294 



Editorial Notices. 



* Vol. VIII. 



fevour of the use of lime, that may still be 

 wanting with our friend Vanleer. To take 

 this short journey may be objectionable, but 

 I repeat, it will go further to establish the 

 truth, than all he will gain by reading or 

 writing. As my working days are over, I 

 shall take great pleasure in the short tour. 

 The Romans many centuries ago, discovered 

 the value of lime on land, by the accidental 

 application of old mortar, plastering and rub- 

 bish, from the walls of buildings ; chemists 

 have since demonstrated, that plants and 

 grain yield a portion of lime on analysis, 

 yet our friend Vanleer has the nerve to face 

 an opposing world, and deny its merits and 

 virtues at this late day, for any thing but 

 the trowel ; I am desirous that he shall con- 

 vince the world, or the world convince him. 

 But should he triumph, the millions which 

 his opinion will save in outlay, if advantages 

 are equal, will enable us, instead of voting 

 him a golden plough, to award him a golden 

 statue to boot. However wrong our friend 

 may be in his anti-lime views, I observe by 

 the political papers, he is right on one sub- 

 ject — a redeeming trait — that of identifying 

 himself with the policy of home industry 

 and the protection of American agriculture 

 and manufactures ; so we shall pass all his 

 waste labours as chimeras of his brain, and 

 second his efforts in establishing for farmers 

 correct views of national policy. 



An Old Farmer. 



Lancaster co., Pa., 3rd mo. 19th, 1844. 



THE FARMERS' CABINET, 



AND 



AiaHRZCAXT HURD-BOOK. 



Philadelphia, Fourth Month, 1844. 



It was remarked in the last number of the Cabinet, 

 page 263, that a letter had been received from William 

 Henry Sothara, respecting the inquiries of a writer 

 under the signature of " Fair Play," which appeared 

 in this paper in the Second month last. In that letter 

 dated " Feb. 18th.," W. H. Sotham says, " if ' Fair 

 Play' will give his name and residence, I will answer 

 any questions in my power, that he may make; until 

 then I shall keep silent." In a more recent communi- 

 cation dated the 20th ult., from W. H. Sotham, he 

 says, " I think that no man has a right to make use of 



another's name anonymously." "I am perfectly 



willing to meet any breeder with the Herefords, and 

 in any fah- position, but I will never answer an 

 anonymous writer." It may perhaps be permitted us 

 to remark, that the practice of anonymous writing is 

 so common in periodicals, whose object is discussion 

 and the spreading of information before the public, 

 that its impropriety is scarcely recognized. W. H. So- 

 tham's challenge in relation to his pure Herefords * 



* See page 145. 



was offered to the owner of any breed in the United 

 States: and when the communication of "Fair Play," 

 one of the challenged parties, was inserted in the 

 Cabinet, although anonymous, the editor did not for 

 one moment suspect, nor did he suppose that any one 

 else would believe, that he was at all infringing upon 

 the privileges of a writer, who appeared under his real 

 name. The inquiries, as every one will perceive, were 

 courteously made, and were believed by " Fair Play" 

 to be relevant to the occasion. He was competent to 

 put them : W. H. Sotham has the privilege of an- 

 swering them or not, as he sees proper. It can scarce- 

 ly be necessary to say, that it is one of the objects of 

 the editor's ambition, to acquaint himself with his 

 duties, and in the discharge of them, scrupulously to 

 respect the feelings and rights of others. 



" A LOVE of flowers is one of the earliest of our 

 tastes, and certainly one of the most innocent. The 

 cultivation of flowers, while it forms an elegant 

 amusement, is a most healthy and invigorating pur- 

 suit. Unlike hunting, fishing, shooting, or similar 

 rural amusements, it inflicts no suffering on any of 

 the animal creation, and merely aids nature in her 

 efforts to make the world beautiful to the eye, as the 

 fruits are pleasant to the taste. The flower garden, 

 while it agreeably occupies the time, does not impose 

 a heavy tax upon the pocket; and there are very few 

 flowers but what may be cultivated to as great perfec- 

 tion in the garden of the peasant, as of the peer. U 

 is a taste, too, which is well adapted to the female 

 character, and affords much rational amusement to the 

 recluse, who by choice or chance is separated ' from 

 the crowded haunts of men, in busy cities pent.' " 



We find the above expressions in the opening chap- 

 ter of a little Manual of Oardcning or Complete 

 Florist— price 25 cents, just published by Lea & Blan- 

 chard. It contains practical instruction for the man- 

 agement of green-house plants, and for the cultivation 

 of shrubbery, the flower garden and the lawn. We are 

 promised another work on the same plan, and by the 

 same hand, adapted to the fruit and kitchen garden. A 

 friend whose reminiscences of the city run back fur- 

 ther than our own, assures us that Michaux does not 

 deserve the reproof he receives on page 70. The bar- 

 riers there spoken of, do not refer to the curbs, but to 

 posts which it was common many years ago to 

 plant along the pavements as a protection to them, 

 and which, as Michaux states, were very frequently of 

 red cedar. ' 



The season for the application of PonnRETTE, eitlier 

 on wheat, corn, vegetables, or grass, &c., is now at 

 hand. We would refer our friends to several lettenr 

 on this matter, from Dr. Emerson, of this city, R. B. 

 Coleman, of the Astor House, New York, and T. B. 

 Townsend, of Long Island, which will be found in the 

 Cabinet for the First month last, as well as to the ad- 

 vertisement in the present number. 



S3- SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, 43 

 The subject matter of which, may correspond with the 

 agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted 

 at the rate of one dollar for each insertion often linea 

 or less; and so in proportion for each additional Jine. 

 The money to be paid in advance. 



