506 [Assembly 



slender, grows commonly in good soil, &c., from six feet to ten 

 feet high. The stallis are smooth, straight, and the leaves falling 

 backwards and flexible ; somewhat resembles maize, Indian corn, 

 but is a more elegant plant ; generally bears a tuft composed of 

 eight or ten stems, composing a panicle of a conical shape, 

 covered with flowers, which are green at first, then gradually 

 violet, and finally dark purple when at maturity. This grass is 

 probably an annual, and its cultivation much like that of Indian 

 corn. It contains sugar of some importance probably. Alcohol 

 and a fermented liquor like cider are made from this grass. The 

 juice from it is almost colorless. The proportion of sugar in it 

 is from ten to sixteen per cent. I mean by this the crystalizable 

 and uiicrystalizable both. The former being about one-third of 

 the whole. This leaves from three to five per cent of crystal su- 

 gar. This grass grows well wherever beets do, and in warmer 

 climates where beets do not flourish. Its green stalks and leaves 

 give a fine rich forage. My crop of it at Verrieres was ripe in 

 October. Soil light suits it best. 



[American Journal of Science and Arts, March 6, 1855.] 



NUMBER OF EGGS OF FISHES. 

 Curiosity is always excited by the view of the countless num- 

 ber of eggs in fishes. This journal contains the following reliable 

 egg statistics, viz. : The thick lipped grey mullet has the greatest 



number yet known, 13,(100,000 



Codfl.h,.. 11,000,000 



Turbot, 9,000,000 



Plaice, 6,000,000 



Carp; whose eggs are largest, 700,000 



Large perch, 71,000 



COLZA. 

 A. Ludlow Case, Esq., of the U. S. navy, sends to the Club for 

 distribution, five cans of colza seeds from the U. S. Light House 

 Department. It is anticipated by our government that oils for 

 lio-l\ts will rapidly become scarce, unless attention be extensively 

 paid to the production. Europe has found colza oil important. 

 The United States have little experience in it. The seeds will be 

 carefully distributed among our farmers. 



