94 
editor’s table. 
Ettftar’s JEnMv. 
NOTICES OF THE PRESS. 
Transactions of the New York State Agricultu¬ 
ral Society, together with an abstract of the proceedings of 
the county Agricultural Societies, for the year 1S42.—This 
is an octavo volume of upward of 500 pages, with numer¬ 
ous embellishments. Several of the papers are able and 
well written ; and others we think pretty flat, with noth¬ 
ing sufficiently new or striking to recommend them for 
publication. The reports of the county societies were 
greatly cut down by the secretary, and In most instances 
we think might have been omitted altogether. We can 
not perceive the utility or profit in making the Transac¬ 
tions a complete omnium gatherum for the whole State, and 
half the world besides, and publishing them in an expen¬ 
sive volume that few will ever read. 
The Transactions, in our humble judgment, should be 
confined solely to the proceedings of the State Society, and 
its Prize Essays, and such facts from the County societies 
as are new, striking, and of marked practical utility. But 
in this matter, as we understand, there is little or no discre¬ 
tion allowed to the corresponding secretary, and he is 
obliged to make out such reports, and give such papers, as 
are forwarded him for insertion. Mr. Randall has there¬ 
fore made the best of his subject with his usual ability, 
and deserves the thanks of the community for his services. 
We have before said, and repeat, that the secretary ought 
to be a salaried officer, and devote his whole time to the 
affairs of the society. If another year the expense of 
printing could be cut down one half, and that amount ap¬ 
propriated to this object, it would prove much more bene¬ 
ficial to the society and the agricultural community at 
large. We should iike much to quote a few pages from 
the Transactions, but have not room for even a synopsis. 
We are obliged to Luther Tucker, Esq., Recording Secre¬ 
tary of the Society, for the receipt of the publication. 
The Revised Statutes of New York, reduced to 
questions and ansivers, for the me of schools and families, by 
William B. Wedgewood, Esq., published by Saxton fy 
Miles, 205 Broadway. —This is one of the most useful works 
that could be published. It should be immediately put 
into the hands of every scholar in the state of New York. 
We should not allow our children, who are to take our 
places, and make and defend the laws of our land, to grow 
up entirely ignorant of the first principles upon which our 
government is founded. 
The Pictorial History of the United States, from 
the discovery of the Northmen to the present time, by John 
Frost, to contain 1120 pages, octavo, with numerous embellish¬ 
ments, and be completed in twenty parts, monthly, at 25 cents 
each. —Nos. 1 and 2 of this work are now out. It is written 
in a clear, forcible style, is exceedingly well got up, and 
supplies the very history that has been long wanted for 
popular use m the country. Saxton & Miles, publishers. 
The Farmers’ Encyclopedia. —No. 6 is now issued, 
which ends the letter C. Price 25 cents each No. Carey 
& Hart, Philadelphia. 
The Encyclopedia of Murray’s Geography.— -We 
are in receipt of No. 7 of this able work, price 25 cents per 
No. Lea & Blanchard, Philadelphia. 
The Horse, a new edition, by William Youatt, London , 
1843.—This celebrated work has been completely revised, 
and much of it almost entirely re-written by its able author, 
who, from being a practical veterinary surgeon, and one 
of the editors of the Veterinarian, and withal a great lover 
and excellent judge of the animal, is particularly well 
qualified to write the history of the noblest of all quadrupeds. 
The book comprises nearly 600 pages, and is got up in a 
typographical style, far superior to the first edition. The 
embellishments, also, are very superior, and will class 
among the finest wood-cuts we have ever seen. The num¬ 
ber of these is considerably increased in this volume ; and 
what makes them of more value, they are actual portraits 
of the most celebrated horses of the turf, field, road, draught, 
and ponies of England. We observe a quotation at page 
41, from one whom he may justly call 11 a valued corres¬ 
pondent,” viz., Francis Rotch, Esq., of Otsego, this state, 
on the superior constitution of American stock. Mr. R. 
gives his opinion from considerable experience as a breed¬ 
er in both countries. We have often expressed the same 
views, especially in regard to horses, which have been 
received with great credulity in certain quarters. We 
have, however, beat the English in trotters, and we shall 
see when a trial ever takes place, if we can not do it in a 
bruising race, where bottom is the grand test. Other do¬ 
mestic animals, we are confident, improve here in consti¬ 
tution. 
Messrs Lea & Blanchard of Philadelphia, have re¬ 
published the above work, omitting a few of the first pages, 
and have supplied their place by matter quite as valuable, 
and perhaps more interesting to the reader in this country: 
it being nearly 100 pages of a General History of the Horse ; 
a Dissertation on the American Trotting-Horse, how Train¬ 
ed and Jockeyed; an Account of his Remarkable Per¬ 
formances ; and an Essay on the Ass and Mule, by J. S. 
Skinner, Esq., of Washington, Assistant Post-Master Gen¬ 
eral, and late Editor of the Turf-Register and American 
Farmer. Mr. Skinner is one of our most pleasing writers, 
and has been familiar with the subject of the horse from 
childhood; and we need not add, that he has acquitted 
himself well of his task. He also takes up the important 
subject, to the American breeder, of the Ass and Mule. 
This he treats at length, and con amove, and gives two 
well-authenticated instances of a mare mule breeding. 
The Philadelphia edition of the Horse, is a handsome 
octavo, with numerous wood-cuts and neatly bound, and is 
afforded at the low price of $2. We trust that it may 
have, as it richly deserves, a large sale. 
The American Railroad Journal, and Mechanics’ 
Magazine, monthly , 32 pages octavo, price $3 a year, edited 
by George C. Schaeffer and D. K. Minor. —We are glad to 
see this excellent periodical revived, and now have the first 
5 Nos. of Yol. I. of the Third Series before us. Such a 
work is much wanted in the United States, and we trust 
that it will receive that encouragement from the public 
which it so highly deserves. 
The Planter, published weekly, in newspaper form, by 
Dubose 8f Johnston , at Columbia, S. C., at $2.50 a year. 
J. J. Dubose, editor. —We are favored by the first 3 Nos. of 
this paper, and find nearly half its pages filled with origin- 
al and well-selected agricultural matter, and we wish the 
publishers success in their useful undertaking. 
The Second Annual Report of the American Institute, 
on the subject of Agriculture, just -published as a Legisla¬ 
tive document, is an excellent and interesting pamphlet of 
upward of 100 pages, from which it is our intention to cull 
some extracts next month. It represents the Institute in a 
flourishing condition, the receipts for the past year having 
been $8,SS5.90, and the expenditures $8,724.87, leaving a 
balance in the treasury of $161.03. 
Obituary. —We learn with deep regret from the Virginia 
papers of the past month, of the death of the distinguished 
writer, and practical agriculturist, Hon. James M. Garnett, 
at his residence near Loretto, Essex county, Virginia. We 
were not personally acquainted with Judge Garnett, but 
had occasionally corresponded with him, and several of 
his communications have appeared in this paper. He has 
also been for a long time a voluminous contributor to the 
agricultural press, more generally in his own and this state. 
These papers have usually been widely circulated and co¬ 
pied, and have been the means of effecting much good for 
agriculture. They were written in a pleasing style, and 
abound in thoroughly practical matter. 
But a short time previous to his death we received a let¬ 
ter from Judge Garnett, complaining of feeble health ; yet 
we little thought to hear of his being so soon numbered 
with the dead. Of his personal history we have slight 
knowledge, and hope that a memoir of him will soon ap¬ 
pear from some member of his own family, which will be 
received and read here at the north with much interest, 
for few were more generally known by reputation among 
our agricultural community, or more highly appreciated 
than James M. Garnett. 
To Correspondents. —Americus, J. R.Barbour, and W. 
H. Sotham, were unavoidably postponed in making up the 
paper. They shall appear in our next. We are in receipt 
of communications from A. Beaty, William Partridge, S 
M. W. Philips, R. L. A. 
