180 M'^Jntosh's Practical Gardener. 



though we do not think it necessary that gardeners should possess the prac- 

 tical knowledge of farmers, we should wish them to be masters of the 

 science of agriculture. " The male parent is the preserver and creator of 

 a race. The first changes in crossing are always exhibited in those parts 

 that possess the power of being reproduced, as the hair, horns, hooves, 

 &c. The fleshy parts change slowly, in proportion as the mother has much 

 of the blood of the original race. The first changes take place in the head, 

 and are gradually developed towards the hinder quarters of the ,animal. 

 To produce a new race, as many generations are necessary, as years are for 

 perfecting their teeth." 



In the body of the work an extract is given from the Annates de r Agricul- 

 ture Francaise, the object of which is to show that in breeding a greater 

 number of one sex than of the other, may be obtained at the option of the 

 breeder. The principle is, when most males are wanted, strengthen the power 

 of the male parents relatively to the strength of the females; and when 

 most females are wanted the contrary. The application to a flock of sheep 

 is thus given. The farmer wishing a greater number of female lambs, is re- 

 commended to put very young rams to the ewes ; and also, that during the 

 season that the rams are with the ewes, the ewes should have more abun- 

 dant pasture than the rams. When male lambs are chiefly to be obtained, 

 strong and vigorous rams four or five years old are to be put to the ewes. 



The Prize Essays and Transactions of the Highland Society of Scotland, 

 form a separate part of each number, and we shall defer their examination 

 for the present. 



We have passed unnoticed several valuable essays, among the original 

 communications, but have done enough to show that this is one of the first 

 agricultural journals in Europe. Our opinion is, that it is the very first ; 

 being in fact what the present state of science and taste for reading among 

 the more intellectual agriculturists, might have been expected to call forth. 

 We would recommend it to Farmer John Bull, but it would be of no use, 

 for he has already got his Weekly Farmer's Journal, which is to the 

 Quarterly Journal what the agriculture of Hertfordshire or Essex, or any 

 of the midland counties, is to that of East Lothian, Berwickshire, or North- 

 umberland. We have recommended it, however, to several distinguished 

 individuals and societies in France and Germany, and we hope, for the 

 credit of the young and reading agriculturists of Britain, that they will profit 

 according to the opportunity offered to them by this work. 



One fault in the arrangement of the articles in this journal needs only to 

 be pointed out to the editor. The articles are mixed, probably by chance, or 

 possibly with the idea of giving variety. Mixture, however, is not variety. 

 No two articles or objects of any kind, composing part of a whole series, 

 ought to be placed together without a particular reason. ^A connected 

 series or train of ideas, ought to be excited in the mind, even in looking 

 over the contents of a book. In No. IV. for example, instead of the ar- 

 rangement given, we should have placed the articles thus: i. ii. xi. iv. v. 

 X. VII. IX. xiii. III. XII. VI. VIII. and xiv. At present they put us in mind 

 of Regent Street ; a great many good parts, but not a good whole. 



Mcintosh, Charles, C.M.H.S., late Gardener to the Right Honourable the 

 Earl of Breadalbane, and Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. M.P. &c. &c. : the 

 Practical Gardener and Modern Horticulturist ; containing the latest 

 and most approved Methods for the Management of the Kitchen, Fruit, 

 and Flower Garden, the Green-house, Hot-house, &c. &c., for every 

 Month in the Year ; each Department being distinctly and separately ar- 

 ranged ; illustrated by numerous Designs of the most eligible Plans for 

 the Formation of Kitchen and Pleasure Gardens, the Erection of Hot- 

 houses, Hot-beds, Green-houses, Conservatories, Walls, Fences, &c. &c., 

 including the new Method of heating Forcing-houses with Hot-water 



