AMERICAN INSTITUTE. iTl 



ber of Its species In cur conservatories. The above named, Is one of the 

 most beautiful of them. Hooker introduced it from Port Natal, about five 

 years ago. It was first cultivated in the gardens of Chelsea. It is small, 

 not over two feet high. Leaves opposite elliptic, lanceolate, deep green, 

 thick bunches of flowers at foot of every leaf stalk. Flowers pure white ; 

 perfume, mixed of orange and jasmine. Flowers early and keeps till sum- 

 mer. They require constant warmth and frequent watering, are easily 

 multiplied by cuttings. 



VALERIAN. 



The leaves, about fifteen of them, bound on a bad cut in the thumb, healed 

 It In five or six days completely. I examined the plant In the Jardlns des 

 Plantes, and found It to be the Valeriana Phu. Note by Meigs. — That 

 was so called by Dioscorides, who lived In the time of JSero. 



WINES OF EL PASSO. 



Northerly part of Chihuahua, bordering on the Rio Grande del Norte — 

 a beautiful, well watered valley, light, sandy loam, yielding enormous 

 crops of crops. One of them resembling our Isabella In size, but not in 

 flavoui" — blue color. Another delicate white grape, small compact bunches 

 — resembles Muscatel. Most wine made from the blue one, of large bunches, 

 with round plump berries. They pick off some bunches, and also some 

 leaves, to let in the sun. By Incessant pruning, the vines become stocky 

 — eight or ten feet apart. When ripe, the whole space seems almost a 

 solid mass of bunches. The streams which irrigate the vineyards are called 

 Aceynias. 



[California Farmer, April 29, 1859.] 

 CHUFA OR EATH ALMOND 



Has become Interesting here for man and beast. There Is oil In them. 

 They should be cultivated. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Mr Kelsey has fifty acres, Messrs. Lathams twenty acres, at Oakland. 



NEV/ REAPER AND NEW PLOUGH. 



Cornelius R. Brlnckerhofi", of Batavia, Genesee Co., exhibited models of 

 his patent reaper and plough. 



The reaper has cut 26^ acres of wheat, in Hi hours, with two horses 

 and two men, followed by four men to bind sheaves. The implements cuts 

 and gathers in regular close parcels, ready for binding. It is hardly liable 

 to get out of order. 



The plough has a subsoil plough attached, which Is set to any required 

 depth. A strong team can therefore complete the work at one operation, 

 instead of as formerly, two distinct ploughings, thus a saving of half the 

 time, a very Important fact, especially to farmers. 



The Club seemed to be highly pleased with both, reaper and plough. 



Solon Robinson. — This Is a good Improvement, but not patentable, be- 



