1846. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



145 



Let no one say that large seeds cannot thu3 be 

 raised. The linest Oaks spring from Acorns 

 dropped in the forest and covered by a few leaves. 

 The Sycamore, the Ash, the Beech, the Horse 

 Chestnut will all sow themselves wherever their 

 seeds can stick to the ground until a coverlet of 

 leaves is moistened by an April shower and warm- 

 ed by an April sun. Neither have such seeds any 

 difficulty in steadying themselves by their roots; 

 a long fang is driven by vital impulse into the 

 earth, and it is to that, arid not to a bit of the bu- 

 ried neck of the stem that the seedling trusts for 

 support and nourishment. 



We will only add one word. Those who 

 have ever attempted to sow seeds upon rockwork, 

 know to their cost how very difficult it is to make 

 such seeds take root. The method now proposed 

 ;ms\vers the end completely, and it is tlie only 

 plan which, in difficult cases, does succeed. Ex- 

 perto crede Roberto. 



THE AMERICAN FLORA ; or History of Plant and 

 VVii.D Flowers of America. By A. B. Strong, M. D. 



The study of Botany, as a general thing, is 

 considered, when considered at all, as entirely 

 foreign to the cultivator of the soil, and worthy 

 only of the attention of young ladies at boarding 

 schools who may pursue it a little for their amuse- 

 ment in leisure hours. It requires but a moments 

 reflection to convince every one of ordinary in- 

 telligence that this is a false conclusion. Botany 

 consists not only in giving plants their proper 

 names and arranging them under their respective 

 classes and orders, but it includes their organiza- 

 tion and the entire phenomena of the vegetable 

 world. This gives another character to Botany 

 and places it in the position it ought to occupy as 

 one of the most important studies which can 

 claim the attention of every farmer and gardener 

 who wishes to pursue his vocation intelligbly. 



The enlightened agriculture of .the present day 

 is distinguished by the attention which is given 

 to the organization of soils. It is believed that 

 the cultivator, to be successful in improving his 

 land, must know its constituent parts : hence we 

 see analysis take the first rank among the inves- 

 tigations of agricultural students. The great 

 object in improving and preparing soila is to 

 facilitate the growth of plants, and if it be neces- 

 sary, to know the character, organization and 

 constituent parts of the soil. It appears no less 

 so to know the character, structure and habits of 

 plants to be grown. But the cultivator should 

 not only be familiar with the botany of the useful 

 plants, but even of the noxious weeds, in order that 

 he may more easily subdue and exterminate them. 



But aside from the j)ractical uiilily of this sci- 

 ence in the economy of Agriculture and Horti- 

 culture, it is well worthy of general attention. 

 The vegetable world presents a wonderful field 

 for research. No other human study is better 

 calculated to refine and elevate the mind. It 

 seems strange indeed that intelligent, knowledge 



seeking people, should spend their entire lives 

 in the country, practically engaged in rural pur- 

 suits — surrounded on all sides by the most beau- 

 tiful productions of the earth, from the bumble 

 violet in the grass, to the towering, majestic oak, 

 the emblem of might — witliout giving a moments 

 consideration to their wonderful and beautiful 

 structure. The man who is contented to plod 

 along mechanically, wilfully blind to the beau- 

 ties that are spread before him and around him, 

 surely mistakes his destiny, and tramples beneath 

 his feet much of the happiness he might enjoy 

 here. We would not have people become en- 

 thusiasts on the subject, or bestow on it attention 

 claimed by other matters of more immediate im- 

 portance ; but we do desire to see every one, 

 whose business is to till the soil, devote a rea- 

 sonable share of attention to a subject an ac- 

 quaintance with which cannot fail to promote 

 both their interest and happiness. 



We hope the teachers who are now trained at 

 the expense of the State will be qualified to in- 

 struct the rising generation in the study of botany. 

 It should be taught, and that properly and prac- 

 tically, in every school in the land. No man 

 should be allowed to go forth as a teacher into an 

 agricultural district, without this qualification. — 

 Boys are required to spend many a valuable hour 

 in trying to remember when such and such a 

 hero was born, and how and when he died, &c., 

 that we know by experience to be time almost 

 lost, while studies of the greatest practical import- 

 ance and refining influence are wholly neglected. 



These thoughts have been suggested by the 

 appearance of "The American Flora," two 

 numbers of which are before us. It is got up in 

 an attractive and beautiful style, and will be a val- 

 uable aid to the botanical student. Each num- 

 ber contains five well executed colored engra- 

 vings, taken from nature. Scientific and general 

 descriptions, medical properties and uses, botan- 

 ical and common names, natural order, and class 

 and order according to the Linnccn system, — all 

 are given in a plain, concise manner. 



Those who wish a useful and at the same time 

 a beautiful periodical, should immediately sub- 

 scribe for this. Every number will bring you 

 five fine engravings, and make you acquainted 

 with the names, history, qualities and uses of five 

 new plants. Is not this worth 2.5 cents 1 Sure- 

 \y it is. It is published on the first of every 

 month by Strong & Bidwell, Now York, at <f 3 

 a year, or 25 cents each number. For sale by 

 D. M. Dewey, Arcade News Room, Rochester. 



Hovey's Magazine announces a new work, 

 entitled " Tlie Trees of America, Pictorially, 

 BotanicaUy and Entomologically Dclincaicd,^^ 

 ^-c. By D. J. Browne, author of the Sylvia 

 Americana. The work will no doubt be an in- 

 teresting one to all who are engaged, less or more, 

 in the cultivation of trees. As soon as it comes 

 along here, we will apprize our readers. 



