84 Catalogue of Works on Gardenings S^-c. 



same process, which at any one period effected the improvement, must be 

 judicious if apphed to any soil similar in its nature. In agriculture, as well as 

 in most arts and sciences, to stand still is the prelude to going back. The 

 soil, under the hands of a skilful agriculturist, must not only be made to 

 produce all that it is capable of producing, but its capacity for production 

 must be continually increasing, until it arrives at that state when a further 

 increase of humus would loosen its texture too much to produce many of the 

 most vaUiable plants, which are the chief objects of cultivation ; for, beyond 

 a certain proportion, the increase of humus does not always increase the 

 produce. 



" These preliminary observations appear necessary, to enable those who may 

 not have paid much attention to the theory of vegetation, to trace their ac- 

 cordance with the practice which experience and observation alone have 

 suggested and confirmed. They may also be useful in suggesting to those 

 who would imitate any particular system of husbandry the modifications 

 which are necessary, where the soil, climate, and other circumstances are 

 different. 



" The advantages of stirring the soil to a considerable depth by trenching 

 and deep ploughing, which only now begin to be generally appreciated in 

 England, and the intimate union of the manure with every portion of the soil, 

 have long been practically acknowledged by the farmers in the Netherlands." 



Mr. Babington shows that the Elax-Dodder {CuscvM epilinum) is common m 

 flax fields in Shropshire, in Wales, in the West of Ireland, in Argyleshire, in 

 Somersetshire, and in Dumfriesshire. In Somersetshire this weed is known 

 by the name of the Mulberry, derived probably from the form and ap- 

 pearance of its bunches of pale pinkish flowers ; in the West of Ireland it is 

 denominated the Parasite plant. It was introduced into Ireland in 18.36, by 

 some Odessa flaxseed ; but it is never found in American or Riga seed. " It 

 is therefore manifest, the almost certain way of avoiding this troublesome weed 

 is by obtaining American or Riga seed, and not purchasing Odessa seed." 



The Advantage of mixing Soils is shown in a prize essay by Mr. Linton ; 

 by whom a barren sand was rendered fit for producing good crops, by spreading 

 150 yards of clay on each acre, the expense of which was under 6/. The land 

 is never so productive the first two years, or until the clay has got well pul- 

 verised and mixed with the sand, as it is afterwards ; and will not grow a good 

 crop or a fine sample of barley till five or six years after the clay is laid on. 

 Mr. Linton therefore sowed oats, and succeeded perfectly. 



A paper on the Reduction of Horse Labour shows a saving by two-horse 

 ploughs of one fourth, and by single-horse carts of one fifth. 



The rem.aining papers we must leave till another opportunity. As almost 

 every gentlenjan of landed property in England is a subscriber to the Journal 

 of the Agricultural Society, we hope they will lend it to their gardeners as 

 well as to their bailiffs ; for assuredly it is calculated to be of great benefit to 

 both, provided they belong to the reading class of these professions. To those 

 who do not belong to this class, the Journal, like every other work which 

 treats of principles as well as practice, will in a great measure be a sealed book. 



Art. II, Catalogue of Works on Gardening, Agriculture, Botany, 

 Rural Architecture, Sfc, lately published, with some Account of 

 those considered the more interesting, 



ICONES Plantarum Rariorum, S^c. By Link, Klotzsch, and Otto. Part II. 



We have in our preceding Volume, p. 556., noticed the first part of this 

 elegant work ; that now before us contains descriptions and figures of 1. Piiya 

 Altensteinii ; 2. Lobelia discolor ; 3. Olink capensis ; 4. O'xalis Otibms ; 

 5. Microstylis histionantha ; and 6. Oncidium carthaginense Sivartz. The 



