editor’s table. 
37 
(Jbitor 0 Stable. 
An Essay upon the Wheat Fly, and some 
Species Allied to it. By Asa Fitch, M. D., pp. 32, 
octavo, with a colored engraving of eight figures.—We 
hail this pamphlet as another evidence of the gradual ad¬ 
vancement of an improved agriculture with the public 
mind. Dr, Fitch seems to have treated the subject of 
the Wheat Fly and the species resembling it, with suffi¬ 
cient minuteness, and gives us a more clear and definite 
idea of its history, habits, and the means of arresting 
its ravages than we have yet met with. We hope his 
work will have an extensive circulation among the 
farmers; as it might be the means of leading many 
of them to habits of observation of insects, which 
would hereafter greatly benefit the community. We 
wish the State Ag. Society would purchase the copy¬ 
right of this pamphlet from the author, and issue a 
large edition for distribution among the County So¬ 
cieties. We are much obliged for the copy sent us. 
The History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, Wool, 
and other Fibrous Substances; Including obser¬ 
vations on Spinning, Dying and Weaving. Also, an 
account of the Pastoral Life of the Ancients, their 
Social State and Attainments in the Domestic Arts— 
Illustrated by Steel Engravings, pp. 464, octavo. 
Harper & Brothers, New York.—We have looked 
through this highly curious and useful book with 
much pleasure, and find it condenses a mass of infor¬ 
mation on the subjects of which it treats, which one 
might seek in vain for in an extensive library. In 
comparing the agriculture and manufactures of an¬ 
cient times with those of our own day, we find that 
very many, even in the most humble circumstances, 
are enjoying, in their daily food and raiment, what 
princes might have formerly coveted in vain. This 
History, of the Messrs. Harper, is a beautiful work 
for holiday presents among the industrial classes, 
and we recommend it to Agricultural Societies in 
making up their assortment of books for premiums 
to be distributed at their annual meetings. 
The Artist, The Merchant, and The States¬ 
man, Of the age of the Medici and of our o^n Times. 
In two volumes. By C. Edwards Lester. Price $1 25. 
Paine & Burgess, 67 John St.—These volumes under 
review, are devoted to the Autobiography of Powers, 
the American Sculptor, whose inimitable works have 
already placed him higher in the niche of fame than 
any other artist of ancient or modern times. Hiram 
Powers is a man of 'power —a wonderful creature of 
instinctive genius, and with modesty equal to his 
worth. The world is sounding with praises of his 
statues of the human form divine; but if we can ever 
see him,,we intend to get him to chisel a horse, an ox, 
and some other domestic animals. The son of a Ver¬ 
mont farmer, he is just the man for this ; nor will it 
lessen his dignity to do works of this kind. Many are 
the anecdotes we have heard of Powers from his asso¬ 
ciates ; all these, and a thousand more* has Mr. Lester 
given us in this autobiography, clothed in his usual 
racy, slapdash style. This will be a very popular 
book; every American ought to read it, old or young— 
it will make them proud of their countryman, proudof 
their country, and give them an inkling of the fame 
that ultimately awaits us, as a nation, in the fine arts. 
Europeans will now cease their sneers. These vol 
umes are embellished with portraits of Powers and 
Americus Vespucius. 
Fire Proof Safes. —Our readers are referred to the 
advertisement of Salamander Safes. We have exam¬ 
ined them thorougnly, and believe them to be a supe¬ 
rior article, highly desirable to preserve money, plate, 
jeweLv, and valuable papers from fire and burglars. 
Planters and farmers doing much business ought to be 
provided with them. We have one for exhibition at our 
warehouse, and will receive orders for them of any re¬ 
quired size. 
The Youth’s Cabinet. —This is a beautiful 
monthly periodical, of 32 pages, octavo- Price $1 a 
year. It is got up something in the style of the Penny 
Magazine, and is highly deserving the patronage of 
the public. Saxton & Miles, publishers, 205 Broad¬ 
way, New York. 
Address upon Insects Injurious to Vegeta¬ 
tion. By Noyes Darling.—This Address was deliv¬ 
ered before the New Haven Horticultural and Agricul 
tural Societies, at their late meeting in October, and is 
published in the Transactions of the Society for the 
year 1845. Mr. Darling has been long and favorably 
known as a writer on Insects, and his Address is de¬ 
serving an attentive perusal. The little creatures do 
infinite mischief, and the best means of extirpating 
them and^ guarding against their ravages ought to be 
carefully studied by all agriculturists. 
The Wheat Crop of 1845.—The wheat crop of 
the United States for this year, is estimated at 125,000,- 
000 of bushels. The wheat crop of 1842, which was 
the largest ever previously raised in this country, was 
103,000,000. The increase of 22,000,000 shows not 
less the large additional amount of land brought under 
cultivation than the genial character of the last sum 
mer. The crop of Michigan is comparatively larger 
than that of any other State in the Union. With a 
population of not over 400,000, she raises this year at 
least 7.000,000 bushels of wheat. The quality is also 
of the very best -—Albany Argus. 
The Mysteries of Tobacco. By the Rev. Ben 
jamin J. Lane. Wiley & Putnam. Price 37£ cents. 
Our readers are pretty well aware of our utter detesta¬ 
tion of this nasty and odious weed. How any one 
can use it in any shape or form is utterly incompre 
hensible to us. This treatise shows its filthiness and 
injurious tendencies, in a very full and complete man¬ 
ner. We wish it could be placed in the hands of every 
head of a family in the United States; we should them 
hope for some reform in the use of this vile weed. 
Tobacco is the direct cause of insanity, and many 
other diseases too fearful to mention. If any one 
doubts this, let him read the opinions of the most emi¬ 
nent German physicians, the country where tobacco is 
more universally used, and especially in the way of 
snuffing and smoking, than any other. 
Acknowledgments. —To Hon. W. L. Goggin, 
President, for his Address before the New London, Va., 
Ag. Society; to an unknown friend, for the Address 
of the Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., at the late Show of 
the N. Y. State Ag. Society. 
Road Horses. —We desire to call attention to the 
superior horses advertised in this paper. Such ani¬ 
mals are rare, and especially at the prices offered. 
They would be of great value in any breeding stud for 
roadsters. 
Dorking Fowls. —We would inform the numerous 
applicants for these fowls, that no orders can be sup¬ 
plied before next fall. The price will uniformly be 
$5 per pair. 
To Correspondents. —John B. Miller, Thomas 
Affleck, B. L. C. Wailes, Philetus Philips, Wm. Par* 
tridge, John P. Norton, Coke, M. W. Philips, S. H. 
R., Solon Robinson, and A Constant Reader are re¬ 
ceived. We cannot agree with the latter in his 
opinion of the African maize. It has been frequently 
noticed in this Journal, through the N. Y. Farmers’ 
Club. 
To a Subscriber. —The common kind ol salt, such 
as can be purchased from 20 to 25 cents per bushel, is 
the kind used for agricultural purposes. The part of 
the cargo lying on the ship’s bottom, sometimes gets 
quite dirty, and mav then be had at a still lower piice. 
