AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 237 



The Secretary read the following translations, &c., made by him since 

 the last meeting, viz.: 



[Revue Horlicole. Paris, 16tli December, 1858.] 



New Zealand spinach is one of the host vegetables we meet with. The 

 ends of the leaves and stems are slightly acid, and have a very agreeable 

 taste. It has succeeded wherever it has been planted ; product abundant. 

 A small bed of it gives enough all summer for an ordinary family. The 

 reason for its not yet becoming more known, is, that its growth is rather 

 uncertain. Sow it where you will, in hot bed or open air, transplant or 

 any way. Mons. Joigneaux says, he pours boiling water on the seeds, lets 

 them cool gradualh% and after some days, sows them in open air. Let the 

 beds have all the sun and don't let the plants be very near each other — a 

 distance of sixteen or seventeen centimetres — about ten inches apart. 

 When once planted, the root bears one winter and shoots new leaves, so it 

 wants but one planting. 



EDWARD KEGEL, 

 Director of the Botanic Garden of St. Petershiirgh. 



[Begonia Rex. From Japan.] 



Brilliant foliage ; original in Assam. The upper face of the leaf of a 

 deep metallic green, on it a brilliant white silvery zone. Lower side of 

 the leaf, beautiful velvety red. Flowers fine rose color. Easily propaga- 

 ted by the slips, &c. 



We have received, in exchanges, many of the Transactions of the societies 

 of the LTnited States. Among them we notice those of Maine, whose 

 practice in draining deserves our study. They appear to possess all the 

 knowledge necessary, and the industry in execution. In raising corn, we 

 may all learn something from Maine. 



J. C. Clements, of Kenduskeag, has a vat in his barn, water tight, ten 

 feet deep, twenty-one by thirty-two feet square, for compost. Puts in ten 

 or fifteen loads of muck. His hogs root in it, to get a little of the corn 

 which he occasionally throws in the vat ; his privy and hen-roost are situa- 

 ted over it, and all the refuse of the house runs in, all the dung of his 

 horses, fifteen cattle, twenty sheep, and, occasionally, plaster, ashes and 

 salt. This compost is worth double that made in the old way ; for with that 

 which had been exposed to the weather a year, I got fifty bushels of corn, 

 while, with my new compost, I raised, in 1856, 107 bushels of good, 

 sound, shelled corn, on one acre, and last year, 1857, Vlb^ bushels of good 

 corn on an acre, measured by disinterested men. I used eight rowed. I 

 I always select the best ears for seed. I select a piece of warm land, 

 spread four or five cords of manure, one-half first, and plow it in four or 

 five days before I plant. I put the other half in the hills. Before plant- 

 ing, I level the ground with a fine-tooth harrow, then furrow with a large 

 seed-plow to the depth of ten inches ; rows three feet apart, and always 

 from 7iorth to south. I leave two feet between the drills ; cover the manure 



