editor’s table. 
37 
(Etritor’s Sable. 
A System of Geography, for the use of 
Schools. Illustrated with more than fifty Cerogra- 
phift Jdaps, and numerous wood-cut engravings. By 
Sidney E. Morse. Pp. 72, quarto, price 50 cents. Pub¬ 
lished by Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff street, N. Y.— 
We have looked over this publication with much care 
and attention, knowing that Mr. Morse had devoted 
much of his time for several years past, to make this 
the best of school manuals; and in this work we un¬ 
hesitatingly say he has eminently succeeded. For 
convenient reference;simplicity, and clearness of ar¬ 
rangement ; condensation and variety of matter; accu¬ 
racy of maps and general detail; beauty of illustration, 
and neatness of typography, we know of nothing equal 
to the above elementary work, or so deserving a gene¬ 
ral introduction into our schools; and, we may add, to 
the private library. The Messrs. Harpers have made 
themselves famous for their cheap publications; but 
how they contrive to issue such a work as this at the 
above low price, familiar as we are with the book- 
trade, we are at a loss to understand 
A Treatise on the Forces which produce 
the Organization of Plants. With an Appendix, 
containing several memoirs on Capillary Attraction, 
Electricity, and the Chemical Action of Light. By 
John William Draper, M.D., Professor of Chemistry 
in the University of New York. Published by Har¬ 
per & Brothers, No. 82 Cliff street, N. Y.; pp. 216, 
quarto, with numerous engravings—price $2 50.-—It 
is eleven years since Dr. Draper turned his attention 
to the subject of the work now before us. In every 
plant, he contends, there are two prominent actions 
carried forward—the production of organic matter, and 
its distribution through the various parts of the vege¬ 
table system. It is to the consideration of these that 
his pages are chiefly devoted. In pursuing his subjects, 
he shows the action of the solar rays in producing the 
?reen color of plants, and effecting the decomposition 
if carbonic acid gas; unquestionably, as he contends, 
:he most remarkable result in physiological and phy¬ 
sical science. It is the transmutation of inorganic 
nto organic matter, the yellow ray of light being the 
■perative principle. But it would take us beyond the 
irOvince of this periodical to pursue the subject be- 
bre us. Dr. Draper’s is a name long favorably known 
n connection with chemistry and vegetable physiolo¬ 
gy, and, so far as we are capable of judging, he has 
•vritten a work of considerable originality, and of great 
ability; ,clear and perspicuous in its style, and no less 
•nteresting to the agriculturist than the man of general 
■science. The volume is very handsomely got up, and 
5s alike creditable to the author and publishers. We 
■‘rust that the gentlemen interested in it, will be en- 
.•ouraged by a discerning public to give others of a like 
iharacter. 
Cottage Residences, Gardens, and Grounds, 
jy A. J. Downing. Landscape Gardening and 
Rural Architecture, by the same. 
New editions of the. above works, greatly improved, 
rve understand, have b en published by Wiley & Put- 
aam, of this city, the first editions having already been 
jxhausted. Mr. Downing has two other works also in 
>ress, which will appear early in the spring. One is 
Farm Architecture, following the volume of Cot¬ 
tage Residences; the other, The Fruits and 
Fruit Trees of America. We are glad to hear of 
this and predict for these works a large sale. 
Guano Manure.—We desire to call attention to the 
advertisement of Mr. Bartlett. This kept for sale by 
him is the Peruvian, which is much superior to the 
African. Samples may be seen at our office, and we 
will execute orders for any of our friends with great 
pleasure. This manure is very superior for light 
sandy lands, and on account of the small quantity re¬ 
quisite to produce a good crop, is, at present prices, 
one of the cheapest which can be purchased. It is 
especially desirable for gardens and conservatories, 
having no foul matter in it, and is so lightly and easily 
handled and applied. For its use and application we 
would refer to our last volume, where full information 
will be found regarding the same. It is a mistaken 
notion that Guano is not lasting on land ; the genuine 
Peruvian, after a trial of three years in England, has 
been found to be more so than the best farm-yard ma 
nure. 
Sheep on the Prairies. —It is estimated that about 
47,000 sheep have emigrated to the west the past 
season. 
Necessity of Manure for the Plantation. —A correspond¬ 
ent of the Carolina Planter says, by improvident man¬ 
agement, we have got to that point in this State [South 
Carolina], that no planter can make a living—much 
less accumulate an income, without constantly, sys¬ 
tematically, and perseveringly collecting and distrib¬ 
uting manures upon his lands. Almost everybody is 
now satisfied of this, and some few are trying to act 
upon it; though no one that I am acquainted with 
does a tenth part of what he ought to do, and might do. 
Sore Backs or Galls on Horses. —Rub white lead in 
sweet oil until a good paint is made, and apply a coat¬ 
ing of this to the injured place. Milk will do where 
no oil is to be had. It is one of the most effective ap¬ 
plications. Some for the same difficulty use a solu¬ 
tion of vitriol in water; but, in most cases, the white 
lead is preferable.— Far. Cabinet. 
We will add, that almost any kind of oil answers 
as well as sweet oil, to mix with the white lead. 
Sugar of lead is also very good, and perhaps acts milder 
than white lead. 
Large Crops of Corn. —Mr. Wadsworth, of Durham, 
Connecticut, raised from a quarter of an acre the past 
season, at the rate of 151 bushels and 18 quarts of 
shelled corn per acre. It was of the improved Dutton 
variety, and was planted about the first of May, in 
hills three feet apart, on rich sward ground, manured 
with 30 loads of common yard manure to the acre. 
Mr. W. had four acres nearly as good, all of which is 
attested by the Committee of the Middlesex Agricul¬ 
tural Society. 
Hatch's Machine for sowing Seed and Plaster. —Can any 
one inform us where we can see this machine, how it 
operates, and its price 1 We have an inquiry for one. 
Harrows —Who makes these in the greatest perfec¬ 
tion ? We have several inquiries for these at the south. 
Agricultural implement makers would do well to keep 
us advised of all good instruments, and furnish us 
promptly with cuts and descriptions of the same. 
Large ear of Corn. —An ear of corn was raised on the 
farm of Mr. Abraham Null, on Monocacy, this season, 
having on it one thousand eight hundred and thirty- 
eight grains—measuring one pint and a half of shelled 
corn.— West. Car. 
Statistics of Fruit. —An article on this subject was 
contributed by Mr. Higginson, of Newburgh, to our last 
volume; whereupon it partially went the rounds of 
the press. Some paper recently published it, and gave 
credit to the Southern, instead of the American Agri¬ 
culturist ; and now it is travelling with an increased 
circulation, the rounds of the press again. Yerily, some 
folks are amazingly sharp. But it verifies the old adage, 
that “ stolen fruit is always the sweetest.” 
To make dry Trees grow. —In conversation in our 
office with a gentleman a few days since, he informed 
us, if trees that had been some time dug and had be¬ 
come dry, were entirely buried in the earth for twenty* 
