228

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS. By the arrival of the steamer Caledonia, we are in receipt of our foreign journals to June 4th.

MARKETS.-Ashes were in limited request. Cotton firm. There were 780,500 bales on hand in Liverpool on the 1st of June, against 865,190 same period last year. Flour dull. Pork and Lard dull. Beef and Cheese of superior qualities much wanted. Naval Stores quiet. Rice in good demand. Tobacco steady. Wool a trifling decline.

Money is again tight.

The Weather has been very fine for the past month, and the crops were looking uncommonly well, promising an early and abundant harvest.

Last Year's Cotton Crop.-By the report of the Board of Trade, it is proved that, in 1845, 1,069,320 cwt. of cotton were imported into Great Britain; during the present year, 1,019,738 cwts. The difference in weight is thus reduced to a trifle less than 50,000 cwts., or about 14,000 bales. In other words, the falling off in weight this year, as compared with last year, is under 4 per cent., but the falling off in number of bags is above 30 per cent! The result is, that the manufacturers have little faith in the shortness of the crop, and are of opinion that there is abundance of cotton in the country to meet any demand that is likely to arise. All idea of speculation, therefore, in this article, based upon the shortness of the crop of last year, may be considered at an end.

Fatal Flowers. Recently in London, a young lady went to bed in good health, and was found the next morning dead! The physicians who were called in, declared that the sole cause of this catastrophe was the poisoning of the air by the exhalations of a quantity of lilies found in two large vases on a low table in the room. Roses, tuberoses, jasmines, and, in fact, most flowers, may, in the same way, produce effects, if not mortal, at least very injurious. Their influence acts most powerfully on nervous persons.

Drying Plants-In drying plants for a herbarium, care must be taken not to press them so much as to crush them. Succulents, and kinds that drop their leaves, such as heaths, should be dipped in hot water before they are pressed. Each specimen should be placed between a sheet of brown paper, and between each filled sheet several empty ones should be placed; for the first day or two the pressure should be only just sufficient to prevent the leaves and flowers from shrivelling. When the papers are damp, the plants should be shifted to dry ones, increasing the pressure after every change till the specimens are perfectly dry.

-Ibid.

Dissolving Bones in Sulphuric Acid for the Purposes of Manure.-On the publication of the first experiments by the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Geddes, Dr. Monson, and Mr. M'William, in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, and by Mr. Hannam, in his Prize Report on Special Effects of Manures to the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, Mr Pusey expressed his opinion that they afforded " good hope" that the discovery would enable us to realize the most important saving ever yet held out in the use of manure. For this opinion, treason as it was to the existing order of affairs, Mr. Pusey could not hope to escape the ridicule and the indignation of the prejudiced and the interested. The theory of Liebig was declared to be "far-fetched and unworthy of credit," and the experiments "evidently unfair;" and thus divested alike of theoretical and practical evidence, his suggestion was freely offered to be "taken for what it was worth

A New Fuchsia.-At a late meeting of the London Horticultural Society, the report states, that of new plants, perhaps that which excited the most interest was a fuchsia, from Messrs. Veitch & Son, of Exeter, which had been discovered by Mr. W. Lobb, near Lima, in Peru, for which was awarded a large silver medal. It proves to be a curious and rather handsome" species, entirely new to gardens, producing an abundance of long rosy pink tubes, of about four inches in length. It is entirely destitute of petals, and therefore the beauty of the flower is confined to the calyx alone.

Honor to the Introducer of Madder into France.-The city of Avignon has erected a statue to John Althen, a Persian, who, a century ago, first introduced madder into France. It now yields the nation about twentyfive millions of francs per annum.

Watering out of Doors.-Some persons are for morning watering, and others for evening; all, however, will agree in the propriety or even necessity of a timely application of this most important element. For my own part, I like the morning as a general rule; more especially for such things as have been recently planted out, such as bedded plants in the flower garden, and young vegetables transplanted from the seed-beds in the kitchen garden. To saturate the soil in such cases is, in my opinion, highly improper, as leading to a considerable waste of the accumulated ground heat, and also as tending to exclude the genial influence of the atmosphere. With regard to young stock of this kind, frequent sprinklings are all that is required; in fact, a kind of cutting treatment, chiefly in order to prevent undue perspiration in the leaf. If this waste is prevented through the day by early morning watering, the plants may safely be left to the dews during the night. * Fine-rosed pots should at all times

A pin, a nut, a cherry-stone.' "

Mr. Pusey, however, afterwards laid before the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, some extracts from Mr. Hannam's unpublished Essay on the Theory of the Action of Bones on the Turnip Crop, having reference to what he termed the "great discovery of the economical employment of dissolved bones;" and stated that it contained, in his opinion, not only a detailed account of the best experiment ever made in agriculture, but some points of so much importance, that he felt anxious that not a moment should be lost in communicating the facts to the members." And this is the mode in which his cause was then spoken of:-"The day of Chartist regeneration, of Johanna Southcote, of flying machines, of South Sea schemes, nay of Cæsarian Cow Cabbage, is gone, and the lion of 1845 is bones dissolved in acid.' Every season has its lions. The world of politics, of religion, of science, of speculation, and even of poor agriculture, has now and then bubbles cast upon its surface-so varied, so resplendent with glittering embellishments, that the eager hand grasps the bubble, and it bursts and dissipates in nothing but thin air.'" And then came the application of the figurative imagery of the oracle-the practical morale of the prophecy-" Will any one be found who will risk a crop upon the evidence?" In less than twelve months from the issuing of this oracular denunciation, we find the theory which was to "dissolve and dissipate into thin air," recognized as a thing clearly established-supported by the evidence of scores of crops risked in its trial, and recorded in every agricultural periodical in the kingdom. This result, we say, is agreeable to us, and to every lover of true progress, not merely because of its practical usefulness, but also because it thoroughly justifies those who have labored through such difficulties, in the search of what has now proved a scientific and practical truth.—Lond. Ag. Gaz.

IMPORTATION OF AYRSHIRE CATTLE.-Mr. John Editor's Table. O. Colt, of Paterson, New Jersey, has just imported from Scotland, per ship Europe, one Ayrshire bull, CONTEMPLATED MISSION TO THE EAST.-From four years old, and three Ayrshire cows, three years a letter to Hon. Charles J. Ingersoll, by Aaron H. old. These animals were selected for him by Mr Palmer, Esq., of this city, it appears that a memorial John Tenant, of Shields, Ayrshire, who selected those is about to be submitted to the Senate of the United imported last fall by the Massachusetts Agricultural States, in favor of a Special Mission to be sent by our Society. They are said to be among the best that Government to the Comoro Islands, Abyssinia, Persia, could be procured, and were chosen with special reBurmah, Cochin-China, the Indian Archipelago, and ference to their dairy qualities. The bull is a prize Japan, for the purpose of making treaties, and to open animal, and cost £40 in Ayrshire. The cows cost £20 and extend our commercial intercourse with those each. Two bull calves were dropped on the voyage. countries. Mr. Palmer is favorably known to the Every one of these animals was in fine condition on public as Director of the American and Foreign landing-indeed, we never saw any brought out so Agency, at New York, and for several years has devot- well before-they have scarcely a scratch or bruise ed much attention to the resources of Japan and other about them. These animals are of medium size, and countries of the East, and we trust that if Congress very fine for the breed. The bull is the most perfect should carry out the views of the memorialists referred Ayrshire we ever saw, and in his general points would to above, no better man can be found to take charge of do credit to a Short-Horn. We trust that they will be that Mission. In speaking of the products of Abys- an improvement to the dairy stock of the country. sinia in his letter to Mr. Ingersoll, he says, that "a late scientific English traveller in that country states, that the Gondar cotton, indigenous to the elevated regions of Ethiopia, is of a fine long silky staple, of a quality equal, if not superior, to the American Seaisland. The Southern Islands of Japan teem with most of the productions of the tropics, whilst the Northern yield those of the temperate zones. The mountains abound in mineral wealth of every description, and the volcanic regions in sulphur. In agricul ture, they are very diligent and successful. whole country is highly cultivated, producing rice, esteemed the best in Asia, wheat, barley, beans of all sorts, culinary vegetables, a great variety of fruits, and flowers of the most brilliant hues and exquisite fragrance. The mulberry is reared solely for the silk

worm.

The

CATTLE FOR THE BOSTON MARKET.-Ten magni-
ficent fat cattle passed through this city on Saturday,
for the Boston market. They were from the farm of
All who saw
James S. Wadsworth, of Geneseo.
them agree in the opinion that they were the finest
specimens of beef cattle ever seen in this city. They
went east on the cars this morning. The Bostonians
will hold themselves in readiness for Western New
York beef.

The following are their weights :-
One ox seven years old.
Two ditto six years..
Two steers, three years old.
Two ditto four years.

One single steer.
One ditto, white.
One cow......

Total....

-Rochester Dem.

2,465 lbs. 4,865

66

3,965

3,365

1,725

1,790

"

1,585

66

19,760

The principal object of cultivation next to rice, is the tea plant; tea being the universal beverage of all classes, as in China. Their gardeners possess the skill of dwarfing and gigantifying trees and shrubs. The rivers, lakes, and seas, abound in a great variety THE BOOK OF GOOD EXAMPLES.-Drawn from of fish, which is the principal food of the inhabitants. authentic History and Biography; designed to illus"Mons. Isidore Hedde, an attaché of the late French trate the beneficial effects of virtuous conduct. By Mission to China, who was sent out to make re- John Frost. D. Appleton & Co., 200 Broadway. Pp. searches in the silk department regarding mulberries, 288, with engravings. Price $1. This is an excellent silkworms, and the manufacture of silks, has atten- work to be placed in families, abounding, as it does, tively observed the mode of cultivation, seeding, with exemplary matter, designed to exercise a salutary planting, and grafting those interesting trees; and ex-influence on all who may peruse its contents. amined at the different establishments the ingenious THE FRUIT CULTURIST.-Adapted to the climate apparatus for avoiding double cocoons; the simple of the Northern States; containing directions for process for reeling the peculiar fine white silk, and raising young trees in the Nursery, and for the manthe well-known seven-cocoon thread; and the several agement of the Orchard and Fruit Garden. By John processes of dyeing silk, and weaving, painting, em-J. Thomas. Mark H. Newman, publisher, 199 Broadbroidery, and sewing, of the singularly woven figured silk, exhibiting figures of men, flowers, gardens, &c., peculiar to Suchau, the Lyons of Eastern China. Mons. Hedde has also made a collection of silkworms' eggs, mulberry trees, and the ma plant, from which the fine grass cloth is made, together with drawings and pictures, apparatus,and looms. He intends to publish an account of his interesting excursion, and give translations of the different Chinese works on mulberry trees, the rearing of silkworms, and weaving of silk, on his return to France.

"Robert Fortune, Esq., the English Naturalist, who was sent out to China about three years since, by the Horticultural Society of London, has been eminently successful, and has already sent to the Society about 90 cases of living plants, besides a large collection of dried specimens of plants and animals."

way, N. Y. Pp. 220, 12mo. Price 62 cents. The author of the above little work has long been known to the public as one of our best writers upon agricul ture generally, and the culture of fruits more particularly. In the Culturist he has embodied the results of many years of practical experience in his own nursery and garden; we can therefore recommend it with more confidence than we should otherwise be disposed to do. In running our eye over the contents, we noticed a few errors, but these are of so trivial a kind as not to detract from the general merits of the work. We keep the book on our shelves, and trust it may have an extensive sale. We should have noticed it earlier, but have only just received a presentation copy.

BOOK-KEEPING BY SINGLE ENTRY-By James Arlington Bennet. For sale by Saxton & Miles, 205 Broadway. Price $1,50. This is a good system of bookSTRAWBERRIES.-The editors of the Annapolis Re-keeping for the farmer, being more easily comprehendpublican have received some strawberries weighing ed than that by double entry. The work abounds 40 to the pound, from Mrs. Jefferson Dorsey, of Arun- with familiar examples, thus enabling every person del county. Can any of our fair readers show larger to be his own teacher in this system of keeping

JULY MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE graphic and picturesque than Mr. Headley in his
OF THE N.Y. STATE AG. SOCIETY.-To the gentlemen descriptions.
composing the Executive Committee of the New York
State Agricultural Society :-

WANDERINGS UNDER THE SHADOW OF MONT BLANC AND THE JUNGFRAU. By George B. Cheever, forming Nos. VI. and XI. of the Library of American books, published by Wiley & Putnam, 161 Broadway. Price 50 cents each. Anything from the pen of Mr. Cheever is sure to command attention, as he has a pleasing and original way of treating all sub-est. jects on which he writes. These delightful volumes have interested us more than any others we have yet seen, from his ready pen. Perhaps it was the subject and the scenes which lent their charms throughout the perusal.

THE ALPS AND THE RHINE.-By J. T. Headley, being No. X. of Wiley & Putnam's Library of American Books. Price 50 cents. Everything touched by this writer has so much spirit and life infused into it, that he is sure to carry the reader away with him. wander where he will. No traveller can be more

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" 185 00
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25 7.00

ADVERTISEMENTS.-CONTENTS.

IMPORTATION OF ALPACAS. DURHAM BULL FOR SALE. Societies, or individuals, contributing funds for the importation Not having sufficient use for him, the subscriber offers for sale of the Alpaca from Peru into the United States, will be entitled his thorough bred imported ball, Prince Albert. His sire was the to such share of the animals on their arrival as will correspond celebrated ball, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and his pedigree can be seen, proportionately with the sums of money which shall or may in the British Herd book, Vol. 4, page 382. He is five years old, have been invested by them. In case such fractions shall exista red roan, of medium size, and of quiet temper. If not previously as will not allow an equitable division of the Alpacas to be disposed of, he will be offered for sale at the next show of the made, a requisite number of the animals will be sold at public New York State Agricultural Society. auction, and the net proceeds be divided among the contributors in proportion to the original amounts paid in.

Seeds for the Farmer and Gardener.-A choice assortment of the various kinds. such as Improved Winter and Spring Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Corn, Beans, Peas, Rutabaga, Turnip, Cabbage, Beet, Carrot, Parsnip, Clover and Grass Seeds, and improved va-portation into this port from Ichaboe. Much guano from other rieties of Potatoes. parts of Africa has been sold as Ichaboe, which on trial has produced unfavorable results. To prevent the loss of ammonia, this cargo has been put in air-tight casks. Apply to Feb. 6, 1846. E. K. COLLINS & CO., 56 South St.