1846.] Text Book of Agriculture. 271 



looking for the herds near Port Pleasant, they appeared from a 

 long distance like black spots, whilst south of Choiseul Sound 

 they appeared like white spots on the hill-sides. Capt. Sulivan 

 thinks that the herds do not mingle; and it is a singular fact that 

 the mouse-colored cattle, though living on the high land, calve 

 about a month earlier in the season than the other colored beasts 

 on the lower land. It is interesting thus to find the once domes- 

 ticated cattle breaking into three colors, of which some one color 

 would in all probability ultimately prevail over the others, if the 

 herds were left undisturbed for the next several centuries. 



The few extracts which we have made will convey some idea 

 of Mr. D.'s mode of treating the subject which came under his 

 observation, and we cannot do less than recommend the work to 

 our readers as one abounding in curious and valuable facts; those 

 which are not only practical, but also suited to convey to us reli- 

 able information in regard to the state and condition of the Re- 

 public of South America, and the peculiar habits and condition of 

 its inhabitants. 



A TEXT BOOK ON AGRICULTURE. 



BY N. S. DAVIS, M. D., BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 



This is a duodecimo volume of 126 closely printed pages, and 

 as its name imports, is a strictly elementary work. The first 

 twenty pages are occupied with a brief account of the impondera- 

 ble bodies or agents which produce changes in matter; together 

 with the laws that govern chemical combinations, the nomencla- 

 ture or system of naming, and the general classification of all 

 elementary substances — then follows a short account of each 

 elementary body that enters into the composition of soils and vege- 

 tables. The next two chapters treat of the formation, composi- 

 tion and classification of soils, and the composition of vegetables. 

 Then come twenty pages devoted to a consideration of " the 

 means possessed by man for fertilizing the soil, and rendering it 

 fit for the cultivation of any crop that he may desire," including 

 the preparation and application of manures. The chapter on the 

 latter subject closes with the following very just summary of the 

 objects to be accomplished, viz : 



