AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 257 



York, composed of twenty large quarto volumes, illustrated by 

 upwards of fifteen hundred colored engravings — six volumes of 

 them consecrated to agriculture and horticulture. 



This admirable work, which has cost the State an immense 

 sum of money, is spread by the munificence of tlie State broad- 

 cast through the world. In our international exchange, we have 

 received for the French Empire and some other, forty-two copies 

 of this noble work — on the liberal plan of exchange, without the 

 slightest reference to cost. The letter from Col. Johnson relative 

 to the seeds, &c., is given, translated into French. It is dated 

 Albany, Feb'y 1857. 



J^ote. — The great work alluded to by Mons. Vattemare, was 

 petitioned for by the American Institute, and has cost som% 

 $400,000. H. Meigs, Sec'y. 



[Societe Imperiale et Centrale D'Horticulture. Paris, April 1857.] 



Translated by Henry Meigs. 



A BUCKWHEAT— POLYGONUM SIEEOLDI. 



By Dr. Karl Koch, Germany, a forage plant of much value. 



Von Siebold resided long in Japan, and observed its plants care- 

 fully. He says this plant is universally cultivated in the whole 

 Japanese Empire, for forage. 



It has an extraordinary vigor in its growth, and is besides beau- 

 tiful for its flowers — small white blossoms in clusters, some few 

 inches in length — the foliage very fresh and elegant — it runs 

 much from the root and stools out. In the first year of planting 

 the parent stalk is surrounded with long shoots, which soon cover 

 the ground. It starts up in April, and by the middle of May is 

 three or four feet high, and resembles a bush. In September it 

 is six feet high, and often more, growing in tufts about as thick as 

 it is high. These stalks begin by being very tender and end by 

 hardening a little. Cattle love it, and soon fatten upon it; but 

 horses will not touch it. It grows as well on sandy land that is 

 very poor. It has great nutritive power, superior to any clover, 

 being in the relation of 209 pounds to 346 of common clover, and 

 380 of the inearnatum — carnation clover. 



[Am. Inst.] 17 



