606 I Assembly 



carefully to eradicate the weeds. It will continue to grow until 

 Septenilier, when it puts forth its flowers. These, however, may 

 be pinched off, in order tliat the tubers may grow to a larger size, 

 which will arrive at maturity in October, when they may be dug 

 out of the ground and stored away. In drying, they lose about 

 one-third of their weight. 



In order to remove any prejudice which may exist in supposing 

 that the Chufa is identical with the " Creeping cyperus," (C. 

 repens,) or " Nut-grass," which is found growing wild on the 

 banks of streams, in pastures, and cultivated grounds, from New- 

 York to Florida and Louisiana, I would state that the latter dif- 

 fers essentially from the Chufa in ifs height, as well as in the size, 

 shape, and color of its spikelets. Its roots also contain many 

 fibrous branches, often terminating in edible tubers, about the 

 size of a pea, creeping continually along with and just below the 

 surface, and send up numerous suckers, which are regarded by 

 southern planters as a great scourge to their crops. The Chufa 

 is quite different from it in this respect, only throwing up several 

 stalks from one root, like the common potato, but does not spread. 



Considerable attention has long been devoted to the cultivation 

 of the Chufa in the south of Spain, where, it is stated that more 

 than $400 has been realized from an acre, in the short space of 

 five months. 



Turnips. — Through the liberality of Messrs. Charlwood and 

 Cummins, extensive seedsmen of London, the office received the 

 following twenty- six varieties of turnip seed, on condition that 

 they should be sent to every State and Territory in the Union, for 

 experiment, with the view of testing their adaptation to the soil 

 and climate J said experiments to be conducted as uniformly as 

 practicable, and the results made known to the public in the foim 

 of a report: Skirving's Swede or Ruta Baga, Rivers' Stubble 

 Swede, Laing's Swede, Green-topped Swede, Dale's Hybrid, Green- 

 topped Six-weeks, Snow Ball, Strap-leaved, Small Yellow Malta, 

 White Globe or Norfolk White, Green Round or Norfolk Green, 

 Green Globe or Green Nortllk, Golden Ball, Red Globe or Norfolk 

 Red, White Tankard or Decanter, Green Tankard or Decanter, 

 Yellow Tankard or Decanter, Red Tankard or Decanter, Green- 



