AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 215 



Malabar, cylindrical figure and large. 



Otaiti, large and round. 



Queen of Barbadoes, hemispherical. 



It was supposed that pine apples yielded no seed in our cul- 

 ture, but certain varieties produce more or less seed, which are 

 planted to get new and perhaps better sorts. A plant from the 

 seed does not commonly give fruit until the fourth or fifth year. 

 ^ sort of cochineal insect injures them. 



[Le Bon Jardinier, Paris, 1856. From Mons. Alexandre Vattemare.] 



Extracts translated by H. Meigs. 



Weather wisdom has not so many friends in modern times as 

 It once had; even the late learned astronomer Herschel advised 

 the notice of the moon's changes as afiecting the weather. 



The Good Gardener, (which, by the way, has now been pub- 

 lished about one hundred and five years for the benefit of French 

 cultivators and others,) says : 



" Local circumstances exert such manifest influence over the 

 mean temperature, over rains, storms, etc., very interesting 

 indeed for farmers to know beforehand, and yet little can be 

 relied upon in one district from a knowledge of the weather qf 

 another. Long local observation does gather some little power 

 of prognostication. 



Winds generally go around the compass in the same way. As 

 for instance, after blowing from the south it moves to the west, 

 then to the north, then to east then south and so on, blowing 

 more or less from each point — very rarely moving half the other 

 way. We therefore, can generally tell where the wind will be 

 next. Our south west winds are generally hot, humid and rainy, 

 our north west cold and dry, often having cloudy and covered 

 €ky, but rarely any rain. Very violent winds are obstacles to 

 rain, the fall of which is ordinarily preceded by moderate winds. 



Barometer. When the mercury is regular and slow in its 

 rising, it indicates good weather. Contrary, when it falls slow 

 and regularly, for we get bad weather. Rapid falling of the 

 mercury indicates violent wind. 



Sun-set. If it be calm and the lower edges of clouds be all of 

 a beautiful reddish color, fine weather next day is almost certain." 



By the last steamer from Europe, the Bon Jardinier of Paris, 

 for 1856, from Mons. Alexandre Vattemare, Bulletin Mensuel de 

 la Societe Imperiale, Zoologique D'Acclimatation, and Journal de 

 la Societe Imperiale et Centrale D'Horticulture, Napoleon 3d 

 Protecteur. Both for the month of April last. 



