343 



Specific gravity test fok potatoes. — It is generally iiiiderstood 

 that the value of potatoes depends upon their specitic gravity, and that 

 the heavier the potato the greater the amount of -nitrogenous matter it 

 contains. This has suggested the idea of a convenient test by which 

 the excellence of different varieties can be readily determined, and 

 which consists in th.e use of saline solutions of different degrees of 

 strength. If, assuming one variety as a standard, we make a solution 

 of such strength that the potato will float at about the middle of the 

 mass, neither falling to the bottou nor rising to the surface, and apply 

 the same test to other potatoes, we may conclude that if one fall to the 

 bottom it is better, or if it rise to the top it is poorer, than the standard. 

 A series of standards has been suggested, therefore, by Dr. Neslee, of 

 definite percentages of salt and water, thus producing a sliding scale 

 applicable under any circumstances for the test in question. 



Poison prom the shade of the manzanilla. — Mr. Karsten has 

 lately published the detail of observations made upon hiinself, in refer- 

 ence to poison by exposure to the shade of the manzanilla tree, {Hippoma- 

 nis manzanilla.) After remaining several hours under the tree, he ex- 

 perienced a burning sensation over the entire surface of his body, which 

 at length centered in certain parts of the skin, especially about the face, 

 and above all around the eyes. After a time the eyes were swelled so as 

 to be almost closed, and were so sensitive that for several days he found 

 it necessary to remain in a perfectly-darkened roorh, being also in great 

 pain. After three days the swelling diminished, and the epidermis began 

 to peel off. These symptoms he supposed to be the result of poisonous 

 exhalations from the ti-ee, a iieculiarity which is shared with the man- 

 zanilla in South America by several other species of plants. An ana- 

 logue of these deleterious exhalations may be seen in certain volatile 

 organic bases, such as trimethylamiu ; and it is suggested that similar 

 nitrogenous combinations may have a much wider distribution than has 

 hitherto been suspected. 



FACTS FEOM YARIOUS SOURCES. 



Experiments with wheat. — Mr. J. I. Carter, superintendent, reports 

 the results of experiments with sixty-nine varieties of wheat at the 

 Eastern Experimental Farm, Chester bounty, Pennsylvania. Most of 

 the varieties have done well, free from smut, rust, or blight to any great 

 extent. The time of cutting, the weight of straw, and the yield of grain 

 per acre are given as follows : 



Quality. 



S. White Blue Stem . . 



S.Dielil 



S. B. White Touzelle, 



(last year's jtroduct.) 

 S. B. White Tpuzelle, 



(recent importation.) 



B. Mountain 



B. Polish 



B. Jennings 



S. Talavera 



S. Rough Chaff 



S. Model White 



S. Tappahannock 



S. Rogers's 



WTiencut. 



June 22 

 June 28 

 June 28 



June 28 



June 28 

 June 28 

 June 24 

 July 5 

 July 5 

 Juiie 28 

 June 24 

 June 28 



Straw. 



Pounds. 

 3,348 



2,848 

 3,600 



3,600 



2,848 

 3, 370 

 2,876 

 2,928 

 2, !)04 



2, 504 



3, 152 

 3,844 



Wheat. 



Bufihel.t. 

 19.73 

 21.86 

 26. 13 



26.93 



24.53 

 14.13 

 23. 53 

 17.00 

 15.20 

 18.26 

 21.86 

 37.80 



Quality. 



B. Week's White 



S. & B. Rough & Ready 



B. Brittany 



B. LightRedChaffMed- 

 iterranean Amber. 



S. Eai'ly Georgia 



B. RedBeardedSuissette 

 S. Arnold No. 1 . . . do . . . 

 S.Arnold No. 2 ...do... 

 S. Araold No. 3 ...do... 

 S. Arnold No. 4 ...do... 

 S. Arnold No. 5 ... do. . . 

 S. Arnold No. 6 . . .do. . . 

 S. Arnold No. 7... do... 



Wheat. 



BusheU. 

 32. 40 

 32. 26 

 32.00 

 31. 20 



18.66 

 25. 86 

 26.13 

 26.66 

 23. 46 

 26.13 

 25. 60 

 22. 93 

 25.08 



