194 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
transportation of tighter articles. The lamas are used 
chiefly in the mountains, and carry from seventy to nine¬ 
ty pounds weight. 
We are told that at Valparaiso there are no market 
gardens, and that “ nearly all the vegetables are brought 
from the valley of Quillotta, about sixteen miles distant 
on the backs of mules, in panniers. The mode of bring¬ 
ing grass or clover to market, is peculiar; it sometimes 
almost covers both horse and rider.” (See fig. 66.) The 
beef and mutton to be had in the market, is represented 
as proverbially fine—the prices of the former six, and 
the latter three cents per pound. 
The account given of the condition of Peru, is much 
less favorable than that of Chili. The revolutions it has 
so often undergone, together with the late war with Chi¬ 
li, seem to have completely broken down the energies 
of the people. We are told by Lieut. Wilkes, that there 
is actually less soil now cultivated than was improved by 
the Indians, or the “ children of the sun,” before the 
Spanish conquest; and that every thing indicates the se r 
mi-barbarism of the inhabitants. The former accounts 
of their being no rain in Peru, are corroborated, so far 
at least as relates to an extent of the country of fifty to 
sixty miles wide along the coast. The records kept at 
Lima, show the occurrence of rain only four limes du¬ 
ring the eighteenth century. In other sections rain falls, 
and in some instances copiously. Irrigation is somewhat 
practiced in the districts which have not the benefits of 
rain. The soil and climate are favorable to many plants, 
and the irrigated land gives continued vegetation through 
the year. “ Harvests are gathered in every season, and 
flowers and ripe fruits are seen at the same time.” 
Had we space, we should be glad to make further ex¬ 
tracts from the work, especially in relation to the silver 
mines of Peru and Chili, which were visited by a detach¬ 
ment of officers and gentlemen, who collected much valu¬ 
able matter in relation to them. We shall look with in¬ 
terest to the other volumes. 
Since the above was written, we have been favored 
with the second volume, but have only time to say that 
the interest of the narrative, so far as we can judge from 
a partial glance, is well sustained. The work is for sale 
at Little’s, in this city. 
Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural 
Society, together with an abstract of the Proceedings of 
the County Agricultural Societies and the Ameri¬ 
can Institute: vol. iv.—1844. 
This volume numbers 524 pages, octavo, and may be 
pronounced not inferior in interest or value to any for 
mer one published by this Sociely. Besides the account 
of the doings of the State Society, condensed notices are 
given of thirty-seven County Societies; and one hundred 
and eleven pages are devoted to the report of the Amer¬ 
ican Institute. The book contains many highly valuable 
papers—such as the prize essays on the different branch¬ 
es of husbandry, and several able papers communicated 
to the State Society by distinguished writers and practi¬ 
cal farmers, from various parts of this country as well as 
Europe. Among the papers reported by the American 
Institute, will be found the Proceedings of the Silk Con¬ 
vention held in the city of New-York last fall, during the 
exhibition of the Institute. The latest improvements in 
conducting the silk business, and many important facts 
are here given to the public through the medium of re¬ 
ports of committees, and communications from upwards 
of twenty individuals more or less engaged in the culture 
and manufacture of silk, in different parts of the Union. 
Every man his own Farrier: containing the Cures, Symp¬ 
toms, and most approved methods of cure of the Diseases 
of Horses: by Francis Clater and his Son John 
Clater. First American, from the twenty eighth Lon¬ 
don edition', with Notes and Additions,by J. S. Skinner. 
Lea and Blanchard, Philadelphia. 
No works on the veterinary art have been received 
with more confidence than Clater’s; of fhis, the numerous 
editions through which they have passed in England, is 
good evidence. Mr. Skinner’s editions of Youatt on the 
Hots*', Every Man his own Cattle-Doctor, &c. which 
have met with considerable popular favor, arc proof that 
the present publication is ably edited. The work is well 
got up, in a cheap form, is well calculated for daily 
reference, and we have no doubt ought to be found, as 
Mr. Skinner says, “ in every stable, along with the curry¬ 
comb and brush.” 
Popular Lectures on Science and Art; delivered in the 
principal Cities and Towns of the United Stales, by Dio¬ 
nysus Lardner. Greely and McElrath, New-York. 
We have received the two first parts or numbers of 
this work. It will be completed in not less than ten nor 
more than fourteen numbers, which will constitute two 
large octavo volumes, illustrated with numerous engra¬ 
vings. The price is 25 cents for each number. The 
work is an embodiment of the scientific Lectures deliv¬ 
ered by Dr. Lardner in this country, which were recei¬ 
ved with universal satisfaction by all who listened to 
them. We take pleasure in recommending this excel¬ 
lent work to the public. 
Elocution made Easy : containing Rules and Selections for 
Declamation and Reading, with Figures illustrative of 
Gesture. By R. Claggett, A. M. Paine h Burgess, 
New-York. 
A useful work, well worthy of introduction into our 
schools. For sale by E. H. Pease. Albany. 
CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. 
Effects of chemical composts. —The articles ac¬ 
companying the following letter were duly received. 
The sea-kale was decidedly superior to any we have 
ever seen : 
Pelham, Ulster co., May 9, 1845. 
Mr. Luther Tucker—T o show you how much the 
growth of grass ami grain may be accelerated by the use 
of chemical composts, I send you the following speci¬ 
mens, grown in the open field this spring, viz : Oats 
sown the 6th of March, 18 inches high; timothy grass 
21 inches; clover 19 inches; and orchard grass 33; cut 
on the 8th of May—the three last were sown last fall. 
I also send you some sea-kale, a delicious vegetable, 
eatable from the 10th of April to the 10th of May—it is 
blanched under boxes. R. L. Pell. 
Remarkable Fecundity.—“ K.” gives us the “ his¬ 
tory of what may be called a remarkable cow, in every 
particular. She was bred, and is at present owned by 
Hawthorn McCulloch, Esq. of Greenbush, Rensselaer 
county. She is 9 years old this spring, and was sired by 
an imported Durham bull, out of a cross Durham and Na¬ 
tive cow. The spring she was three years old, (her first 
calving.) she had twins—the next year a single calf—the 
next year, twins—the next year a single calf—the next, 
three—the next, twins—the next, (the present year,) 
three calves—in all, 14 calves in 7 years, all fine healthy 
calves, except the last three. She gives at present from 
56 to 60 pounds of very rich milk per day. She is a 
large handsome cow, and fatted, would weigh 1000 lbs.” 
To destroy cabbage lice. —Mr. Weller, of Brink- 
leyville, N. C. informs us that he has found sprinkling 
dry dirt on cabbage plants when the dew is on, will de¬ 
stroy or drive off'the lice. We have tried dirt as is men¬ 
tioned, as well as ashes and powdered gypsum, and have 
found ashes to do best. 
To preserve vines from bugs. —Mr. Weleer also 
informs us that a decoction of tobacco and red pepper, 
sprinkled on the leaves of cucumbers, melons, &c. “ will 
drive off at once and for good, the little oblong striped 
bug which is sometimes so destructive to these plants.” 
Mr. W. has been told, he says, that the pepper tea it¬ 
self will answer the purpose. 
Garden Tools. —Extract of a letter from Thomas 
Collins, Burlington, N. J.—“We have in use in this vi¬ 
cinity, two garden tools, invented here, and much appro¬ 
ved; the principal one is a ‘ weeding hoe;’ the other, a 
stout four pronged fork, for hand weeding in flower 
beds. The weeding hoe is a light tool, but very efficient 
for cutting off weeds when but a few inches high. Of 
the hoes, I have had manufactured many scores, and dis- 
