The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-16

The seeds and Cuttings Recently OSsaanea
by the Patent Omce. ~
The following extracts from the report OF tne
Commissioner of Patents for the year 1865, on tne
seeds and cuttings recently obtained BY his ONCE,
win he read with interest by agriculturists;--
~N@ @AN CEREALS.
The Turkish flint wheat from near Mount Oiym-
pus in Asia hardy fall variety, with dark cclored
chat. very heavy beard and long, finty. light
colored berry will prove highly profitable to the
farmer and miller, from its superior weight and the
excellence Of the -four is will produce tsppesn to
be well adapei ~ the SOIL and climate Of the Middle
States. md has even improved in the quality Of its
grain both in regard 20 its culor and size. Ii with
stosd The severity OF the past winter without much
injury from the cold; and from its very long and
thick card 1t doubtless will be protected In mea'
sure from the depreoations of insects IN the held.
veil from the heating mo aiding In the stack
The Hardness OF the grain, too when dry. Is sum-
Gent guarantee against ordinary moisture IN trans
potation and the oerforation of the weevii In the
bin.
From several reliable experiments made with this
wheat ia Virginia with ordinarily gooi guilty. alton,
the weld vas thirry Bushels 10 an acre. Estimating
the present animal crops OF wheat grown IN the
Middle and Southern portions OF the United States
20 be l00O0O,000 bushels etaging, gay twenty
bushels 70 the acre tire increased production in
those section the Turkish fiat wheat alone were
cultivated, end the ratio o. yield above. would be
so 600 900 bushels, which would often add to the
yearly resources ot single farm $500, and Of the
country at least $50 600 U0l.
Improved King Phitin or brown corn, the seed OF
which was obtained three years ago from an island
in Like in New Hampshire, extensively dis
seminaied in all the states north Of New Jersey,
and throughout the mountainous districts OF Penn
sylyaDia, Mary land and Virginia. The result has
been that it usually mgtured within the period Of
ninety days from The time of planting (from the
nT rlxJ
cultivation in most cases, from eighty to one hun
dred bushels of shelled corn - acre. Ii is well
adapted 10 high lstitudes and elevated valleys and
plains where from toe sbortoess OF summer, other
varieties OF liable to be killed by late spring
or carly autumnsl frosts. The quality OF the grain
is good being heavy, aen tiled with oil, and suita'
BILE for fastening animals, or for transportation by
sea without injury from moisture In vessels. THIS
corn also possesses aeother valuable property, in
being susceptible OF close planting, and consequent
ly is Of dwarfy growth, which ren ers the entire
stalks and tlfces su.tsble for fodder when cured.
Estimating the present annual corn crop Of New
England, New York Michigan, Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, Utah Washington, and Oregon at so, 900 900
bushels, say thirty bushels per acre. IL the variety
of corr IN question we're ,ely cultivated in these
States the increased yield, allowing the product to
be so bushels Zone half OF the maxi num) to the
acre. would De more than 33,00O,000 bushels, the
galue Of which would be at least s20,0O0,o00.
FORAGE PLANTS.
Among the forage products more recently intro
duced and which would seem to deserve special
notice. is the Chinese sugar cane," Sorghum
socchayatum) a new gramiueous plant Of Chinese
origin, but more recently from France, by the way
of Natal, In South afnca. Since its Introduction
into this country IT has proved itself well adapted
TO our geographical range OF Indian corn. IL is of
easy cultivation, being similar to that of maize or
broom corn and, if the seeds are planted in May,
in the Middle Sta'es or still earlier at the South,
two crops OF fodder can be grown in season
from the same roots, irrespective, Of drought
the first one in June or July, to be
cut before the panicles apoear which would be
green and succuient, like young Indian corn, and
the other month or tao Later. when or before the
seed is fully matured The amount Of fodder which
it viii produce 10 the acre, with ordinary cultiva
ton, may be safely estimated st seven t0n- when
green, at least two tom per when thoroughly
cured. The Stake, when neady mature, are fllet
with rich sacchariI c juice, VII, may be convert
&c into sugar syr.p alcohol or beer. or may be
used for dyeing wool or silk permanent red or
pink; and the entire plant il devoured with avidiy,
either in green or dry state, by cattle, horses,
sheep and swine.
Considered in an unitarian point OF view, this
plant perhaps has stronger claims on the American
agrculturist than any other product that - been
brought 10 this country since tae Introduction Of
cotton wheat. ASioe from other economical uses,
its vaae for feeding to animals alone, In every sec
tion OF the UDion where IL will thrive, cannot be
surpassed by any Other crop, A. greater amount of
nutritious fodder cabDos be obtained 80 cheap,
given space, within 70 short period Of time
Without wishing 70 present the question in an
extravagant iighs, I may be stated that tns
territoy OF the Unrtsd States, to an extent equal
10 that Of Indian corn, say - ,00V0p0 acres per
annum: and, estimating The average yield OF dry or
cured fodder TO the acre at two TINS, the yearly
amount produced would be $4,000 900 tons, which,
to keep within bounds, wonld be worth nj least
$780, 900 600, besides the profits derived from the
animals IN milk, flesh labor ana wool.
The German miliet (pasicum Gsrmanicum). an
rather annual forage plant has been introduced from
France. which has proved very productive, u quick
of grow h, resists drought. and even hourshes vel
on dry soils
TUBERoUs Royrs.
The Chinese yam, (d,oscOrea bafatas) originally
from China but more recently from France, has
been introduced which has succeeded well In va
rious parts Of the Union, and promises to serve az
an excellent substitute both for the common and
sweet potato. IL D. ssesses the remarkable property
OF remaining sound Ia the earth for several years,
without either detenoTarng In its edible qualities
or Sustaining injury from frost which adds much
TO lis value, in being always in readiness for the
kitchen; and this, too, often al time when the po-
tato is snrivced or Otherwise impaired.
The earth almond or cbufa (Cyperus sscu!entus)
small tubeIous escuieDt from the South o. Spain,
has natalurized i'self to our Innate and SOIL and
has proved very prolific Ia its yield when cultivated
10 the light sandy soils Of the Mode and Southern
States, IA well As those shich are nth. and bids
fair 10 become a valuable crop for cattle and swine.
II belongs 70 the same genus the notorious nut
grass. (Cpperrs repens), but does not possess the
power Of spreading itself like that pest Of Southern
aelds
The Persian walnut, OF Madeira nut, (Jsgiins
rsgi0) originally a native Of Persia, or the north
OF China. has been somewhat extensively distdout-
ed and appears be well adapted to the climate "
the middle and southern ATTITUDES OF the United
States. tree Of the 'tttmou=e" or "thin sheied"
variety (yngians regia tsaerG), about twenty years
planted, forty five feet In height, and fifteen inches
In diameter standing on the premises OF ColoDel
Peter Force, In the city Of Washington Is perfectly
hardy, and bears yesr'y an abundance Of excellent
nnfs- This IL considered the most valuable OF all
the wanuts, the tree begins 70 bear 10 eight or
ten years from planting the seed; and the fruit Is
very delicate, keeps well. and IL rich Ia oil.
In Cashmere, where the walnut IL the subject Of
careful cultivation, there are four varieties the
hanak or wild. the nut Of which IL diminutve.
with thick shell and scsnty keruel; the tcanin,
having large nut. with q thick and hard shell. and
q deficient kernel: the deau also large nut. with
shi X and rather batd shell, ana q kernel large,
good. and easily extracted; and the kagha-i, 70
called from It's she'll being early thin paper.
The latter, which may be readily broken By the
"a L. h. Is f.fa ha~f harm iv