360 TRANSACTIONs]^OF THE 



Thomas Field of Brooklyn, Anderson, Dr. Smith, Dr. Wel- 

 lington, Dr. Waterbury, Mr. Clapp, and a gentleman in firm health 

 ninety years of age, on his way to settle a new farm out West, 

 Mons. Blot of Harlem, Secretary Leonard, Swan, President 

 Pell, Prof James J. Mapes, and others — 47 members in all. 

 President Pell in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary, 

 The Secretary read the following extracts, translations, &c., 

 from the works received by tlie Institute by the last steamer, viz : 



[Journal De La Societe Imperiale et Centrale D'Horticulture, Napoleon 3d Pro- 

 tecteur. Paris, December, 1856.] 



This Society and several others transmit free of all charge, (even 

 of postage,) its numbers to the American Institute. We translate 

 from this number. 



THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE. {Sorgho Sucre.) 

 Proces Verbal. Journal of proceedings of JYov. 21 th.^ 1856. 



Mons. Pepin said that the Sorgho has not, this year, answered 

 the expectation of cultivators in many of the southern parts of 

 France, but that, as yet, there does not appear any reason for not 

 persevering in its culture. 



Mons. Forest said that a cultivator in the south of France had 

 obtained perfect plants from it in 1854. 



Mons. Masson confirmed this by stating the perfect ripening in 

 the Society's garden in 1854. 



Mons. Bourgeois also succeeded in his farm at Rambouillet. 



Mons. Pepin saw it mature at the end of September at the place 

 of Mons. A. Passey, at Gisors, on the river Eure, from hot-bed 

 plants set out in May. 



The samples of Sorgho were referred to Mons. Pay en, to be 

 analysed. 



[Revue Horticole, Paris, Nov. 1856.] 



WATER CRESS. 

 Many of our provinces have not learned how to cultivate this 

 valuable plant. Growing naturally in our valleys where limpid 

 streams flow, it has not been considered necessary; but in great 

 cities where we can have no cress unless the country people 

 choose to bring some, the supply in our markets is very irregular 

 — all is left to chance. Now, as we know the cress to be an 



