60 Notices respecting New Books. 
however, it is never abandoned; and I have been told it is 
spreading very rapidly through the country. There can be no 
surer proof of its excellence; for in a country exposed to cala- 
mities from inclement seasons, and where years of scarcity are 
by no means uncommon, it would certainly not be adopted, if it 
did not ensure to the husbandman the utmost possible produce 
from his crop. There is no want of hands in Switzerland; on 
the contrary, the valleys of Oberland, where I have observed the 
use of the scythe most prevalent, swarm with inhabitants; and 
men, wemen, and children all work i in the fields with the greatest 
assiduity, both early and late. 
I have purposely delayed this publication until the time of har- 
vest was near, under a persuasion that it was likely to produce 
more effect, when there was an opportunity of trying the experir 
ment whilst the subject was fresh in the mind. 
Londen, July 16, 1821. Isaac WELD, jun. 
XIII. Notices respecting New Books. 
Tue Philosophical Transactions for 1821, Part 1. has just aeite 
its appearance, and the following are the contents : 
1, On the black Rete mucosum of the Negro being a Defence 
against the scorching Effect of the Sun’s Rays. By Sir E. Home, 
Bart. F.R.S.—II. On the magnetic Phenomena produced by Elee- 
tricity; in a Letter from Sir H, Davy, Bart. F.R.S. to W. H. Wol- 
laston, M.D. P.R.S.—II. A Communication of a singular Fact 
in Natural History. By the Right Hon. the Earl of Morton, 
F.R.S.; in a Letter addressed to the President.—IV. Particulars 
of a Fact, nearly similar to that related by Lord Morton, com- 
municated to the President in a Letter from Daniel Giles, Esq. 
—V. The Croonian Lecture. Microscopical Observations on 
the following Subjects. On the Brain and Nerves; showing 
that the Materials of which they are composed exist in the Blood. 
On the Discovery of Valves in the Branches of the Vas breve, 
lying between the villous and muscular Goats of the Stomach. 
On the Structure of the Spleen. By Sir Everard Home, Bart. 
V.P.R.S.—IV. On two new Compounds of Chlorine and Car- 
bon, and on a new Compound of lode, Carbon, and Hydrogen. 
By Mr. Faraday, Chemical Assistant in the Royal Institution. 
Communicated by W.T. Brande , Esq. Sec. R.S. and Prof. Chem. 
R.I.—VII. An Accouut of the Compariron of various British 
Standards of linear Measure. By Capt. Henry Kater, F.R.S.— 
VIIT. An Account of the trinary Organs and Urine of two Species 
of the Genus Rana. By John Davy, M.D. F.R.S.—IX. An Ac- 
count of a Micrometer made of Rock C rystal. By G. Dollond, 
F.R.S.—X. The Bakerian Lecture. Qn the best Kind of Steel 
. and 
