THE CULTIVATOR. 
117 
NOTICES OF BOOKS, PAPERS, &c. 
Farmer’s Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Rural 
Affairs, by C. W. Johnson, Esq. adapted to the United 
States by G. Emerson. This work, which has been 
issued in numbers, is now completed } and is offered for 
sale at $4. It is an excellent publication, and we trust it 
will find a ready sale. The American edition has recei¬ 
ved many additions, which will render the work more 
valuable than the English edition. It is published by 
Carey & Hart, Philadelphia. 
Prize Essays on Manures. —We have been furnish¬ 
ed copies of Dr. Dana's Prize Essay on Manures, which 
was noticed in the last volume of the Cultivator; and the 
Prize Essay read before the Berkshire Agricultural So¬ 
ciety, at its meeting in October, 1843, by Asahel Foote, 
Esq. 
Of Dr. Dana’s Essay, we can only repeat the commen¬ 
dation of its matter and its manner, we have before given. 
It is at once scientific and practical; it gives the effect 
and the cause, and we think no farmer can peruse it with¬ 
out advantage. 
Mr. Foote’s Essay is a most valuable compilation; 
well arranged, plain in its statements, and abounding in 
facts. It shows a close investigation of the subject, and a 
thorough acquaintance with the best sources of informa¬ 
tion on this topic; and is alike honorable to the writer 
and the society that called him out. That these works 
will have an extensive circulation, and do much towards 
reforming the erroneous practices too prevalent among 
farmers, in their preparation and treatment of manures, 
we cannot doubt. 
Prof. Liebig’s Familiar Letters on Chemistry. 
—Mr. Campbell of Philadelphia has furnished us with a 
copy in a neat pamphlet form, of this late production of 
Prof. Liebig’s; and we should notice it more at length, 
had not a correspondent in a late number, given an able 
and satisfactory account of its contents. It contains 16 
letters, and consists mainly in a recapitulation of the doc¬ 
trine advanced by him in his former great works, and an 
explanation of some points on which he appears to have 
been misunderstood. They exhibit evident traces of the 
profound intellect and persevering investigation, which 
mark his other publications, and which so far as the che¬ 
mistry of animals and vegetables is concerned, has crea¬ 
ted a new era in science. 
Geology for Beginners, by G. F. Richardson, of 
the British Museum. Second edition—Longman & Co., 
London; Wiley & Putnam, New-York. We acknow¬ 
ledge the reception of a copy, of this valuable work from 
the London publishers. It comprises a familiar explana¬ 
tion of Geology and its associate sciences, Mineralogy, 
Physical Geology, Fossil Conchology, Fossil Botany and 
Paleontology. As a work for beginners in the study of 
Geology, it seems admirably adapted. The contents are 
arranged in so interesting and attractive a light, that when 
the examination is once commenced, it is sure to be con¬ 
tinued. The hook is accompanied with a handsome 
frontispiece, representing the shores of the primeval 
ocean, when the vegetation of our globe consisted only 
of those trees and plants, the remains of which are now 
discovered buried beneath its surface—when the only an¬ 
imals were those of the lowest orders. Reptiles, some 
of which are of enormous size, are seen in the water and 
on the land; and some have even the power of flying in 
the air. We most cordially recommend the work to all 
who feel interested in such studies. 
Simmonds’ Colonial Magazine— A Journal of Lite¬ 
rature, Art, Science, Commerce and Finance. Edited by 
P. L. Simmonds, London. The principal design of this 
work seems to be that of giving correct and valuable in¬ 
formation relating to the colonies of Great Britain; hut 
it also collects and disseminates much useful intelligence 
on tne commercial and political relations of the world in 
general. Judging from the two numbers before us, and 
from the acknowledged ability of Mr. Simmonds to con- 
duct such a work, we have no doubt it will prove highly 
interesting. Among the contents of the numbers recei¬ 
ved, are the following articles:—Navies of the world-— 
Original Treatise on the cultivation of the Sugar Cane— 
Notes of a residence in Van Dieman’s Land in 1842—3—. 
Recollections of Algeria in 1843, with illustrations—The 
Oregon Question—Culture of Cotton in Jamaica—State 
Affairs in New Zealand—Bituminous lakes in Texas, &c. 
“ The Farmer’s Mine.” —Mr. Heermance, the author 
of this work, writes us that our « notice of it last fall, has 
done and is still doing him great injury.” He says:— 
“ Among other things, I am charged with the grossest 
plagiarism.” In this he thinks we have done him injus¬ 
tice, inasmuch as he says in his preface,—“ In the follow¬ 
ing compilation, I have selected largely from the Farm 
House of the 19th century, also from Dana, Gaylord, Lie¬ 
big,” &c. This general acknowledgment, however, in 
our opinion forms no excuse for the manner in which 
this book is got up. Parts of it are credited in the body 
of the work to the several authors alluded to, while other 
and much larger portions are given as apparently original. 
For instance, the “ Introduction,” occupying six pages, 
appears as original—at least as much so as any other part 
of the book—whereas it is copied word for word, with 
the exception of eight lines, from the Prize Essay of Mr. 
Gaylord. The title-page says the work contains “ much 
new and important information on the subject of manure,” 
and the person by whom it was “ revised and corrected,” 
says that is “ one of the most valuable works on manures 
which has been issued from the press for a long time”— 
and that the author “ has been some time a practical and 
scientific agriculturist,” and “ recommends nothing, the 
value of which he has not himself tested.” We shall be 
greatly obliged if the author or revisor will inform us 
how we are to distinguish between th e original and select¬ 
ed portions of the work, that we may know what part of 
it contains the results of Mr. Heermance’s experience. 
The Central N. Y. Farmer —At the commence¬ 
ment of the present year, this paper, published at Rome, 
appeared in a new form and new typographical dress—a 
very decided improvement both in form and appearance. 
It is edited by C. N. Bement, B. P. Johnson (Cor. Sec. 
of the State Ag. Society,) and E. Comstock —all well 
qualified to make—as they do—an excellent paper. 
Monthly, at 50 cents a year. 
New Genesee Farmer, edited by M. B. Bateham, 
Dr. D. Lee, and T. C. Peters. Published monthly at 
Rochester, at 50 cents per annum, in advance. It is on¬ 
ly necessary to announce the names of the editors, to 
show that it is conducted with skill and ability. 
The Prairie Farmer.— This excellent and well fill¬ 
ed sheet, commenced its 4th volume with the present 
year. It is edited by J. S. Wright and J. A. Wight, 
and is one of the very best of our agricultural periodicals, 
being ably conducted, with a large list of contributors, 
and beautifully printed. Monthly, at $1 a year. It will 
give us much pleasure to order it for any of our friends, 
who may wish to know what is doing in the prairie 
country. Published at Chicago. 
Western Farmer and Gardener.— This work, 
commenced by Mr. E. J. Hooper, and afterwards mana¬ 
ged by Messrs. Affleck and Foster, has now passed 
into the hands of Mr. Hooper (its former editor,) and 
Mr. Chas. W. Elliott. It has lately assumed more of 
a horticultural character, and in this capacity, as well as 
that of an agricultural journal, we are satisfied it will 
prove eminently useful to the west. Each number con¬ 
tains one or more copper-plate engravings of fruits, by 
Mr. Foster, which are generally exceedingly well exe¬ 
cuted. We sincerely recommend the work as worthy 
the patronage of the western farmers and gardeners. It 
is published monthly at Cincinnati, at $1 per annum. 
The Western Cultivator.— A dollar monthly com¬ 
menced at Indianapolis in January, by W. T. Hatch. 
Well edited, anu handsomely printed. 
British American Cultivator.— This is a spirited¬ 
ly conducted agricultural paper, which has now reached 
its third volume, published at Toronto, U. C. It is issu¬ 
ed monthly, in a quarto form, with 16 pages, at a dollar 
a year in advance. Edited and published by W. G. Ed- 
MUNDSON. 
Canadian Agricultural Journal. —We have recei- 
vfed the first three numbers of this paper, lately comm«B- 
