¬ 
age of 40 bushels per acre, the crop would he worth $S 
more per acre, or 8 per cent on $100. As the relative ad¬ 
vantage is about the same for other crops, it is clear that 
a railroad passing through a town would add $110 per 
acre to the value of the farms. A town 10 miles square 
contains 04,000 acres. An increase of $100 per acre is 
equal to $0,400,000, or enough to build 200 miles of rail¬ 
road, even if it cost $32,000 per mile. But 200 miles of 
road would extend through twenty towns ten miles 
square, and cost hut $10 per acre if taxed upon the land. 
These figures are given merely as an illustration. If the 
farmers had taxed themselves to build all the railroads in 
this country, and given them away to any companies that 
would stock and run them, the present increased value of 
their lands would have well repaid all the outlay. 
Farm Scales, Very Useful.— It is an 
old saw, that, “ Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be 
wise.” It is, however, the business and privilege of the 
Agriculturist to disturb its readers in this blissful igno¬ 
rance whenever it can. Farmers who have platform 
scales, either set in the barn floor or movable, feel al¬ 
most as unable to get along without them as without a 
plow. Every thing for market or for sale is weighed. 
Grain and roots are not measured, but simply weighed, 
saving time and securing greater accuracy. Animals 
bought or put up for fattening are weighed ; when fat or 
ready for market, or sold, they are weighed again. The 
feed for stock of ail kinds is weighed out, and thus much 
greater uniformity of feeding secured. Thus farm scales 
are practically of great value, and besides they place in 
the hands of any accurate man the means of conducting 
many most valuable experiments, both for Ids own satis¬ 
faction, and for the good of all interested as he is. On 
large farms, like that of Mr. David Lyman, described last 
year, the full sized hay scales are most useful; on smaller 
ones doubtless some of the lower sizes would he pref¬ 
erable—or at least more economical. 
Salt for Cattle.— “ H. G.,” Alleghany Co., 
Pa.—The mixture of salt and clay in the form of bricks, 
used for salting cattle in some parts of Europe, is not to 
he found in this country. We presume, however, you can 
find Liverpool salt in large, solid, reddish lumps, and per¬ 
haps Louisiana salt in clear white lumps at the agricul¬ 
tural warehouses of our Atlantic cities. The article 
should be more common than it is. Lumps as big as one’s 
doubled fists laid in mangers or where animals can lick 
them -will afford all the salt they need, and no more. 
