editors’ table. 
229 
(Suitors’ (Stable. 
S' To Southern Subscribers. —It has been discovered 
that one of the letters of Solon Robinson, containing the 
names of subscribers, miscarried. We believe papers 
to all have now been sent; if not, we will forward them 
at once on being informed. Money paid to Mr. Robin¬ 
son, on account of the Agriculturist, at any time, will 
be credited by the publishers. 
Great Sale of Shorthorn Cattle. —We desire to 
call particular attention to the sale of the valuable herd 
which is to take place, without reserve, on the 29th of 
August next. Some account will be found of the great 
milking qualities of the cows, on p. 226 of the present 
number. The bull Exeter, used in the herd this sea¬ 
son, was imported last year. He is of the Princess 
tribe of shorthorns, the only bull of this tribe ever 
brought to America. The breeding of this tribe of 
cattle can be traced back upwards of 250 years. We 
think Exeter one of the best bulls ever brought to 
the United States. 
Giving Credit. —In looking over our late exchanges, 
we have had our faith in editorial honesty sadly 
shocked at seeing how unblushingly our articles are 
copied, without credit. But, occasionally we meet with 
an item like the following, from the “ Germantown 
Telegraph” which is one of the best family papers 
upon our exchange list:— 
“ Jgir’We last week inserted a communication from 
our able and attentive correspondent, “ A Practical 
Farmer,” on the subject of curing hay, but as the sub¬ 
ject is an important one, we annex the following article 
from the American Agriculturist , a publication which 
is ever intelligent and practical upon all matters con¬ 
nected with the interests of the farmer.” How this is 
something like credit, honestly intended and fairly given. 
We intend to maintain the reputation accorded to us 
by continuing to give our readers articles both intelli¬ 
gent and practical. 
Postage on the Agriculturist. —We occasionally 
hear of some mistaken mortal charging pamphlet pos¬ 
tage on this paper; and as we intend sending it out 
with a loose cover, or wrapper, containing advertise¬ 
ments, we deem it accessary to call the attention of 
post masters, to the post-office law, defining what is a 
newspaper, namely: A publication issued as often as 
once a month , on not more than two sheets of paper , 
whose superficial area , united , does not exceed 1,900 square 
inches, and giving intelligence of passing events and 
this is precisely what the Agriculturist is, and is only 
subject to newspaper postage. The form in which it 
is folded has nothing to do with postage, unless stitched 
and cut, and then it would be a pamphlet. As it is 
sent through the mail, it is a newspaper, and has been 
so decided by the Post-Master General. 
Elements of Scientific Agriculture, or the con¬ 
nection between science and the art of practical farm¬ 
ing, by Professor John P. Horton, of Yale College. 
Albany, Erastus H. Pease & Co. This is a plain, prac¬ 
tical treatise on a most important subject. The farmer 
will not be misled by any specious or half-developed 
theory in the above work; but he will find a brief and 
reliable exposition of some of the most important prin¬ 
ciples in his occupation. We cordially commend it to 
general perusal. 
Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution, by B. J. 
Lossing. Harper & Brothers. We have received the 
first two numbers of the above, which are beautifully 
illustrated by numerous wood engravings, mostly orig¬ 
inal, and all appropriate to the work. The author 
takes us over the various camp grounds of the revo- j 
lution, and makes us familiar with many of its most in¬ 
teresting scenes and incidents. We especially commend 
this book to the young, not only for the agreeable in¬ 
formation which it imparts, but for the enthusiastic pat¬ 
riotism and love of American character it is likely to 
foster. 
Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable As¬ 
sociation, for the Encouragement of Manufactures and 
the Mechanic Arts.—The sixth exhibition of this insti¬ 
tution will be opened at Faneuil and Quincy Halls, in 
the city of Boston, on Wednesday, September 11th, 
1850. To enable the managers to make such arrange¬ 
ments of the goods as will be satisfactory to the con¬ 
tributors, it will be necessary that, all articles intended 
for exhibition be entered by Saturday, the 7th of Sep¬ 
tember. An invitation has been extended to the Pres¬ 
ident of the United States to visit the exhibition, that 
he may have an opportunity of witnessing the extent 
and perfection to which manufactures and the arts have 
reached in this country. 
The Culture of Rice. —Rice was first planted in 
South Carolina about the year 1688. In 1725, some 
1,700 casks were exported. In 1801, the export had 
increased to 64,789 casks; and, in 1848, the amount 
sent from Charleston was 116,023 tierces of 600 bushels 
each, or 96,612,800 lbs. 
Michigan Wool.— The Detroit Tribune thinks that 
the surplus of wool to be shipped from Michigan this 
season, will be 1,700,000 lbs. 
Alabama Castor Oil.— The Mobile Tribune says: 
“ Six barrels of castor oil, from the plantation of Rob¬ 
ert Dickens, Perry county, were received on Tuesday, 
and sold at $2 per gallon. The quality of this oil is 
superior to any brought to this market. E. R. Carlisle 
has already sold, this season, for Mr. Dickens, some 
fifty barrels of castor oil, at prices ranging from $2 to 
S2.50 per gallon. The complete success of Mr. Dickens, 
in this new branch of industry will probably induce 
others to embark in it.” 
Growing Peppermint.— One town in Michigan had 
960 acres in cultivation last year, which gave $16,775 
worth of oil. 
Rosaceous Plants Comparatively of Recent Ori¬ 
gin.— Professor Agassiz, in a lecture upon the trees of 
America, stated a remarkable fact in regard to the 
family of the rose, which includes among its varieties 
not only many of the most beautiful flowers which are 
known, but also the richest fruits, such as the apple, 
ear, peach, plum, apricot, cherry, strawberry, black- 
erry, raspberry, etc.; namely, that no fossil plants of 
this order have ever been discovered by geologists. 
This he regards as conclusive evidence, that the intro¬ 
duction of this family of plants upon the earth was co¬ 
eval with, or subsequent to, the creation of man, to 
whose comfort and happiness they seem especially 
designated by a wise Providence to contribute. 
The Hen Fever. —Few are aware of the extent to 
which the hen fever is now raging among our amateur 
farmers. The California fever sinks into insignificance 
when compared with this. Choice hens are now imported 
for breed. A few days since, an invoice of thirty-five 
pure Dorkings, came in the Robert C. Winthrop, from 
Liverpool. The merits of the Guilderland, the Dork¬ 
ing and the Cochin-China are daily discussed in the 
railroad cars, and at our fashionable hotels. One young 
gentleman farmer in our vicinity has gone into the fowl 
business in good earnest, and reduced it to a perfect 
system. Eggs are taken in to hatch for so much a head; 
the name of the owner of the eggs and the date of their 
being laid, are written upon the outside. Hens are let 
to those who have eggs of a choice kind, but who have 
no hens to hatch them. $3 and even $4 per dozen is 
| by no means an uncommon price for eggs of a choice 
kind .—Boston Traveller. 
