145 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
to such an operation. All insects like the hot, that 
derive their subsistence from other animals, are provided 
with ample instruments for such a purpose. Thus the 
sheep maggot, the product of the Musca carnaria, is 
furnished with tentaculae or hooks near his mouth with 
which he tears the living flesh, and the poor animal is 
literally (where this fly abounds, and the sheep is once 
attacked,) eaten alive. The bot is also provided with 
tentaculce or hooks by which it fastens itself to the 
stomach, and with which it can at its pleasure tear and 
perforate the living wall that encloses it, and on the 
blood and secretions of which it generally feeds. We 
incline to the opinion that death sometimes ensues 
from the perforation of the stomach from the fact that 
the stomach of the horse dying from their attacks, is 
frequently found perforated or made a complete sieve 
by them. It has been maintained with much force and 
ingenuity that this perforation only takes place after 
the animal’s death, and in consequence of their desire 
to make their escape from the stomach, as flies, 
ticks, &c. leave the animals on which they prey, as soon 
as death ensues. The instances, however, are frequent, 
in which horses have been opened sometime after death, 
and though bots were numerous, there was no perfora¬ 
tion, the death being clearly attributable to other causes : 
while in others, opened as soon as breathing was done, 
and almost before the heart had ceased to move, the 
stomach was completely riddled. Why the bot will 
at times remain in the stomach without producing any 
apparent disturbance, and at others produce the great¬ 
est pain and most fatal effect, we do not know ; that 
such is the fact, few we believe will doubt. At the 
same time it must be admitted that many of the dis¬ 
eases and losses attributed to bots, must be assigned to 
other causes, such as cholic, improper treatment, &c. 
Improved Stock in Georgia. 
The following is an extract from a letter received from 
B. Burch, Esq. of Spring Grove, near Elberton, (Ga.) 
and is another cheering proof of the spirit of improve¬ 
ment in the breeding of domestic animals, as well as 
other departments of agriculture, that pervades the 
whole country, as well as the immense benefits which 
a few public spirited men can confer on a country by 
selecting, importing and distributing such improved ani¬ 
mals. Mr. Burch has sent us a sample of silk “manu¬ 
factured in his family without any other machinery than 
the common cotton wheel, and the worm fed on the 
common red mulberry leaves.” The ladies to whom we 
have shown Mr. Burch’s silk, pronounce it a beautiful 
specimen, and of superior strengh and quality. It is 
another evidence of the ease with which silk may be 
cultivated and manufactured, as Mr. B. had never seen 
a silk-worm before those that spun the present speci¬ 
men : 
“ I have tried the Berkshires, and am much pleased with 
them. I should like to have those who still think they are hum¬ 
bugs to call on me, one and a half miles S. E. from Elberton, and 
see my boar Lord Bacon, that I got from Mr. Bement of the 
Three Hills; and Black Hawk and Dutch Girl, I got from Mr. 
Lossing of your city. Dutch Girl has six fine pigs of the “ raal 
grit.” I should also be pleased to show those of my friends 
who will call on me, a Cotswold Ram that was imported by 
Messrs. Sotham and Corning last fall, that clipped 12 lbs. of wool 
last spring.” 
California Wheat. 
This is the name given to a variety of wheat descri¬ 
bed below, and of which a notice was given in the Cul¬ 
tivator of last year, page 188 . 
“This wheat was got in the Osage nation, crop of 1839, from 
a man by the name of Boon, who obtained it from the St. Fe 
traders. Col. Spierin, of Abbeville, S. C. was then Indian 
agent, noticed the wheat, and brought it home with him to Ab¬ 
beville, planted it in a garden and fourid it to grow well. The 
first heads counted about 100 grains each. The first crop in Ab¬ 
beville gave about 150, and the crop of 1841 (the second crop 
raised,) have counted 204. It may be considered a reasonable 
estimate that in a good soil, each kernel sown will produce 1,000 
grains. The wheat has been free from rust in both seasons of 
its cultivation, though rust is very prevalent in our southern 
wheats. JOHN WILLIAMS, Abbeville C. H., S. C.” 
We have examined an ear of this wheat, and find it to 
be a kind called by botanists Triticum compositum, per¬ 
haps a variety different from the one usually known 
under the name of Egyptian or many spiked wheat.— 
Of this wheat Low says : 
“It is distinguished from all others by its branched or com¬ 
pound spike, which no other species tends, under any circum¬ 
stances, to produce. Its seeds are numerous and its produce 
abundant. It requires a good climate and a fertile soil, for, in 
unfavorable situations, the branches of the spike are not evolv¬ 
ed, and then it assumes the appearance of ordinary wheat.” 
The specimen of the wheat before us shows a good 
berry, of a light yellow color, and appears capable of 
making a fine flour. Should it realize the expectations 
of the gentlemen who have introduced it, the California 
wheat will be a great acquisition to the country. Its 
quality, however, and its adaptation to our climate, re¬ 
mains to be more fully ascertained. To prevent all 
possibility of fraud, the proprietors have properly de¬ 
termined to sell it only in the ear. These may be ob¬ 
tained, one dollar each, at the stores of George C. 
Thorburn, and I. I. Roome, New-York, and W. Thor- 
burn, Albany. It is a fall wheat, and should be sown 
at the usual times of sowing the ordinary fall wheat. 
. Keeping Ice.— We find in the Kentucky Farmer the follow¬ 
ing directions for keeping ice:—“We take at sunrise from 
the ice-house as much as will be probably wanted through 
the day, and cover it up in some saw-dust placed in a barrel 
which si'ts in the dairy-house. At night, the size of any gi¬ 
ven piece is scarce perceptibly diminished. It is a perfect 
charm,” 1 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Downing’s Landscape Gardening, &c. 
Here is a splendid volume, the title of which we shall 
give in full, as it will at a glance show the subjects em¬ 
braced in it : 
“A Treatise on the the Theory and Practice of Landscape 
Gardening, adapted to North America, with a view to the im¬ 
provement of country residences. Comprising Historical noti¬ 
ces and general principles of the art, directions for laying out 
grounds and arranging plantations, the description and cultiva¬ 
tion of hardy trees, decorative accompaniments to the house 
and grounds, the formation of pieces of artificial water, flower 
gardens, &c. with remarks on Rural Architecture, illustrated 
by Engravings. By A. J. Downing.— New York and London: 
Wiley and Putnam.” 
The time was, when the publication of such a work 
in this country would have been deemed ill-timed and 
misplaced ; but now, thanks to a more cultivated taste, 
to a greater acquaintance with the beautiful in nature, 
and to a rational and laudable desire in our men of 
wealth and influence to surround themselves with higher 
sources of enjoyment, the appearance of Mr. Downing’s 
book must be deemed most opportune, and a substan¬ 
tial benefit to the public. The subjects treated in the 
volume are comparatively new to the great mass of our 
citizens, and much money has been expended to little 
purpose, so far as regards beauty or comfort in the 
construction and establishment of country residences, 
which might have been much better appropriated, had 
such a work as Mr. D.’s been accessible. The style of 
building in this country has been miserably defective • 
all sorts of styles and orders have been blended, and the 
instances have been very few in which better taste has 
triumphed over bad example, and the desire of display. 
From the publication of this work, we think we may 
date a new era in our rural architecture. The excel¬ 
lent observations, the beautiful and varied illustrations, 
and the number and style of the engravings, cannot fail 
to render it popular and useful. Let no person who 
contemplates the erefftion of a residence, attempt it 
without first consulting Mr. Downing’s volume. To the 
gardener or the architect, who desires to be master of 
his profession and unite to the first principles of his art, 
a thorough understanding of some of its most important 
details, this volume is indispensable. It is a work to be 
read and studied by those who would improve their 
taste in such matters ; and the beautiful manner in 
which it is got up, with the variety of its engravings, 
will contribute to render it not less a favorite in the 
drawing room than in the library. We are scarcely 
aware how much the mind is influenced and molded 
by the beautiful in nature around us j the elevating, 
tranquilizing, and we may add civilizing effects of the 
natural objects with which we are most familiar. It is 
the aim of Mr. Downing’s book to guide and instruct 
the mind, to direct and cultivate the taste, and by bring¬ 
ing to our notice the effect of the beautiful, cause it to be 
sought and appreciated. It is a volume to which we 
wish every success. Price $3.50. 
Lindley’s Theory of Horticulture. 
This volume, which we have just received from the 
publishers, Wiley & Putman of New York, must be 
considered one of the standard works of the age. It is 
an “ attempt to explain the principal operations of 
Gardening on physiological principles,” and perhaps 
there is no man living so well qualified for the under¬ 
taking as John Lindley. The notes added to this edi¬ 
tion by Messrs. Downing and Gray, have greatly ad¬ 
ded to its value, and better adapted it to the Ameri¬ 
can public. 
Prof. Lindley’s volume is an effort to explain and il¬ 
lustrate the common operations of gardening and agri¬ 
culture on the principles which govern vegetation, and 
it is scarcely necessary to say to any acquainted with 
his skill and knowledge in vegetable physiology, that he 
has been eminently successful. The great clearness 
and force of his reasoning and the multitude of facts he 
has brought forward to support his positions, many of 
them most curious and interesting, cannot fail to interest 
and instruct the reader. The necessity of a more full 
acquaintance with the subjects discussed in this volume 
is thus justly stated in the preface to this American 
edition : 
“A knowledge of these leading principles at once invests 
with new and peculiar interest, even the most mechanical, and 
apparently unmeaning and irksome details of the art. With 
what increased satisfaction are the common processes of 
manuring or transplanting carried on, to say nothing of the 
more delicate operations of budding, grafting, propagating by 
layers, &c., when we are acquainted with the structure of the 
plants we are endeavoring to control, and comprehend the why 
and the wherefore of every step we pursue. With this knowledge 
of vital actions, new modes of culture and various improve¬ 
ments in the operations of the art, are continually suggested 
to the reflective mind; which derives additional pleasure from 
the prosecution of scientific experiments, of which the ignorant 
laborer who turns over the soil, and sows his seeds in precisely 
the same manner under all circumstences, never dreams.” 
Every part of this work will be found valuable to the 
gardener or orchardist, and not less so to the farmer 
who wishes to understand the rationale of vegetable 
nutrition and the conditions emost favorable to the 
growth of plants. We consider it a most favorable 
indication of the spread of correct sentiment, and 
a proof of the prevalent desire for useful practical 
information, when such works as Liebig’s Organic 
Chemistry, Downing’s Landscape Gardening, and Lind- 
ley’s Theory of Horticulture are issued from the Ameri¬ 
can press, and in a style of execution rarely exceeded 
by the London publishers. The enterprising publish¬ 
ers of this work, and the one previously noticed, 
(Wiley and Putnam, New York,) are deserving the 
thanks of the community for presenting to them "these 
valuable works, and we trust their success will be such 
as to encourage them in farther efforts to promote the 
great interests, Horticulture, Agriculture, and correct 
taste in our country. 
Kollar on the Insects Injurious to Gardeners, 
Farmers, &c. 
This is a valuable practical volume written by the 
celebrated German Entomologist whose name it bears, 
translated by J. Sc. M. Loudon, and the notes by J. O. 
Westwood, Esq. We give the arrangement and sub¬ 
jects of the several parts, as best exhibiting the de¬ 
sign of the work : 
Introduction; sketch of insects and their classification, habits, 
uses, &c.—Part I: Insects which do not live on the body, but 
are troublesome from their attacks on man. Part II: Insects 
which live on domestic animals. Ill: Insects which sometimes 
attack animals. IV : Insects which injure Bees. The 1st part 
of section 2d, treats of Insects which injure grain—II: Insects 
injurious to meadows. Ill: Insects injurious to culinary vege¬ 
tables. Section III. Part I: Insects which injure the vine. II : 
Insectswhich injure green and hot-house plants. Ill : Insects 
which are injurious to fruit trees. IV: Insects injurious to 
woods and forests. 
From this programme, it will be seen that the field 
of labor is an ample one, and well has it been occu¬ 
pied by Mr. Kollar. He has noticed nearly all the 
known insects injurious to man, grain, fruits, trees, &c. 
and the well executed cuts that accompany the work 
make the distinctions of form, so necessary to a right 
understanding of the several species, easily seen. This 
is the case with those that prey on grain, particularly 
the two called the Hessian fly, and the Wheat fly, 
which many have confounded together, but which the 
engraved representations in this volume, as well as the 
known habits of the two depredators, would prove to 
be wholly distinct. We may hereafter make room for 
that part of his article on insects injurious to grain, 
which relates to these two insects, as the subject is one 
of much interest to the farmer ; the Hessian and the 
Wheat flies having for many years occasioned most 
serious losses to the American cultivator. We be¬ 
lieve the book has not been republished in this country, 
but it will be found a most useful publication for those 
who wish for a full account of insects injurious to the 
farmer, orchardist and forester. The London edition 
(price $1.75,) may be had of Wiley & Putnam, New- 
York. 
The American Housewife. 
This neat volume, for which we are indebted to the 
publishers, Dayton & Saxton, New York, is a copi¬ 
ous collection of “valuable and original receipts in all 
the various branches of Cookery,” with a large mass 
of miscellaneous receipts, and instructions relative to 
housewifery. The whole by an experienced Lady. 
The subject of carving is also fully elucidated, and il¬ 
lustrated by engravings ; and on the whole, there are 
few volumes, which, to the young housewife, who de¬ 
sires to unite economy with taste and elegance in her 
cookery and table management, will be more accepta¬ 
ble or useful than this. Of the value of many of the 
receipts in a former edition of this book, we can speak 
experimentally, and can cordially recommend it to our 
lady readers as particularly worthy of their notice. 
The appearance of the book is worthy of the good 
things to which it may be considered a prelude, when¬ 
ever its directions are adopted. (Price 50 cts.) 
London Farmer’s Magazine. 
The July number of this excellent Journal is before 
us, containing a great variety of papers, interesting to 
those who take an interest in the great cause to which 
it is devoted. Among these papers, is the commence¬ 
ment of a notice of Liebig’s Organic Chemistry, by J. 
Towers, Esq : the Agricultural Statistics of the Uni¬ 
ted States ; an able article on the cultivation, feeding, 
&c. of roots, from the Baltimore American Farmer ; 
the description, engraving, &c., of Hussey’s grain 
cutting machine, copied from the Cultivator, with other 
well written papers on various subjects connected 
with agriculture. In the spirit and beauty of the en¬ 
graved portraits of animals, the Magazine is without 
a rival. Those for this month are, the Aberdeenshire 
Polled Prize Bull, owned by Isaac Machray, and the 
Deer Stalker. 
Sander’s School Books. 
Messrs. Dayton & Saxton, of New York, have fur¬ 
nished us with a set of Sander’s series of schoolbooks 
consisting of “ The Primary School Primer,” “The 
Spelling Book,” and “ The School Reader,” first and 
second books. We must confess that we have been, 
and still are, decidedly opposed to the unnecessary 
multiplication of school hooks, as constituting a source 
of constant change and expense, without any corres¬ 
ponding benefit. The hasty examination, however, 
which we have been able to give these volumes, has 
done away much of this feeling, so far as they are con¬ 
cerned, and the long array of most respectable names 
attached to recommendatory notices in them, would 
seem to indicate that for the purposes intended they pos¬ 
sess no ordinary merit. Such matters, we must leave 
to those who are more competent, and whose business 
it is to decide how, and what, the rising generation are 
to be taught. 
