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KinTOU'S TAHLE. 



ToTATo Seed. — A quantity of Potato seed baa lately been procured, by tlic A^rricullurnl branch 

 of the Tntent Oflloe, from Germany, with tlie view of exi>eriinentiiig in the United States with dif- 

 ferent varieties of this so important agricultnial staple. 



A curious faet, not jjenerally known, connected witli the production of Potatoes from Bcedballt it", 

 that no two stems will possess precisely the same qualities, yet many of the tubers will appear so 

 much alike that when mixed together they cannot be distinguished by the eye, though it nr.ay 

 happen that one variety will be four times as prolific as the other, or may be much better in 

 other respects. The tubers raised from the seeds of the same ball are prodigiously diversified in 

 regard to color, being jiink, black, red, white, green, yellow, Ac; and as to shape, are round- 

 nobbed and varied in all proportions; as to size, some of them being no larger the first jear than 

 Peas', while others exceed the size of a pullet's egg; as to earliness, some of them completing their 

 growth in July, while otliers will not put forth their blossoms till October; as to productiveness, 

 some yield more than two hundred to one, while others will give only three or four-fold ; as to 

 spreading under the ground, some running out to a great distance, others growing quite near \<> 

 the stem, some descending quite deep into the earth, while others will rise to the surface; as to 

 quality, some will be tough and watery, some dry and mealy, some very pleasing to the taste, 

 while others will not be palatable ; as to the stems, some will eariy a single rod, others an im- 

 mense profusion of them, some being very luxurious, while others will be dwarfish. In short, as 

 is very remarkable, no sort of connection will be found to exist between any of the peculiarities 

 of the two specimens. — Washington Star. 



There have been received at the Patent Office a quantity of the Cassabar Melon seeds, seven 

 years old, procured from Persia by the United Stales Dragoman at Constantinople. These Mel- 

 ons, it will be recollected, are of a very sweet and delicious flavor, very wholesome and nutritious, 

 and are so simple in their character that they may be eaten by invalids witli impunity. Those 

 who receive the seeds for cultivation, should bear in mind that if ]ilanted in the vicinity of any of 

 the Melon, Pumpkin, Cucumber, or any of the gourd-beaiing plants, they are liable to be hybrid- 

 ized or mixed, which will change the character of the seeds and destroy the purity of the variety; 

 consequently they should be planted in an isolated position when influenced in the manner indi- 

 cated above. 



Gr.\s3 for Lawns. — "We observe in the grounds in front of the Patent Offic", a very vigorous 

 growth of beautiful Lawn Grass, the seeds of which were selected by the agent of the oflliee, in 

 London, some months ago, and sown a few weeks since. As heretofore there had been repeated 

 failures, it was a matter of doubt whether seed suitable for Lawn Grass in this region, could be 

 obtained ; but this case at the Patent Office places it beyond question. We give this as an 

 instance of the skillful and intelligent manner in which the office is conducted, which ought to 

 remove any prejudices which may exist in reference to the failures which have been imputed to 

 the seeds distributed from that source. — Wa^hinffton Union. 



The Agricultural division of the Patent Office has introduced from France the cuttings of the 

 Zante Currant — a variety of small Grape — which have been distributed in the Middle and West- 

 ern States. This variety of fruit, so well known as entering into the composition of some j.ai ts 

 of domestic cookery, should it succeed will add to the numerous varieties of choice fruit which 

 have been introduced within the last few years into our country. 



Green Peas from Charleston. — ^Tlie steamship SoutJwrner, Capt. Foster, has arrived at this port 

 from Charleston. Among her freight, which consisted principally of Cotton and Rice, were one 

 hundred barrels of Green Peas, consigned to fruit dealers in New York. The price of Peas at 

 ston is $5.50 per barrel, while they are sold here at from $7 to $8 per bushel. New 

 ill probably be brought from Charleston in two or three weeks. — Xew York paper. 



