130 
editor’s table. 
<$tutor 0 liable. 
The American Herd Book. —Mr. L. F. Allen 
informs -as, that he has the Herd Book now in press, 
and that it will probably be ready for delivery the last 
of May. It has been kept back on account of the 
tardiness of breeders in furnishing their pedigrees. In 
addition to these, it will contain a history of Short- 
Horns, and general remarks on the breeding and rear¬ 
ing of cattle. It will make a volume of about 200 
pages octavo. 
The Farmer’s Dictionary. A Vocabulary of 
technical terms, and Compendium of Practical Farm¬ 
ing. Edited by D. P.Gardner, M.D. Pp. 876, and Some 
400 wood cuts, for 81.50. Plarper & Brothers, 82Cliff 
Street. It gives us much pleasure to find that this use¬ 
ful book is at last published; nearly two years ago we 
alluded to the undertaking as calculated to be of great 
service. Dr. G. has devoted great pains to this favor¬ 
ite engagement, and is at once a theoretical and prac¬ 
tical farmer. This work consists of two parts.—A 
Dictionary of the scientific terms, as ammonia, nitro¬ 
gen, eremacausis, &c., which we plain farmers find so 
plentifully besprinkled in modern essays, and which 
being new words, are sometimes rather awkward to 
get over. The other part is made up of practical 
essays On the cultivation of crops. In this division we 
see with great pleasure that the staples of the Medi¬ 
terranean, such as olives, madder, liquorice, poppies, 
&c., are treated of, and also tea, rhubarb for the drug¬ 
gist, and numerous important products, which can 
certainly be cultivated in the extent of our territory, 
reaching, as it does, to the Rio Grande and Pacific. 
These essaj's are from the very best authorities, as 
Rham, Low, Loudon, and the great authors of Agri¬ 
culture. In Veterinary matters and Grazing, as well 
as Horticulture, we find the most satisfactory matter. 
These two parts are not kept separate, but mixed in 
the dictionary form. 
There is a peculiar feature in the book, altogether 
new, and we believe important. After each plant, the 
editor has placed the best account of the composition 
of the ashes, and made some observations on the par¬ 
ticular manures suited to the crop. Now this is the 
peculiarity of the new or Chemical Agriculture, by an 
examination of the ash of plants, to discover the 
means of applying the proper manure at the least ex¬ 
pense. So, if we find that lime or common salt is all 
important to a certain crop, we use it, and are saved 
the great expense of adding a compost containing 
every fertilizer. This part of the book is very worthy 
of study, and from our knowledge of the author and 
his scientific reputation, we do not hesitate to say it is 
well done. It seems to us that the work is one which 
will be very valuable to the practical man, from the 
numerous practical suggestions it contains; to' the 
theoretical farmer, because it is full of information on 
manures, saline bodies, organic matters, &c.; and also 
to the general reader, because it presents a fund of in¬ 
formation on Agriculture and Horticulture, in a com¬ 
pact form, which cannot otherwise be procured with¬ 
out the use of a large library. Few books we believe 
have ever been published in Agriculture so useful and 
so well adapted to the particular wants of the com¬ 
munity. It is a handsome volume, printed in clear 
brevier type, and marvellously cheap. Every farmer 
should get it, to place on the same shelf with his Agri¬ 
culturist. We have it for sale at our warehouse. 
Observations on the Potato, and a Remedy 
for the Potato Plag-ue. —This is an elegant octavo 
pamphlet of 110 pages, by Charles P. Besson. Pub¬ 
lished by E. L. Pratt, Boston, Price 25 cents. It 
contains a history of the Potato, its Cultivation, and 
Uses, as well as a Treatise on the late malady, so in¬ 
juriously affecting it in this country and in Europe. 
The work is written with no little research arid 
ability, and comes before us opportunely. We bespeak 
for it an attentive perusal, for on .the safety of this 
crop the lives of millions are dependant, and unless 
the disease be stayed, the consequences wiii be want* 
suffering, and death. 
The Naturalist, and Journal of Agriculture* 
Horticulture, Education, and literature, conducted 
by I. N. Loomis, J. Eichbaum, J. S.AFowler, and T. 
Fanning. At Franklin College, Tenjiesf&b. In raanthly 
numbers of 48 pages, octavo. Price 4g a year ilk. 
vance. This periodical is the successor (^JheiTegfe 
nessee Agriculturist, and we hail the issue of it wul^N 
great pleasure. It is conducted by the President and 
Professors of the .Agricultural College at Franklin. 
Its papers treat of the science and practice of agricul¬ 
ture, and are written with clearness, simplicity, and 1 
ability. We have faith to believe that this work will 
ultimately exercise a happy influence in the great 
Mississippi valley, and we trust it will immediately 
find a generous support. A specimen number can be 
seen at our office in Water Street, where we will 
gladly receive subscriptions and forward them to the 
publishers. 
The Life and Times of Henry Clay. By Calvin 
Colton. Published by A. S. Barnes & Co., 51 John 
Street, N.Y. Two volumes, octavo. Price $5. How¬ 
ever much people may differ in regard to the character 
of Mr. Clay as an orator and politician, none will deny 
that he is an eminent farmer, and has ever been fore¬ 
most in promoting the interests of the great agricul¬ 
tural class. Few have done more for the introduction 
and growth of hemp in the West than Mr. Clay; and 
it is now not only extensively consumed at home in 
ihe different manufactures of bale rope, cotton bag¬ 
ging, cordage, &c., but has at length become quite 
an article of export to Great Britain. He has also 
been equally efficient in the importation and the im¬ 
provement of the various breeds of domestic animals, 
as we had the pleasure of seeing for ourselves, when 
we visited his beautiful estate at Ashland—and this, 
by the w*ay. we found a pattern farm under a high 
state of cultivation. These volumes are’ embellished 
with a spirited portrait of Mr. Clay, and an engraving 
of the humble log school-house at the Slashes of Ha¬ 
nover, where he received the first rudiments of his 
education. It is a pretty delicate thing to write the 
biography of a living man ; yet, so far as we can 
judge, Mr. Colton has done it with great fairness, and 
in his usual attractive and condensed style. We dis¬ 
miss these elegant volumes, by agreeing with him 
when he says: “ The man who leaves his impress on 
a great nation, and imparts character to the age in 
which he lives, not only merits the regard of* contem¬ 
poraries, but will be a study for future generations. 
That Henry Clay occupies this position in the social 
state of mankind, by a consideration of the past, and 
in the prospects of the future, will scarcely be ques¬ 
tioned. Plis name, character, and history, are iden¬ 
tified w T itb the history of his country; and the student 
who makes himself acquainted with his life, private, 
professional, and public, will not be ignorant of the 
career of the United States of North America, as one of 
the family of nations,” 
A Treatise on Domestic Economy. For the 
use of young ladies at Home and at School. By Miss 
Catharine Beecher. A newly revised edition, with 
numerous illustrative engravings, pp. 369, octavo. 
Price 75 cents. Harper & Brothers. This is a highly 
useful w~ork, as it has been written expressly for 
American ladies by one of the most eminent of their 
own sex. We wish they would study it faithfully, for 
it is calculated alike to improve them, mentally and 
physically. Of ne latter point there is great need. 
