Review of the Southern Agriculturist. 185 



*' But to the practical liorticiilturist no branch of physical science is more 

 useful and important tlian Entomology. Small as the objects may be of 

 which it treats, and insignificant as it may seem to the generality of man- 

 kind, it i.«, nevertheless, highly interesting in itself, and of great and obvious 

 miiity to the gardener. The matchless wisdom and perfection of God are 

 not less strikingly manifested in tlie formation of this class of animated be- 

 ings than in the other portions of his animal kingdom. The fairy and gor- 

 geous butterfly, and the brilliant beetle, are as exquisitely imagined and as 

 elaborately executed as the most splendid floral production of his hand. To 

 these 'valued miniatures, nature has given the most delicate touch and high- 

 est finish of her pencil. Numbers are armed with a glittering mail like bur- 

 nished gold ; in others is the dazzling radiance of polished gems; some are 

 decked with what looks like liquid drops, or plates of gold and silver; some 

 vie with flowers in the delicacy and variety of their colors ; others in the 

 texture of their wings ; and others in the rich cottony down that clothes 

 them.' Their instinct and magical transformations excite our admiration 

 and astonishment. In the wonderful metamorphosis of the insect tribe, 

 passing from the inert mass, the egg. to the perfect animal, through all their 

 diff'erent stages of existence, we catmot fail to recognize an analogy between 

 these physical changes and that which our immortal spirits are destined to 

 undergo ; and I cordially concur, with an able writer on this subject, in the 

 belief "that one of the great purposes of the Deity in creating his insect 

 kingdom was to excite this sentiment (a belief in the resurrection) in the 

 human heart, and to raise by it the contemplative mind to look forward to a 

 possible revival from the tomb, as the butterfly from its sepulchral chrysalis.' 



The value of Horticultural societies are particularly mentioned, 

 and the Cemeteries of Pere la Chaise at Paris, and of Mount Au 

 burn in our vicinity, are spoken of in terms of the highest praise. 



Art. II, The Southern Agriculturist and Register of Rural Af- 

 fairs. Edited by A. E. Miller, Esq. In Monthly numbers, 8vo. 

 $5 per annum. No. IV. for April. 



We have received the numbers from the commencement of the 

 present volume, (the Vlllth of the work) of this very excellent 

 Agricultural periodical. We should have before taken notice of it, 

 as also several other valuable and highly useful publications on the 

 subject of Agriculture ; but we have been so far compelled, for want 

 of room, to defer them until a more favorable opportunity offers, for 

 us to speak of them more particularly. The former editor of the 

 Southern Agriculturist, J. D. Legare, retired froiTi his arduous duties 

 with the close of the last year, and the successorship has been taken 

 by Mr, Miller. 



Mr. Legare was a very able and courteous editor, and the success 

 of his work was ample proof that he did not labor in vain, to advance 

 the science of Agriculture in the southern States. We have no fear 

 but his successor will sustain the high character of the work. 



VOL, I. NO. V, Z 



