REVIEWS.

ART. I. Journal of the Essex County Natural History Society. Vol. I. No. I. Pamphlet, Svo. pp. 44. Salem. 1836.

THIS is the first number of a journal issued by the Essex County Natural History Society, and which will probably be continued from time to time, as the quantity of matter accumulates. The labors of this society are second only to those of the Natural History Society of Boston; and we look forward with pleasure to its future prospects: composed as it is of members who are greatly devoted to the different branches, we may anticipate the beneficial influence which it will exert in diffusing a taste for its numerous and varied objects. The society has a very rich collection, and their cabinets are filled with many rare specimens, the donations of the members and their friends; they have also frequent exhibitions of flowers at their hall, which has been the means of extending a taste for, and an interest in, the cultivation of plants.

The second anniversary of the society took place on the 15th of June last: on this occasion an address was delivered before the members, by Professor Russell. We had the pleasure of hearing it ourselves, and we need only say it was worthy the occasion and the subject of which it spoke; we regret that it was not listened to by a more numerous audience. It commences with a brief view of the progress of the society since its first organization, up to the present time: with not a specimen of any kind or a single work on natural science, the society, in the brief space of three years, has arrived to its now flourishing state.

The pleasure to be derived from the pursuit of Natural History is portrayed with a true hand, and its importance as a branch of education is distinctly urged. We have not room for many extracts, but we present the following, as showing at once the object for which the society was instituted:

"The primary design of a society like ours is the intention to direct he mind of every lover of science and truth to a study of those glorious objects of Creation, which are every where around and about him. How many are those, whose wayward and idle curiosity is unduly awakened to the merest insignificance of misspent human industry, and totally blind to the unsurpassed, unrivalled workmanship of Nature's plastic hand. How many, too, with listless and indifferent eye, can pass over and heedlessly tread down the gorgeous flower of their native fields and yet gaze with pretended admiration at some frail production of a more distant clime! What curiosity is awakened at the meanest shell, or the smallest fragment of animated nature from distant countries, while far more curious and wonderful objects are cast up by every

returning wave on the neighboring sea-coast, or may be gathered on the smooth and pebbly margin of many a broad and extended lake, or the sedgy border of some crystal pond! What inestimable value does a shapeless and rude fragment of some utensil of semi-barbarous nations, a handful of dust from the site of some overthrown and almost forgotten city, the most useless and veriest insignificant substance of ancient art aud of ancient pride possess, while the never changing, imperishable, ever eloquent, constantly useful, and always instructive types and originals of Creation's first Existence are overlooked and despised! These tell of the majesty and excellence, the deep, thrilling, instructive voice of Nature, to the reflecting and thinking mind; those-that individuals of our own species once lived-and died-and passed away into comparative oblivion. These unfold to us leaf after leaf, of those constantly instructive pages, which are written on the heavens and engraven on the earth,-while those only assure us, that the same operations of the natural world are every where the same in mode and effect. These exhibit to our admiring eye, the inimitable perfection of Creative Power, and those only the extent of human industry and skill."

We congratulate the society upon their having been so fortunate as to avail themselves of the services of Mr. Russell. It is at once a manifestation of their admiration of his talents, which, we are happy to have the opportunity to say, are of no ordinary character. It would give us the utmost pleasure to see him placed in some good and lucrative professorship, connected with some of our institutions, where his valuable services would be better known and appreciated. Indeed, we are fully persuaded that no one could be found who would be more devoted to his profession, or fill such a place with so much satisfaction to the institution to which he might be attached.

ART. II. An Address delivered before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, at their Eighth Anniversary, September 17th, 1836. By EZRA WESTON, JR. Pamphlet, 8vo. pp. 40. Boston. 1836.

THE address of Mr. Weston, though very brief, is full of interest to the horticulturist. It is in substance an account of the theory of Dr. Van Mons, of Belgium, in producing new varieties of fruits from seed; and Mr. Weston, though not, we believe, either a practical or physiological horticulturist, has succeeded well in offering to the notice of the society some of the most

valuable points on which the success of Dr. Van Mons is founded. In the prefatory remarks on the "services and theory" of Dr. Van Mons, Mr. Weston informs us that "the celebrated Mr. Knight, of very extensive experience in the propagation of fruit trees, attempted, though, as we may believe, on a very limited scale, to produce new varieties of the pear, by introducing the pollen of one variety into the prepared blossom of another, and raising trees from the seeds of the fruit thus obtained. But the method is complicated, and he never appears to have carried the experiment to much length-and it is also a method somewhat uncertain." We merely notice this paragraph to correct the statement in the latter part of it, which, if generally believed, we fear would tend to do away with what we consider, and have proved to be, an important process in the amelioration of fruits, viz., the cross fertilization of varieties. Mr. Weston remarks that this system is "complicated:" on the contrary, it is a most simple mode. Indeed so common has it become, that new varieties of flowers are produced by the veriest novice in floriculture. He also remarks that Mr. Knight did not carry the experiment to much length-and that "it is also a method somewhat uncertain." We are convinced, that if Mr. Weston had been somewhat more acquainted with the subject, he would not have given utterance to such an opinion: and for this reason we have no fault to find with him. Mr. Knight did, however, pursue the experiment to a considerable length, and produced many superior sorts of new pears, apples, cherries, peaches, plums, grapes, strawberries, &c.; witness the Downton, Lowell, and other pears, the Downton pippin, the Elton, Black Eagle, and other cherries, the Acton Scott, and Spring Grove peaches, the Downton Imperatrice and other plums, the variegated Chasselas grape, the Downton, and Elton strawberries, &c. Without detracting in the least from the success of Dr. Van Mons, Mr. Knight has not been less so. We hope when we shall have become better acquainted with the theory of Dr. Van Mons, which is fully detailed in his Pomonomie Belge, two volumes of which are already published, to give our readers more information relative to his new mode. Till then we prefer to say but little in regard to it. We know he has raised an immense number of new kinds: but we are not prepared to say, that he would not have been equally, if not more, successful, in his experiments, by calling in the aid of cross fertilization, than he has been in not doing so.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. General Notice.

Marie Louise and Napoleon Pears.-The great confusion that has arisen respecting these two pears, was on account of many of the Continentalists mistaking the pear raised by Dr. Van Mons, called the Emperor of France, for the Napoleon, and the pear raised also by him, called the Imperatrice de France, for the Marie Louise. We believe now that Mr. Manning, with true praiseworthy zeal, has set this matter to right, and is assured of the identity of the two sorts. We recommend those of our friends who are in want of trees of either of these two valuable fruits, to apply to Mr. Manning, of Salem, where both are to be found. In our next volume information respecting all the new pears worthy of cultivation, will be produced: in saying thus much, our readers will be happy to learn that we shall be aided by Mr. Manning of Salem, and Messrs. C. and A. J. Downing of Newburgh, N. Y., three the best pomologists our country affords.-Conds.

ART. II. Foreign Notice.

Cow Cabbage.-This vegetable, which agitated the whole agricultural community about three or four years ago, since which time we have not heard much respecting it, seems to have lately attracted considerable attention in England, where the seeds have been selling at the enormous price of about five dollars for a package of twenty seeds. In a late number of Loudon's Magazine, we find a notice of the same: and as a specimen of consummate puffery, we are induced to offer part of it to the notice of our readers:-" Patronised by His Majesty. Wonderful production of nature! Waterloo Cæsarean evergreen cow cabbage, of recent discovery, unequalled in affording the most interesting and desirable results to the farmer, grazier, and manufacturer. This singular and extraordinary species of cabbage, almost unknown in England till introduced by the persevering efforts of Mr. Fullard, three years since, grows from nine to twelve feet high, and from fifteen to twenty feet in circumference. Five of these stupendous cabbages, now raised to the greatest perfection in quality as well as size, have been repeatedly found, by proper management, an ample allowance of food for one hundred sheep, or ten cows per day; and the nutrition thence supplied by this delicious vegetable will (as experience has already abundantly demonstrated) speedily produce the most surprising improvement in the growth and utility of every description of cattle. As an evidence of the beneficial tendency of this cabbage, Mr. F. has the great pleasure and satisfaction of saying, that sheep fed upon it have

been found to produce wool of the finest silken texture, twenty-five inches long; a circumstance which cannot fail immediately to claim the utmost attention and admiration: as such, the cultivator of these cabbages will not only realize pecuniary profit beyond any previous experience, but the manufacturer will also obtain a material superior to any heretofore produced by the most profitable speculation, the general and extensive demand for which must exceed all present calculation. The commerce of the country, as well as the interest and pleasure of the community at large, will likewise be greatly, if not incalculably, enhanced by the cultivation and use of this improved vegetable production. This Waterloo Cæsarean cow cabbage has been pronounced by the father of the agriculturists, whom, from his well known experience, we are all bound to believe, to be the greatest wonder that ever appeared in the vegetable kingdom. It was shown to that very highly esteemed and truly respectable gentleman, T. W. Coke, Esq., Holkham Hall, Norfolk, in October last, when he immediately said-' Mr. Fullard, you told me, three years ago, agriculturists were only half way advanced in improvement: this cabbage makes me say I am bound to believe you. I do say it is the greatest wonder the earth ever produced.' Mr. Coke subsequently introduced several dukes and other noblemen, to the number of nine, to view this great production, all of whom expressed their astonishment, and engaged a part of the seed for use this year (1836)."

"Further Particulars. In reference to the length of the wool produced by sheep fed upon the new colossal vegetable, as described in this prospectus, the proprietor, Mr. Fullard, to prove the fact, has now a lamb-hog, one year old, to be seen at Mr. No. where

T. W. Coke, Esq. of Holkham Hall, paid a visit on Tuesday, the 14th instant; and, upon due examination of the said lamb-hog, he declared, in the presence of many witnesses, that he never before saw such a specimen of wool for length and fine quality. Mr. F. has already been awarded nine premiums, by the Agricultural Societies, for the superiority of his sheep and other cattle.

"(Signed)

No.."

The Conductor remarks that "the noise made by Cobbett's Locust was nothing to this." While the London seedsmen are selling this seed for one shilling the ounce, containing five thousand seeds, the retailer (a wholesale perfumer), takes daily thirty or forty sovereigns, ($150 to $200). We have received a few seeds ourselves, and we believe several gentlemen in this vicinity have also: but the true merits of the cabbage are already known: they will grow to the height of six or seven feet, and are a coarse vegetable, suited for cattle, but possessing none of the qualities stated in the advertisement. We hope none of our agriculturists have marvellousness so largely developed as to be persuaded to believe in its remarkable merits, as set forth in the above puff, and enter into its cultivation.-Conds.

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

Premature flowering of several Azaleas and Rhododendrons.-In the collection of Mr. Wilder at Hawthorn Grove, Azalea ledifòlia and indica var. purpurea plèno have been in bloom for upwards of a month; the former having expanded nearly all the buds upon the plant; the latter