324 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



"Winter ; and a § was affixed to those varieties particu- 

 larly recommended by the author. In the new edi- 

 tion the classification according to the season is reject- 

 ed, and all the varieties are arranged under classes 1, 2, 

 and 3, corresponding to the " best," " very good," and 

 " good," of the American Pomological Society. "We think 

 it would have been an improvement if the season classifi- 

 cation had been retained, and the quality indicated under 

 sub-heads. 



The other alterations in the work are confined princi- 

 pally to the lists of fruit, which are judiciously revised and 

 enlarged. The cultural portions of the work are almost 

 entirely the same as in the former edition. "We observe 

 two changes : The recommendation to apply salt to the 

 soil beneath plum trees to kill the curculio, has been left 

 out. This is well, for in the majority of cases, at least, 

 salt has had no effect on the curculio. The other altera- 

 tion is, in our opinion, less judicious. In speaking of the 

 cause of failure of many sorts of Pears and Apples in cer- 

 tain parts of the country, the new edition says : "All along 

 the sea coast, where the soil is light, arid has been txhaust- 

 :d, by long cultivation, of lime, potash and phosphates, the 

 morgnnic elements absolutely ntcessary to the production 

 of fine pears, many varieties that once flourished well are 

 now feeble, and the fruit is often blighted." The italicised 

 words are new. That the idea here hinted at is correct 

 we very much doubt. If the soil was exhausted of "lime, 

 potash and phosphates," the trees would not grow at all 

 in it. The trees may be enfeebled and the fruit blighted, 

 owing to a deficiency of lime, potash and phosphates, but 

 the same is also true of all the twelve ingredients of plant 

 food, and why these three should have been selected out 

 we cannot understand. If to render some soils fertile, all 

 that is necessary is to supply them with the lime, potash 

 and "phosphates, which plants require, the labor and ex- 

 pense of renovating worn out soils would be much less 

 than is generally found to be the case. 



A Treatisk on tut? History and Manaofmunt of Ornamental 

 AND Domestic Poultry. By Kev. Edmund Saul Dixon, A. 

 M., Rector of fntwood-with-Kenswick, Norfolk, with Large ad- 

 ditions by J. J. Kerb, M. D. Illustrjited with sixty-five original 

 Portraits, engraved expressly for this work. Fourth edition, 

 revised. New York : A. O. Moore, (late Saxton & Co.), 140 

 Fulton street, New York. 



This is one of the very best poultry books, and we are 

 glad to see that a new edition is called for. The work 

 appeared originally as a series of articles in the Garden- 

 ers'' Chronicle. These were collected, and published in 

 book form in 1848. In 1851 a second edition appeared, 

 with numerous additions. In the same year this second 

 edition was re-published in this country, edited by Dr. 

 Kebr. There have been no additions made to the work 

 since that time. 



Sorgho anb Impitrt!, the CrriNESE and Aprtoan Sug.\^r Canes : 

 A treatise upon their origin, varieties and culture ; their value 

 as a forage cron ; and the mannfaetiire of sug.ar, syrup, alcohol, 

 ■wines, beer, ciiier, vinegar, starch and dye-Muffs : with a paper 

 by Leonard Wray, Ksq.. of Caffraria. and a description of his 

 patented process for chrystalizing the juice of the Tmphee. To 

 ■which are added copious translations of valuable French pam- 

 phlets. By Henry ?. OLroTT. Fully illustrated with driwings 

 of the best machinery. New York: A. O. Moore, Agricultural 

 Book Publisher, 140 Fulton street. 1857. 

 The contents of this work are fully set forth in the above 

 title page. It will prove valuable to all interested in the 

 culture of the Chinese sugar cane. It will be sent, post- 

 age paid, to any address, for $1.00. 



The American Farmer's Enctci.opedia : Embracing all the 

 recent discoveries in Agricultural Chemistry, and the use of 

 Mineral, Vegetable and Animal Manures, with descriptions and 

 figures of American Insects injurious to vegetation. Being a 

 complete guide fur the cultivation of every variety of Garden 

 and Field Crops. Illustrated by numerous engravings of Grass- 

 es, Grains, Animals, Implements, Insects, &c. By GouvhRNK-us 

 EMER.SON, of Philadelphia, upon the basis of Johnson's Farm- 

 er's Encyclopedia. New York : A. O. Mooua, Agricultural 

 Book Publisher. 1858. 



This is the only Farmer's Encyclopedia published in 

 this country. It is in many respects an able and valuable 

 work, and one which we have frequently commended. 

 When we received this work from the enterprising pub- 

 lisher, we were in hopes that it was a revised edition. Btrt 

 this is not the case. It has not been in any way altered 

 since it was first published in 1843. Still, it is a useful 

 publication, and worthy of a place in every farmer's libra- 

 ry ; though it would be much better if it contained " all 

 the recent discoveries in Agricultural Chemistry." 



inquixits an& ansfajtw. 



" How Much Manure is Desirable for a Gardbt*?" 



— (A. D.) "We cannot answer this question definitely. 

 For nearly all vegetables except potatoes, it is not easy to 

 make the soil too rich. Five ordinary barrow-fuls of rot- 

 ted manure to the square rod would be a heavy dressing, 

 but it is not too much, provided it is intimately mixed 

 with the soil a foot deep. For asparagus, strawberries, 

 and other deep-rooied plants, which remain on the samA 

 bed for several years, double this quantity may be used 

 with great advantage. The soil should be trenched two 

 feet deep, and the lower spit mixed with as much manure 

 as can be dug in. Subsoil manuring for such plants is 

 very beneficial. 



Buckwheat Straw as a Manure. — In answer to "W. 

 L., in the July number, I would say that I have tried 

 buckwheat straw, and think it as valuable as any other 

 straw, if not more so, as a manure. Let it be spread 

 early in the spring on the meadow, and the beneficial 

 effects are quite palpable; but much more so if used for 

 litter, — its absorbing properties retaining the liquid, &c. 

 J. Y.— Liberty, Tioga Co., Pa. 



Ringbone. — The knife in the hand of a skilful opera- 

 tor, when taken in time, is the best remedy, and no risk 

 further than in altering a colt. It is done by opening the 

 skin above the hoof and tying it back; then pass the knife 

 betwixt the object and the bone. "Why not try the recipe 

 copied from the London Field, in the July number, page 

 228, and let us know the result through the Farmer? J. 

 ¥.— Liberty, Tioga Co., Pa. 



"White Marl.— (O. L. Baer, Milford. Ind ) If the 

 white marl is composed principally of carbonate of lime, 

 as from your description we should judge to be the case, 

 it would be better to burn it, and thus convert it into quick 

 lime. It is quite probable, however, that it will have a 

 good effect in its natural state, applied in large quantities. 



Agricultural School. — (G. A. G., Eminence. Ky.) 

 "We believe the only Agricultural School in this State is 

 that kept by Messrs. Olcott & Vail, at Mount Vernon, 

 Westchester Co., N. Y. You will obtain full information 

 by addressing them. 



