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414 Corresi^oiidence of J. NichUs. 



Etudes et Lectures sur les Sciences cT Observation et leurs a2ypUcatton8 

 pratiques ; by M, Babinet. 3d vol, Paris: chez Mallet-Bachelier. — In 

 this third volume, the author presents for popular reading, many subjects 

 of importance, as follows. 1st. The Diamond and Precious Stones; 2d. 

 Light-houses and artificial lights; 3d. Physics of the Globe (made up 

 from the works of Mrs. Somerville) ; 4th. Quilliboeuf (consisting of re- 

 sults of meteorological researches by M, Babinet at the mouth of the 

 Seine); 5th. The Mediterranean; 6th. On the Plurality of AVorlds. 



Ou the Groiotk of Wheat and on the Combined nitrogen in soils ; by 

 Lawks and Gilbert. 8vo, London, On some Points in the Composition 

 of Wheat grain^ its products in the Mill and Bread ; by Lawes and Gil- 

 bert. -. 8vo. — Messrs, Lawes and Gilbert do not attribute to nitrogen in 

 farina the importance acceded to it by chemists generally. They think 

 that what is of special importance in aliments is a large proportion of 

 the respiratory elements. The two pamphlets mentioned contain numer- i 



ous analyses of the highest interest to agriculture and chemical science. 

 Thus it is seen that both in Europe and America the proportion of glu- I 



ten increases gradually in going from the north to the south; and that 

 the quantity and quality oi the ash which vary greatly when the crop 

 is poor, seem to have in fully matured crops a uniformity of composition 

 and of proportion which is very remarkable and almost independent of 

 tbe nature of the manures used. 



Maladie de la Pomme de Terre^ de la Betterave, du Ble^ et de la Vigne^ 

 de 1849 a 1853; par Payen-. 1 vol., 12mo. Paris: chez Hachette, 

 Besides giving the history of the disease which has ravaged the crops of 

 Europe, this small book points out the means for resisting it with success. 

 Payen is member of the agricultural section of the Institute and General 

 Secretary of the Central Society of Agriculture, and is in a better position 

 than any one else to be well posted up in al! that relates to agriculture. 



La Baltique ; par Leouzon le Due. In 12mo. Paris: chez Hachette. 



The author has for a long time lived in the Scandinavian countries. 

 His work treats of the history of these countries from a political, literary^ 

 scientific and industrial point of view. The whole is clearly presented and 

 in excellent taste. The work serves as a complement to the following 



Ilistoire des Etats Scandinaviens^ Suede, Norwege et Danemarlc ; par 

 M. Geoffroy, Professor in the Faculty of Letters at Bordeaux. 1 vol, 

 contenant 5 cartes, 2 plans et une gravure. 



VHistoire d^ Angleterre^ comjncnant celle de VEcosse^ de VLslande et des 

 Possessions Anglaises ; par Fleurv. — This subject is taken up from the 

 same point of view as the above; and to the political and geographical 

 divisions is added a literary and scientific, with a chapter on the part 

 which the Anglo-saxon race has taken in the progress of human knowl- 

 edge and in existing civilization. 



La Musigue mise a la poriee de tout le Monde; par Fetis, Directeur 

 dn Conseryatoire de Musique de Bruxelles. 1 vol., 2d ed. Paris: chez 

 Hachette. — M. Fetis in his work presents with great simplicity the princi- 

 ples required to enable one to speak and judge of music witliout profound 

 study. He commends it not only to the popular reader but to men of 

 science, and especially to medical men who should undert=tand the prin 

 ciples of acoustics. 



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