1868 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
269 
DARWIN’S NEW WORK, 
THE VARIATION 
OF 
ANIMALS AND PLANTS 
UNDER DOMESTICATION. 
BY 
CHARLES DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S., &c. 
WITH A PREFACE 
TO THE 
AMERICAN EDITION 
BY THE AUTHOR, 
AND ALSO ONE BY 
PROFESSOR ASA GRAY. 
I N T W O VOLUMES. 
This work treats of the variations in our domestic ani¬ 
mals and cultivated plants, discussing- the circumstances 
that influence these variations, inheritance of peculiar¬ 
ities, results of in-and-in breeding, crossing, etc. 
It is one of the most remarkable books of the present 
day, presenting an array of facts that show the most 
extraordinary amount of observation and research. All 
the domestic animals, from horses and cattle to canary- 
birds and honey-bees, are discussed, as well ns our lead¬ 
ing culinary and other plants, making it a work of the 
greatest interest. 
Its importance to agriculturists, breeders, scientific 
men, and the general reader, will he seen by its scope as 
indicated in the following partial enumeration of its 
contents: Pigs, Cattle, Sheep, Goats ; Dogs and 
Cats, Horses and Asses ; Domestic Rabbits ; Do¬ 
mestic Pigeons ; Fowls, Ducks, Geese, Peacock, 
Turkey, Guinea Fowl, Canary-bird, Gold-fish ; 
Hive-bees ; Silk-moths. Cultivated Plants ; Cereal 
and Culinary Plants ; Fruits, Ornamental Trees, 
Flowers, Bud Variation. Inheritance, Reversion 
or Atavism, Crossing. On the Good Effects of 
Crossing, and on the Evil Effects of Close Inter¬ 
breeding. Selection. Causes of Variability, Laws 
of Variation, etc., etc. 
Published, in two Volumes of nearly 
1100 pages, 
FINELY ILLUSTRATED. 
SENT POST-PAID.PRICE $0.00. 
ORANGE JUDD & CO.., 
245 Broadway, New York City. 
A few of the notices by the Press, of Darwin’s Great 
Work, The Variation of Animals and Plants under Do¬ 
mestication, are here given: 
Mr. Darwin is not an ordinary writer, and has not been 
content to expand his earlier and more general state¬ 
ments. His recital of curious facts is enlivened and illus¬ 
trated throughout by thought; liis principles and argu¬ 
ments everywhere rest solidly upon observed fact. 
The reader is frequently led up in thought, within sight 
and hearing, as it were, of the very workshop of Nature. 
Glimpses are given of wonderful prospects, passing sug¬ 
gestions of thoughts almost too bold for expression, or 
profound analogies are embodied in illustrations which 
might be expanded into theories. 
Every chapter is full of facts. They are the substance 
of the whole work. No room is lost by the theories. 
They serve as a system for arranging the facts, of which 
the hook seems to contain more than could possibly he 
compressed into the same space, if it contained nothing 
else. 
Messrs. Judd & Co. have done justice to the work, and 
credit to themselves, by the elegance and accuracy of 
this reprint. It is as pleasant to read as the English 
edition, and more convenient to handle than that, which 
costs twice as much. [ New York Evening Post. 
While eminently valuable as contributions to science, 
these volumes will be found a source of much interest and 
instruction to the mere lover of nature. For example, 
in the case of the domestic pigeon, Mr. Darwin has de¬ 
scribed fully all the chief races, their history, the amount 
and nature of their differences, and the probable steps by 
which they have been formed. We have also the fullest 
discussion and information regarding domestic, dogs and 
cats, horses and asses, pigs, cattle, sheep and goats. 
[.Scottish American Journal. 
Messrs. Orange Judd & Co. have laid the public under 
obligation by their prompt and handsome reprint of Dar¬ 
win’s last work. Whether the reader agrees or not with 
the peculiar views of the author upon the great problems 
involved, there can be no two opinions of the value of 
these volumes as a storehouse of the results of observa¬ 
tions concerning our domestic animals and plants, far 
more elaborate and complete than can elsewhere he found. 
We can testify also that the work is a fascinating one for 
perusal.— [Congregationalist & Recorder, (Boston). 
The publishers have done a great service to science in 
reproducing this most recent work of Darwin’s in a 
handsome and, for so elaborate a work, a cheap form. 
He (Darwin) goes where his facts lead him, and of these 
ho has an immense, but intelligibly arranged number; 
and lias thus given to the breeder of animals, or the prop¬ 
agator of new varieties in the vegetable world, a treatise 
of great practical value, explaining all the laws of varia¬ 
tion and selection that have thus far been definitely fixed. 
[Newark Advertiser. 
It is a work which will command universal attention, 
and will be of particular value to agriculturists, whether 
engaged in stock-raising only, or in the cultivation of the 
soil in general.—[. Forney's (Phila.) Weekly Press. 
The book presents the most remarkable collection of 
facts, methodically arranged, concerning our domestic 
animals and plants, yet brought together, and for this 
alone, it is of the highest value.— (St. Louis) Journal of 
Agriculture. 
Whatever may bo thought of Prof. Darwin's peculiar 
theories, there can be no doubt that his works form a 
large and important addition to human knowledge. In 
the present volumes his theory is connected with a vast 
variety of interesting and important facts, which have 
great practical value apart from the hypothesis .they are 
brought forward to sustain.—[Rostov Transcript. 
The work is alike adapted to the wants of the practi¬ 
cal agriculturist, and the student of natural history. The 
immense collection of facts which it presents in illustra¬ 
tion of the scientific views of the writer, are of singular 
interest and value, irrespective of the peculiar theory of 
which lie is the most able and earnest advocate, and in 
its present form, the original expounder. 
Mr-Danvin’s modesty is no less remarkable than his 
candor. Ho is an example of the humility which belongs 
to genuine science, and is the condition of high intel¬ 
lectual attainments. The execution of his work is in 
harmony with the characteristics of his mind. Written 
in a style of eminent simplicity, artlessness, and sincer¬ 
ity, free from abstruse reasonings or pedantic refinements, 
it must prove singularly attractive to the lovers of nature 
no less than to the scientific student. 
[New York Tribune. 
NEW AND BEAUTIFUL WORK. 
THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 
by 
JOSIAH IIOOPES, Westchester, Pa. 
Bncluding Propagation, Cultivation, 
Description of Varieties and their 
Adaptability to Different Situations. 
Notices by the tress: 
A very complete and every way admirable treatise on 
the Conifers, or cone-bearing plants, is The Book of 
Evergreens. Mr. Hoopes has devoted many years of labor 
and attention to the beautiful class of trees treated of, 
and his work, which is copiously illustrated, must at 
once become an authority. We shall be glad also, if it 
induces any to a closer study of trees, and to a further 
ornamentation of their houses with them. 
[Springjield Republican. 
The value of this volume consists in its being both a 
labor of love and of duty. The author, having devoted 
a life to the study of trees and plants as a practical horti¬ 
culturist, records here his views and experiences. Mr. 
Hoopes has studied all the treatises which bear on his 
subject, and availed himself of the assistance of many 
scientific friends, as well as recorded his own experience. 
The illustrations are numerous aud excellent, and alto¬ 
gether the work has all the characteristics of an authori¬ 
ty on the subject it so minutely and comprehensively 
treats.— [Boston Transcript. 
It is a practical treatise on the Coniferaie, or cone-hear¬ 
ing plants, describing them in all their families, and 
their best culture, management, and so forth, and is well 
illustrated. It fills a vacant niche, and every intelligent 
culturist of trees should have and use it. 
[Congregationalist & Recorder, (Boston). 
The work was evidently prepared with great care and 
pains, and embodies the results of years of close obser¬ 
vation and study. It is one of great value to the agri¬ 
culturist and landscape gardener, and of special interest 
to all who care to know anything of the flora of the globe. 
To those ivho wish to raise trees, it is an indispensable 
hand-book.—[ Liberal Christian. 
It is undoubtedly the most complete American work of 
the kind in print. It is well illustrated and handsomely 
printed.— [Boston Journal. 
We have examined this handsome book with a great 
deal of pleasure and satisfaction. The author has pur¬ 
sued a very desirable plan in his work, giving sufficient 
scientific information to meet the wants of the botanical 
student, and yet the work is sufficiently elementary in 
explaining terms and points about plant structure, and 
systems of classification,—in short, plain enough to meet 
the wants of every reader. It is printed in neat style, 
with thick covers and beveled edges, and a large number 
of very superior illustrations.— [Journal of Agriculture. 
The work is now ready. 435 pp., 12mo, on fine paper. 
SENT POST-PAID, ... - PRICE $3.00. 
ORANGE JUDD &. CO., 
245 Broadway, New York. 
