SOUTHETtN CULTIVATOR. 
291 
A New Flowering Shrub. — We are und«r especial 
obligations to our correspondent, J. Van Buren, Esq , of 
Clarksville, Ga., for a beautiful picture of a new species 
ci Rhododendron, supposed to be almost entirely unknown 
to scientific botanists. The drawing represents the stalk, 
leaf and flower, faithfully colored from nature, and of ex- 
quisite finish. We should be delighted to offer a fac 
simile it to all our lady readers ; but as our type and 
printers ink possess none of the “magic skill,” of our 
friend’s brush and pencil, we shall be obliged to forego 
that pleasure, and present merely the history and descrip 
tion of this superb shrub, which Mr. V. B has kindly 
furnished. This article will appear in our next number. 
New Hedge Plant. — It is said that a shrub has been 
discovered near San Antonio, Texas, called Guisachi, 
which bids fair to equal the Osage Orange or Cherokee 
Rose for hedges in the South. The spines or thorns are 
very numerous and formidable, which is a great desider- 
atum in the formation of live fences. This subject is 
worthy of experiment by all those who are situated near 
regions where this plant can be obtained, and if success- 
ful it should be made known to the public. 
PATENT OFFICE NOVELTIES. 
A New Oil Plant. — The small tree (CaUiglionia lo- 
baia) known in Peru under the name of “Pinonfeello,” and 
cultivated about Surco, Huacho, and Sambageque, also 
growing wild in considerable abundance in those regions, 
it has been ascertained, yields a valuable oil well adapted 
to the purposes of illumination. Its bean like fruit, or 
seeds, when roasted, have an agreecble flavor, preferable 
to that of the olive. When eaten raw, the ethereal oil 
generated between the kernel and the outer skin is a strong 
cathartic, the effects of which can only be counteracted by 
drinking cold water. It has been ascertained that the 
seeds will grow in Baltimore; and ^loubtiess plantations 
of this tree might be formed in many parts of the South 
from which vast quantities of oil might be produced, and 
thus add another link to the great chain of our national 
wealth. We understand that the Patent Office, has taken 
measures to procure some of ^le seeds of this tree for trial 
in the South and South-west. — WashbTgtoji Union. 
The Jujube Tree. — The seeds of this tree were import- 
ed a short time since from tffe South of Europe for experi- 
ment in the South, It grows in the form of a shrub of 
middle size, bearing a red oval fruit about as large as 
olives, inclosing a stone of the same shape. They are 
sweet, but only eaten amon;^us in the form of a pas'te. In 
Algiers, the fruit ripens in the month of June, and is much 
sought after by the inhabitants, who consume large quan- 
tities, both fresh and dried as well as in the form of a de- 
licious paste. 
[We have, in this vicinity, a number of Jujube trees, that 
I have borne fruit for years. — Eds. So. Cult.] • 
I Cuttings' OF the Zanth Currants, — There have been 
I introduced from France the cuttings of the Zante currant 
j — a variety of small grape — which have been distributed 
: in the Middle and Western States. This variety, of fruit, 
i BO well knoi^ n as entering into the composition of^ some 
parts of domestic cookery, should it succeed, will add to 
j the numerous varieties of choice fruit which have been in- 
i troduced within the last few years into our country. 
It Chufas, or E.arth Almonds. — There have lately 
been procured from the south of Spain a barrel of Chufas 
I for public distribution. This is a new esculent in this 
country, known to botanists under the name of Cyperivs 
escoknlns. It grows spontaneously in the light, humid 
•soils of Spain, and is also cultivated in Germany and the 
south of France. Itgrows to a height of about three feet, 
on a triangular stalk or bush, wiih spreading head, bearing 
yellow flowers, which are succeeded by long ears. Ihe 
roots are fibrous, of a reddish color, bearing small tubers 
about the size of a common bean, and are known to the 
Sp.miards by the name of “chufas.” If planted in May 
or June they are ready to be harvested in October. They 
resemble, in taste, a delicious < hestnut or cocoanut, and 
like them may be eaten raw or cooked. They are chiefly 
employed for making an orgeat {urchata do chvfas ) — a 
delightful, refreshing drink, much used in J^pain, Cuba, 
and other hot climates where it is known. When mashed 
to a flour, which is white, sweet, and very agreeable to 
the taste, it imparts to water the color and richness of milk. 
At Almacero and Alborayo, considerable attention is de- 
voted to the cultivation of this plant, eight acres of land 
yielding a profit of $'3)500 in five months. This may be 
attributed, in a degree, to the advantages of irrigation on 
the sandy soil of that region. 
The following extract is from a letter dated New Orleans, 
May 9, 1855, from an officer in the army to the Commis- 
sioner of Patents: 
“I send you herewith some seeds for distribution, used 
here in the cure of the bite of the mad dc^g. It is consider- 
ed as an effectual remedy in the parish of St. Bernard of 
this State, and the cures which are stated to have been ef- 
fected from their use are certainly very remarkable, i 
regret not being able to give you their botanical name, 
l)ut the plant is a tropical one, coming from IVIexico — I 
believe from the department of To'oasca. The seeds are 
called here, ‘grairies coutre la rage,' and are used as fol- 
lows: 
“Three of them are broken up or pounded into small 
pieces, and put into a wineglass of tne best sherry (Xeres,) 
and allowed to steep for abour 24 liours, and thffii being 
well stirred up, swallowed by the patient. The dose is 
repeated three times a day for about 9 days, when the 
person or animal may be considered as cured. J am told 
that even dogs that have been bitten by a rabid animal 
have been cured by this treatment, or by putting a larger 
quantity of these seeds in their food. 
“The seed must be soaked in water 24 hours before 
planting, and the plant must be protected from the rays of 
the sun while still young'and tender. It resembles much 
the okra plant, afid should be planted late in the spring.” 
A Horticultural Novelty.— The agricultural branch 
of the Pa tent, Office has taken measures to procure seeds 
of the,Bun-yg buiiiva, a U'ee of the fir tribe, growing in 
Australia, vdiere it flourishes in a region of not much greater 
area than thirty miles ^uare. Jt beat's a cone nearly two 
leet in diameter filled with seed the size of an olive, and 
of flavor more rich and delicate than that of the pine apple. 
It is so much esteemed by the natives that they at tunes 
irayel hunreds of ipiles to partake of it. — Washington 
Star. 
The Cork Tree. — About a hogshead of acorns of the 
cork oak have been introduced ffom the South of Europe, 
-and distributed in ilic Middle and Southern States for ex- 
pei'iment, or to test their a'daptation to the climate. This 
tree, in its native country, wliere it is an evergreen, usual- 
ly grows to the height of 20 to 30 feet, but in England 
ilu-re are specimeris which exceed 50 feet in height, with 
a diameter of more than 3 feet. The sul>stance familiarly 
known to us as cork, is the epidermis, or outer bark, and 
sometimes grows 2 or 3 inches thick. Should the experi^ 
merit succeed, it will be a subject of great national impor- ** 
lance that plantations should be established in various 
parts of the country for the purpose of growing this useful 
