THE CULTIVATOR. 
Notices of New Books, 
Farm Implements ; and the Principles of their 
Construction and Use; an Elementary and Familiar 
Treatise on Mechanics, and on Natural Philosophy 
generally, as Applied to the Ordinary Practices of 
Agriculture. With 20G engraved Illustrations. By 
John J. Thomas. New-York : Harper & Brothers. 
This is just such a book as we should expect from the 
previous well known and highly valued works of Mr. 
Thomas. Simple and unadorned, though by no means 
dull or uninteresting in style, it gives the plainest evi¬ 
dence that it was written—not for the sake of making 
a book, but because there was information needed on 
the subjects of which it treats, and with the sole end in 
view of conveying that information in the clearest and 
fittest manner. Where the principles of mechanics re¬ 
quire minute explanation, as directly or indirectly con¬ 
nected with the farmer’s every-day toil, his illustra¬ 
tions are carefully drawn from the farmer’s every-day 
life. He blends together agricultural information and 
mechanical. And in the somewhat beaten track of 
works on Natural Philosophy, we think the treatise be¬ 
fore us quite as successful as any with which we are 
acquainted—not even excepting those which our college 
professors have endeavored to adapt to the wants of 
schools and academies. 
It would be needless to point out in this age of ma¬ 
chinery and calculation, the intimate connection be¬ 
tween every object about us necessary to our comfort 
or enjoyment, and the laws and forces of mechanics. 
While their investigation is to the mere inquirer an 
interesting study, those who live by the sweat of the 
brow in almost any capacity whatever, and many whose 
labor is of the brain, are obliged to understand them. 
They axe at the foundation of man’s progress every 
where and in every way. So long as his experience with 
matter was his only guide, he was still and stationary. 
But when he learned to reason from this experience, 
—when Bacon taught philosophy to be his servant and 
not his master, his advances soon became quick and 
real. In every art to which the mechanical knowledge, 
thus acquired, has been applied, its victories, often un¬ 
expected and always wonderful, have been but step¬ 
ping stones to still higher attainment. 
In agriculture, however, until a comparatively recent 
period, the true principles of mechanics have been 
unapplied, and as a consequence, little advance at¬ 
tained. And now, although improved implements are 
the product of almost daily invention, their use is far 
from being as general as we should wish, or as most 
imagine. The farmer is not well enough versed in the 
first principles of mechanics, to see the importance and 
economy of their being strictly followed in the tools he 
uses. His fathers gathered in harvest after harvest 
whi e they lived, and why should he not take the same 
course they took, to accomplish the same result 1 It is 
recommended by the respect with which he views its au¬ 
thors and by the love he bears the old fields where it 
was ever practiced ; he is strengthened in it by his 
isolation from his fellows, perhaps by the moderate 
success which it obtains. He needs, we repeat, most 
of all, a thorough understanding of the laws and 
forces of mechanics,—not, it maybe, a sufficient know¬ 
ledge of details to construct, but of principles to appre¬ 
ciate and judge of what he uses,—nor indeed, the in¬ 
vestigation of any new principles, but intimate ac¬ 
quaintance and careful application of the old. 
Agricultural writers, so far as we know, are very 
deficient in supplying elementary information on this 
subject. Loudon rather catalogues agricultural imple¬ 
ments than explains mechanical principles. Low’s 
work on Practical Agriculture, requires previous study 
and is then far from being a full compendium. Ameri¬ 
can writers have, thus far, elicited very little, really 
new, on any point, and on none are they more lacking 
than this. In 1849, this want attracted the attention 
of the committee of the New-York State Ag. Society 
on Essays and Experiments, of which the lamented 
Delafield was chairman. Accustomed to view eve¬ 
ry thing in its practical value and bearings, he ap¬ 
pends to his official report the following just remarks • 
“ While we admit the fertility of the inventive 
genius of our citizens, we have reason to regret the 
many obstacles remaining in the path of the farmer, 
preventing in a degree, the most effective power of 
mechanism, to aid in his toil and labor. The science 
of force and motion (mechanics) is necessary and 
portant to the perfection of the farmer’s work. 
Some 
knowledge of practical mechanics is essential to,a right 
understanding of the tools needful for his use, their 
proper construction, and strength. The force of fluids 
as well as solids is important to him in draining, irri¬ 
gation, in protecting his soil from injury by streams. 
The common occupation of loading his wagon, and 
other farm operations, often give evidence of the want 
of knowledge, in relation to the laws of gravity. 
“ With these impressions the committee suggest the 
propriety of offering a premium for the best essay on 
mechanics or the science of force and motion (solids 
and fluids,) to be divested, as far as practicable, of tech¬ 
nicalities, 'and illustrating the importance of this branch 
of science in prosecuting successfully the ordinary pur¬ 
suits of agriculture.” 
The premium thus suggested and subsequently of¬ 
fered by the society, was the next year awarded to Mr. 
Thomas, whose Essay was published in the Transac¬ 
tions for 1850. It forms the basis of the present vol¬ 
ume, which has however been re-written, much enlarg¬ 
ed, and more amply illustrated. No work devoted to 
the whole science of agriculture could enter into details 
so minute as those here furnished, on any single 
branch; and we think no one branch of agricultural 
science now more in need of popular elucidation than 
the mechanical. 
Mr. Thomas’ book admirably fills this want; and if 
what we have said of its character and that of its con¬ 
tents, shall lead any one to study it, our time and his, 
will have been well spent. Even those who have had 
previous opportunities of acquainting themselves with 
the principles of natural philosophy, will in its appli¬ 
cation of them to agi’iculture, find much that is new 
and valuable; and we hope that those who have not, 
will, if they wish properly to qualify themselves for 
the duties of the farm, immediately enter upon 
field which is now spread before them. 
