262 



Editorial Notices. 



Vol. IX. 



H. L. Ellsworth, the Commissioner of Patents at 

 Washington, will accept very hearty thanks for his 

 highly valuable Annual Report for the year 1844; and 

 also for another package of seeds, which have been 

 distributed. In running the eye through the Report, 

 we observe much that we shall be likely to transfer 

 for the benefit of our readers, who may not have ac- 

 cess to it. 



Rural Economy, in its relations with Chemistry, 

 Physics, and Meteorology; or. Chemistry applied to 

 Agriculture; by J. B. Boussingadlt, member of the 

 Institute of France, &c., translated, with an Introduc- 

 tion and Notes, by George Law, Agriculturist. 



This work has just issued from the press of D. Ap- 

 pleton & Co., No. 200 Broadway, New York, and G. S. 

 Appleton, No. 148 Chesnut street, Philadelphia. A 

 very neat copy has been placed on our table, and on 

 looking hastily through it, we arc well satisfied that a 

 valuable .addition has been thus made to the amount of 

 important agricultural information within our reach. 

 M. Boussingault is not by any means a mere theorist, 

 or man of science — lie is a practical farmer, watching 

 closely all the operations of his plantation at Bechel- 

 JroKH, in the east of France; and handling the balance 

 himself, weighing his calves, &c., from day to day, as 

 well as the produce of his fields, has ascertained with 

 scrupulous e.xactness the facts which sustain the very 

 interesting results now published. lie has for many 

 years been engaged in these inquiries, and while as a 

 man of letters, he has held a high position at the side 

 of such men as Arago, Biot, and a Dumas, he has, like 

 Cincinnatus, been occasionally found guiding his own 

 plough. The chapters on Soils, Manures, Rotation of 

 Crops. Feeding of .Animals, will be found to embody 

 many important leading principles in relation to these 

 primary objects with the ftirmer. In every country 

 the great fundamental principles of agriculture are 

 the same, and it is for the intelligent practitioner to 

 make them subservient to his interests; and to do 

 this, let him avail liimself of all the means within his 

 reach. Of all men, it will not do for the farmer to sit 

 idly with his arms folded, and say / already know all 

 things. 



The work, a duodecimo of more than 500 pages, may 

 be procured either at the office of the Farmers' Cabi- 

 net, or at the book store of the publishers. No. 148 

 Chesnut street, — price $1.50 



The following premiums will be awarded by the 

 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, at itsstatcd meet- 

 ing on the 15th of next month. Those to be given on 

 the 18th inst., we published a month ago. 



For the best Pelargoniums, (Geraniums,) ten named 

 varieties, in pots, $3. 



For the next best, do. do. S2. 



For the best Hyacinths, ten named varieties to be 

 exhibited, $3. 



For the next best do., ten named varieties, $2. 



For the best Pansies, six varieties to be exhibited, $2. 



For the next best do. do. $1. 



For the best Auriculas, four named varieties to be 

 exhibited, $3. 



For the next best do. do. $2. 



For the best Polyanthus, six named varieties to be 

 exhibited, $3. 



For the best forced Cucumbers, four in number, $3. 



For the best Sea Kale, two bunches of one pound 

 each, $3. 



Our valued friend M. S. Thomas, of Chestcrtown, 

 Md., will receive thanks for the package of Mimosa 

 seed, so kindly forwarded: they are in course of distri- 

 bution as directed. She has one of these highly orna- 

 mental trees, — which she raised from the seed, — now 

 ten years old. Though at first it died down, for a cou 

 pie of winters before it became acclimated,— the seed 

 having come from the South,— it is very flourishing, 

 and has attained the size of a large peach tree. "The 

 foliage," says she, " is beautiful ; the flowers very hand- 

 some. It commences blooming in June— continues for 

 a month, and has bloomed twice some years, but more 

 sparingly the second time. I cannot convey an ade- 

 quate idea of its beauty when the sun is on it in the 

 evening." It apears to be free from liability to attacks 

 from insects— the caterpillar even, avoiding it entirely. 

 The seed should be prepared for planting in a light and 

 rich mould, by having water very nearly boiling, poured 

 over them at night— allow them to stand in it till 

 morning: all that are swelled, plant— scald the balance 

 again, and when swelled, plant them. When up, weed 

 them carefully by hand, as a hoe injures the roots 

 which run near the surface. When three or four inches 

 high, tie them to a stake, or they will hardly become 

 trees, the tops inclining to approach the earth, like the 

 the Banyan. 



Those who are curious in these matters, will please 

 call and get some of the seed. 



In a note from D. Lloyd, of Montgomery county, he 

 speaks highly of the advantages that would result to 

 farmers from a general propagation of the Red cedar— 

 Virginian Juniperus. He considers it useful for many 

 purposes on the farm, from its lightness, toughness, 

 and durability; and thinks it would be worthwhile, 

 on the edges of plantations which are a good deal ex- 

 posed, to plant these trees to break off the cold winds; 

 thus affording a shelter to stock. He mentions also 

 their beauty, fragrance and adaptation for the pur- 

 poses of the Cabinet maker. 



It may be mentioned by the way, that the editor has 

 frequently heard it remarked, that the Red cedar in 

 the vicinity of thorn hedges, was thought to be par- 

 ticularly injurious. 



Some apples of a superior flavor, as well as some 

 scions from the original tree, producing what in Ver- 

 mont, is called Jewett's Best, were lately icft with us 

 by Solomon W. Jewett, of Weybridge. The grafts 

 have been distributed among those who will take pro- 

 per care of them ; some were sent to our friend Bos- 

 well, of this city, who has a nursery in the vicinity; 

 and a couple of apples were also given him. He is 

 famous for his wax fruits, and will probably take a 

 fac simile of this apple. It is quite celebrated in Ver- 

 mont, and has been introduced into some of the best 

 nuiseries abroad. 



