134 Retrofpeét of American Literature.— Agriculture, Sc. | March 1, 
pectation to the naturalifts in the United 
States. [he talents of Dr. Barron, 
as a teacher of Medicine and Natural 
Hiftory, and as a writer on thefe fub-. 
jeSts, have been many years refpectably 
known ; but this performance will greatly 
extend his reputation, as it will generally 
be confidered by competent judges as the 
moft peripicuous, inftructive, and com- 
prehenfive elementary work on this fub- 
ject now extant. In the firft part of the 
work, a defcription of vegetables is given 
in very ample detail. This comprehends 
a full account of all the parts ef which 
they confift in due order, with the tech- 
nical and appropriate names belonging to 
each. The fecond part treats of the 
phyfiology of plants. And the third part 
is devoted to an explanation of the fexual 
fyftem of Linnzus which the author 
adopts. An appendix is fubjoined to the 
volume, which contains a fynopfis of the 
feveral fyftems that have been invented by 
botanifts, for the arrangement of vegeta- 
bles, and for the eftablifhment of method 
in this department of natural hiftory. 
The work is illuftrated by thirty elegant 
lates. 
Mr. WILLIAM BarTRAM'S €§ Account 
of the Species, Hybrides and other Varie- 
ties of the Vine of North America,”’ pub- 
lifhed in the Medical Repofitory, forms 
an interefting communication. As there 
is good reafon to believe that a large 
proportion of the territory of the United 
States is favourable to the culture of the 
Vine, and that fome of it may hereafter 
be devared to the making of wine, it be- 
comes interefting to ebferve and collect 
as many as poifible of the facts on this 
fubje&t. Mr. BARTRAM’s attachment to 
botanical purfuits, and the rare degree of 
fkiil which conftant application and ex- 
perience have given him, confer import- 
ance on every thing he choofes to advance 
on this fubjeét. 
: AGRICULTURE. 
«* Papers on Agriculture,” confifting 
of communications made to the Maflachu- 
fetts Society for promoting Agriculture, 
contain much important matter which can- 
not but be interefting to a country, fuch 
as the United States, the citizens of which 
are chiefly occupied in tilling the ground. 
This refpe€table Affociation contits of 
the Governor of the Common-wealth of 
Maffachufetts, and of many others of the 
moft diftinguifhed perfons in the State, 
They are frequently convened ; they offer, 
at fiated intervals, very liberal premiums 
for the encouragement.of agriculture, and 
the publication of their tranfactions at 
regular periods is likely to be produétive 
of the beft effects. 
Mr. Borvey’s .$* Abridgment of 
Forfyth’s Treatife on the Culture and 
Management of Fruit-trees,"’ accompa- 
nied by many important oblervations of 
his own, will be a very inftructive and 
ufeful manual for all fuch as wifh to at- 
tend to this branch of rural economy, 
Mr. BorpLey’s good fenfe and long ex- 
perience in all the details belonging to 
this fubje&t, render his obferyations and 
opinions extremely valuable to the com- 
munity. ; 
Mr. Binns’s ** Treatife on practical 
Farming,” abounds in obfervations and 
inftruétions which demonftrate good fenfe, 
and great maturity of experience on all 
the fubje&ts of which he undertakes to 
treat. One of the moft prominent parts 
of his performance is, that which concerns 
the ulefulnefs and management of Gyp- 
fum, which he feems to have employed 
on his own farm with fingular profit and 
advantage. In reciting his experience 
with the different forts of gypfum, Mr. 
Binns gives the preference for quicknels 
and efficacy, firft, to the red kind from 
Nova Scotia, next, to the yellow kind 
rom the fame place, and thirdly, to the 
gypfum from France. Many other ma- 
nures are alfo treated of with a great 
deal of intelligerce and difcrimimation. 
The author urges in ftrong terms the 
propriety of deep ploughing and of thick 
fowing as very advantageous, particu- 
larly on rich land. His obfervations on. 
the raifing of Sheep, on the cultivation 
of Rye, and on the management of Peach . 
and Apple-trees, though coneife and fen-. 
tentious, indicate an obferving mind. A. 
few pages on the ‘Tipula Tritici, or. 
wheat-infect, and on fome other infects, 
are likewife valuable. Ny 
MISCELLANEOUS, 
Dr. Megass’s.edition of WILLICH’S. 
“© Domeftic Encyclopedia,” is likely to; 
prove a very valuable work. ‘Three vo- 
lumes of it are already before the public, 
and the remainder will {peedily appear. 
Dr. MEASE judicioufly employs the prun- 
ing knife in cutting away many things 
in the original work which are nearly or. 
altogether ufelefs. He likewile adds, 
from American and other fources, a great. 
variety of matter, well feleéted, which. 
mutt exceedingly conduce-to enrich and 
improve the work. 
POETRY. mi 
Mr. WINTHROP SaRGENT’S poeny 
entitled, ** Bofton,”* has attra€ted a good 
deal of attention, and received much com< ~ 
mendatiop 
