Foreign Agricultural News.—To Correspondents_Editor’s Table. 
319 
establishing a Farmer’s Club in London, where all 
who come up there on business or pleasure may form 
a re-union, on the same plan as at other club houses, 
or something like our own reading rooms ; except that 
the clubs are more extensive and varied in their ac¬ 
commodations, having conversation, dining, and other 
rooms attached to them. This would not be a bad 
idea to act upon in this city. Will the American In¬ 
stitute think of it ? 
Azote. —Mr. Edward Addison has broached what 
he calls a “ new theory of the action of azote,” which 
we may more particularly allude to hereafter. He 
contends that it is very necessary to supply it in suffi¬ 
ciency to the soil, so that it may convert larger quan¬ 
tities of the carbon of the soil and atmosphere into 
grass, grain, and root crops; for he believes that azote 
is the principal element which nature makes use of in 
procuring food for plants. We have looked in vain 
through his article for any experiments or facts to sup¬ 
port his “ new theory.” 
Criteria of Breed in Prize Animals. —Mr. 
George Drake proposes to the Royal Agricultural So¬ 
ciety to erect a standard of character for every class of 
stock to be exhibited hereafter for premiums; also a 
stnndard of form , and every point necessary to consti¬ 
tute a perfect animal, to be noticed' according to its 
importance, and have its proper influence in the de¬ 
cision of the judges—and much more to the same pur¬ 
pose : but as this subject was proposed and fully dis¬ 
cussed by ourselves, as long ago as in the August 
number of this paper, for the regulation of American 
Agricultural Societies, we need not quote further from 
Mr. Drake’s communication. We are glad, however, 
to find ourselves seconded by such high authority, and 
are more and more satisfied every day we live, that no 
fixed scientific improvement will take place among the 
great mass of breeders, till some sueh rules are esta¬ 
blished. 
Corn Trade. —In his reviews of the corn trade, the 
Editor is particularly fierce against the new British 
Tariff, which now permits the introduction of Ameri¬ 
can meat and flour more freely into England; and he 
declares so emphatically, that “ our field laborers can¬ 
not compete in cheapness of living with the helps of 
America,” it causes one to smile at the apparent mise¬ 
ry of the man; more especially when we consider, that 
ever since we have become a nation, wc have been Eng 
land’s best customer, and that the balance of trade 
from this quarter has generally been largely against us. 
Count De Gourcy.. —The Editor continues in the 
December No. his translation with notes, of the Agri- 
cutural Tour in England and Scotland, of the Count de 
Gourcy. The style is easy and conversational, and the 
remarks of the Count in his travels are generally quite 
correct. He is, however, somewhat credulous in set¬ 
ting down for facts , pretty much all John Bull hap¬ 
pened to tell him; but we cannot much wonder at this, 
when we consider how finely he was feasted from 
place to place. His Journey in England must have 
been quile a gala day to him. 
But we have no further room for foreign summary, 
and must forbear notice of New Farmer’s Journal and 
other periodicals, till February No. 
To Correspondents. 
The unavoidable absence of the Editors from 
town, the greater part of the last month, has prevented 
full attention to our correspondence, and several favors 
are necessarily postponed till next number; nor have 
we had time to give a private answer yet to such as 
demand it. We hope to be able to finish all up the 
ensuing month. 
Col. William Moore of Winnsborongh, South Caro¬ 
lina, wishes to know about the May Wheat. Will 
Mr. Harmon have the goodness to reply to him direct, 
or to us, stating his prices at home,, and delivered in 
this city, for all his varieties. His memorandum, if 
left here, has been mislaid. The Silkworm Eggs are 
inquired for, and all other matters, and Col. M. will be 
written in a few days. 
EUftor’s tFatile. 
Our thanks are due to John Caldwell, Esq. for his Ad¬ 
dress at the Orange County Fair. 
Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, by An¬ 
drew Tire. Illustrated with 1241 engravings. —We are 
indebted to Messrs. Appleton & Co. for the 21st and last 
number of this able and useful work, from which we have 
repeatedly selected during its progress through the press. 
These enterprising publishers now propose a re-issue, in 
five monthly parts, at $1 per part, of 300 pages, with an 
average of 250 plates to each. It is neatly printed, with 
clear type, on fine white paper, and seems to us, with so 
many engravings, amazingly cheap. 
The Natural History of New-York. Parti. Zoology. 
By James E. Dekay.— The Messrs. Appleton have also 
called our attention to the first vol. of the series of the 
State publications, from the recent Geological survey. It 
is a large quarto, beautifully printed', from the press of 
T. Weed, State printer, and contains about 40 splendid 
lithographic engravings, illustrative of the Mammalia of 
New-York, executed by Endicott, of this city. The repu- 
tation of its author is a sufficient guarantee for the literary 
and scientific character of the work. Our learned', accom- 
lished, and indefatigable Executive, Governor Seward, 
as given an introduction of nearly 200 pages, full of in¬ 
structive matter, connected with the Stale and its institu¬ 
tions. The whole series, when complete, is intended to 
give a connected and enlarged view of the National His¬ 
tory of New-York, and will form a proud monument to 
the enlightened policy and liberal spirit of our citizens. 
May other States follow this example. 
Sale of Durliams. 
We understand that Mr. George Yail, of Troy, has sold 
to Mr. J. F. Scribner, of Sheldon, Vermont, a fine Durham 
cow, and bull calf, by his Duke of Wellingtoh, for whose 
portrait and pedigree, which are exceedingly rich, see 
December No. of this paper. Mr. V., has aiso sold other 
Short horn stock the past year into Vermont, and the 
north part of this State, of all which it rejoices us to hear. 
Our dairy and grazing farmers in that region, may depend 
that they can resort to no animals with a greater prospect 
of success in improving their native breed, than to Dur- 
hams; and in making selections for this purpose we 
recommend such as are of medium sizes, and especially 
those possessing fine bones. In this last particular, as 
well as other good points, we know Wellington to excel. 
On the Inorganic Elements of Plants. 
This is Part II, of the Lectures, on the application of 
chemistry and Geology, to Agriculture, by Professor 
Johnston, of England- We have not had time to read this 
work, but from the acquaintance we have with the pre¬ 
ceding lectures, we have no doubt that this is equally able 
and searching. Professor Johnston has a happy style, and 
endeavors to make it as popular as possible, by using 
no more scientific terms than are absolutely necessary 
to express his meaning, and these he explains in advance. 
It is handsomely re-printed by Wiley and Putnan, from 
the latest English edition. 
Messrs. Wiley and Putnam have politely called our at¬ 
tention to the magnificent folio, now complete in 14 Parts, 
of Professor Lows Illustrations, of British Domestic ani¬ 
mals, embracing the horse, ox, sheep, hog and goat. The 
plates are beautifully colored after nature, and are about 
50 in all. The price of the whole work, is $80. 
ID* Several other publications were handed in, bu 
too late to be noticed this month. 
