602 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov, 



His words do not indicate any great degree 

 of brilliancy of tints in the foliage, but only a 

 "wan dt'tlining green to sooty dark." It is 

 probable that he had no adequate conception 

 of the brilliancy and transcendent colorings in 

 our autumnal forests. The superior beauty of 

 our autumnal hues, compared with those of 

 England, are said to be owing to the greater 

 intensity of the sun's rays and the greater 

 proportion of clear weather in America. What- 

 ever these causes may be, it is difficult to de- 

 termine. They are hidden, as yet, in the in- 

 scrutable operations of nature ; though the 

 suggestions of Mr. Sorby, an English scien- 

 tific gentleman, to which we alluded a few 

 weeks since, may be accepted as at least a 

 plausible theory of the causes which produce 

 these autumnal tints. 



One thing, however, is certain. They are 

 tokens of a boundless love to us, and eviden- 

 ces of a love of the beautiful in their Creator. 

 When these brilliant colors appear, the year 

 is waning, and the flush and beauty of all veg- 

 etable life is beginning to decay. The fruits 

 of the earth have ripened ; the field crops are 

 ready for the harvest ; the leaves fall to the 

 earth and return to their native dust, — types 

 of our own condition and mortality. But, like 

 the last moments of the Christian, the leaves 

 shed their brightest lustre in their dying hours, 

 and leave with us charming remembrances of 

 the last and most brilliant periods of their 

 existence. 



WTEW PUBLICATIONS. 



The American Natlralist, a popular Illustrated 

 Magazine of Natural HiHtory. Edited by A. S. Pack- 

 ard, Jr.. and K. W. Putnam. E. S. Moore and A. 

 Uy.itt, A.SKoci,ite Editors, Salem, Mass. Peabody In- 

 Blitute of Hcience. 8vo. About 700 pages. $4 a 

 year; bound, $5 a volume. 



This Magazine has been published nearly five 

 years. It is issued in monthly numbers and makes 

 a yearly volume of about 700 pages. AVe have oc- 

 casionally called attention to it as we have received 

 the serial immbers; but having recently exchanged 

 the loose pamphlets of the first four years for the 

 bound volumes, we must again express our high 

 estimation of the value of this work. It consists 

 of brief articles on the various topics of natural 

 history, which are written by scientific men tor the 

 ctimmon reader, — for unscientific people. In fact, 

 "the leading object of the journal," says the editor 

 himself, ".-ihall be to amuse the reader, perhaps 

 decoy him within the temple of Nature; and, if he 

 be a willing student, instruct him in some of its 

 mysteries." Ileuce the best skill of the book- 



maker is employed — paper, type, illustrations and 

 binding being of the best quality and most attrac- 

 tive appearance. AVould that any word of ours 

 might have the efTcct to "decoy" the boys and girls 

 of our farm houses from the fictitious and super- 

 natural stories which so many now read, to the 

 higher, more interesting, and more practical "mys- 

 teries" of natural science, to which this magazine 

 is devoted. These four volumes average twelve 

 full-page engraved plates and 139 wood cuts, show- 

 ing insects, birds, fishes, plants, &c., or illustrative 

 of facts in geology, ancient monuments, and other 

 subjects which are discussed in the text of these 

 volumes. 



Mr. Packard, the senior editor, is Lecturer on En- 

 tomology at the Massachusetts State Agricultural 

 College, and Entomologist to the State Board of 

 Agriculture, and the leading articles are written by 

 authorities on the various subjects treated of. The 

 London Quarterly Journal of Science, in speaking 

 of the American Naturalist, says, "the leading men 

 of science in America are among its contributors, 

 and it is every waj' worthy of the great nation 

 which it is intended to interest and instruct." 



An interesting feature of the work is the depart- 

 ment of "Natural History Miscellany," in which 

 the editors briefly but clearly set forth any new 

 discoveries or facts in natural history, and answer 

 pertinent questions from correspondents. Illustra- 

 tions are freely used where necessary to make the 

 description intelligible. 



As the high cost of this work, soon to enter on 

 its sixth volume, may render it inaccessible to 

 many for whose benefit it is published, we would 

 call the attention of library committees, many of 

 whom are at this season making up lists of books 

 for purchase, to these four volumes of the Amer- 

 ican Naturalist and Illustrated Magazine of Nat- 

 ural History. 



An Address before the Students of the Pardee Scien- 

 tifio Department in Lafayette College. By Anhbel 

 Welch, C. E , delivered at the opening of the College 

 year, Aug. 31, 1871. Lambertville, N.J. Hazen & 

 Roberts, 1871. 



This is not an essay or an oration, but an argu- 

 ment for the means and the necessity of a better 

 education of engineers, based on the experience of 

 a long life devoted to the profession, and on the 

 prospective demands of the country for engineering 

 skill. Its suggestions are worthy the most careful 

 consideration by every one looking to engineering 

 as a profession. 



The pamphlet, singularly enough, furnishes no 

 clew to the location of "Lafayette College," while 

 the imprint is calQula/ed to mislead, as the college 

 is in Easton, Penn. The Scientific Department 

 was founded by a gifTt of 8(400,000 by Mr. Pardee, 

 who was associated with Mr. Welch while both 

 were young engineers. Both the Department and 

 the Address are indications of the extent of the 

 "new departure" from the old theory that "the 

 only pursuits in civil life suitable for educated men 

 were medicine, law, theology and education." 



