156 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
they are adapted to sheep-walks, and it is strange that so little atten¬ 
tion has been directed to this branch of agricultural economy.” 
The writer again remarks, in reference to a hilly re¬ 
gion in the county of Pickens, the soil of which is con¬ 
siderably derived from Mica slate , that the hills were co¬ 
vered with verdure, when he saw them, while a few 
miles lower down, the contrast was striking, everything 
being parched by drouth, and that i( it was impossible to 
keep the fancy from picturing these beautiful hills cover¬ 
ed with clover, ami alive with a thousand flocks and 
herds—for there is lime in their very midst. Both the 
climate, and the geological character of this region, mark 
it as the grazing country of the State.” 
Under the head of the uses and action of lime, the wri¬ 
ter observes— 
“ A knowledge of the action of lime on vegetable matter, ought 
to prevent the mistakes committed in putting it in contact with the 
roots of plant, the delicate fibres of which it must attack, if there be 
not a superabundance of other vegetable matter in the soil. As lime 
acts chiefly by bringing into action ingredients that were inert in the 
soil, and as every crop carries offa certain quantity of soda, potash, 
phosphoric acid, Ac., it follows that unless these be added, in the 
various forms of manures in which they exist, that a soil may be 
unproductive, though having lime in abundance. I now speak of 
lime, not marl, for in marling, many other substances are added as 
with lime.” 
The Appendix relates chiefly to experiments with 
marl, on various crops. The action of this substance is 
shown to be highly beneficial, and from the quantities in 
certain portions of the State, no doubt is entertained that 
it furnishes a source of fertility to the soil, the value of 
which is incalculable. 
We give the result of an experiment of the marl on 
corn. Its effects on cotton and potatoes were similar: 
Half an acre, without marl or manure, produced 84 
barrels ears of corn—with eight cart-loads compost in 
1843, 10| do.—with 64 bushels marl, broad cast, ll| 
barrels. - 
Report of the Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, Commissioner of 
Patents , shoicing the operations of the Patent Office, du¬ 
ring the year 1844. 
We are glad to learn that an edition of this valuable 
Report, which we noticed in our last number, has been 
published for sale, by our Agent in New-York, M. H. 
Newman, bookseller, 199 Broadway. It can also be ob¬ 
tained of Little b Brown, Boston—G. B. Zieber & 
Co., Philadelphia— Geo. Jones of this city, and we pre¬ 
sume of booksellers generally. Price 75 cts. 
Lowell Offering —This publication, supported as it 
is entirely by the intellectual talent of the female labor¬ 
ers in manufactories, is not only highly creditable to the 
editors and contributors, but is even a subject of just pride 
to the country. It exhibits in a striking light the eleva¬ 
ted condition and character of this class of our popula¬ 
tion, when compared with descriptions of the same class 
in Europe. Though it is truly the Factory Girls' ” 
Offering many of the articles would do no discredit to 
literary writers of acknowledged merit. Edited by Miss¬ 
es Curtis and Farley —published monthly, at one dol¬ 
lar a year. - 
The Farmer's Library, and Monthly Journal of 
Agriculture —Messrs. Greeley b McElrath, New- 
York, have issued a prospectus for publishing a work 
under this title, for the editorial management of which 
they have secured the services of John S. Skinner, Esq., 
the founder and former editor of that pioneer of Agricul¬ 
tural publications in this country, the American Farmer. 
The plan of the proposed work is as follows: Each 
number will consist of two distinct parts—I. The 
Farmer’s Library , in which will be published continu¬ 
ously, the best standard works on Agriculture, begin¬ 
ning with Stephens’ Book of the Farm , a recent Scotch 
publication of high character. This division of the 
work will embrace 600 pages a year. II. The Monthly 
Journal of Agriculture, which will contain about 50 
pages per month, and will comprise, 1. Foreign selec¬ 
tions from the higher class of British, French, and Ger¬ 
man periodicals of Agriculture, with extracts from new 
books which may not be published in the Library. 2. 
American Editorials, communicated selected accounts 
of experiments, be. Each number to be illustrated with 
numerous engravings. Its price will be five dollars a 
year in advance, for two royal octavo volumes of 600 
pages each. We have no doubt it will be a very valu- 
ble work, and we cordially recommend it to the patron¬ 
age of the public. 
Useful Works for the People. —Messrs. Greely 
& McElrath, of New-York, having lost by fire their 
stock of books, plates, and engravings of their series of 
(< Useful Books for the People,” have commenced the 
publication of a new series, the first in order of which is 
the work on Astronomy by M. Arago, tvith additions 
and corrections by Dr. Larbner. The works of these 
philosophers are distinguished for combining accurate 
scientific information, with much that is pleasing and at¬ 
tractive, and on the subject of Astronomy, in particular, 
their writings are looked upon with great confidence. 
We venture to say that no opportunity has before been 
offered to the American public of procuring so large an 
amount of valuable scientific information at so small an 
expense. The number, comprising the lectures on As¬ 
tronomy, contains 96 pages large octavo, small print, 
with numerous diagrams and illustrations. This publica¬ 
tion is to be followed by others of a like useful charac¬ 
ter—each series being complete in itself—and of a size 
so uniform that the whole may be bound together. The 
price of the number on Astronomy, is 25 cents, which 
will also be the price of each of the series of Useful 
Books. -- 
Spirit of the Times^-A Chronicle of the Turf, Ag¬ 
riculture, Field sports, Literature, and the Stage.—As a 
sporting chronicle, this publication has long been distin¬ 
guished anti unrivalled. Though we are accustomed to 
estimate things by an utilitarian scale, we must allow the 
“ Spirit” an eminent character even in this respect. If 
the old adage of “ laugh and be fat,” is to be regarded 
in the light of cause and effect, there is no knowing how 
much fatness the witty sayings and funny stories there 
given may have produced, or from how many hypochon¬ 
driacs the “ blues” may have been banished, and the dys¬ 
pepsia cured! And what labors can be considered more 
useful than those which promote health, and save doctor’s 
fees ? This old favorite commences the fifteenth volume 
with new type and other improvements, which render 
its appearance even more attractive than ever, and to¬ 
gether with the style and character of its contents, 
cannot fail to recommend it to all seeking any thing 
in that line. It is issued weekly, each number con¬ 
taining twelve large quarto pages, at five dollars per 
annum. Three or four elegant steel engravings of 
celebrated horses, are given in the course of a volume, 
without extra charge to subscribers. Published by John 
Richards, No. 1, Barclay-street, New-York — Wm. T. 
Porter, editor. 
Mr. Tucker —I am aware you have no “ poet’s cor¬ 
ner” in your strictly utilitarian paper, but presuming you 
are in favor of whatever is designed to elevate the feel¬ 
ings, even though expressed in rhyme, I have ventured 
to send you the following 
HYMN FOR THE SEASON. 
Bounteous Father! Lord on high! 
Who hear’sl the raven’s feeble cry, 
With thy protecting goodness, rife, 
Long-slumb’ring nature wakes to life! 
Earth’s kings may rear the tow’ring spire, 
And feed with gold the altar fire— 
Not from the organ’s peal alone, 
Anthems arise before thy throne. 
Those holier lemples, large and wide, 
The glen, the grove, the mountain-side, 
Resound with choral songs of praise 
To that blest Pow’r who tunes their lays. 
Each bud and flow’ret, leaf and tree, 
Breathes orisons, O God! to thee, 
Whence emanates unchanging love, 
Embracing all, around, above. 
Revolving seasons now have brought 
Sweet Spring with cheering beauty fraught 
Seed-time again to us is giv’n ; 
We trust to earth, and hope in Heav’n. 
Send thou the lale and early rain 
To vivify the springing grain— 
And when the harvest home we bear, 
Let grateful peans fill the air! 
M. W. H 
