Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-16
AGRICULTURAL REPORT OF THE PATENT Of

recently issued by the Patent ONCE, contains much
valuable and interesting information concern. |
ing certain new seeds, plants and cuttings re-
Gently introduced into this country by that Office,
asreesbly to the design of Congress, indcsted by
the appropriation of March Sd, 1855, together
with an account Of the benefits their introduction
is likely to confer upon agricultural population.
Among the seeds, plants, &C., which have been OBJ
tanned and imported by the Patent Office within
the last three years, and the cultivation of which
has been very successful, are the following:
CrRrAL,-Ihe Turkish Flint Wheat. from near
Mount Olympus, in Asia, is found to be well suit
ed to the soil of the Middle States; to be heavier
and to produce better -four than the ordinary
wheat, and to be protected against the perforation
of the weevil and other insects by the long beard
with which it is furnished. Experiments made
with this species of wheat in Virginia, prove that
with good cultivation it will lyield thirty bushels
to the acre, and it is calculated thst if this species
sIone were cultivated, the addition 10 the sggre-
gate yield of the Middle and Southern States
would be no less than 100000 bushels, taking
100000 bushels as the present yield.
The Improved King Philip or Broaon Corn, OBJ
tanned three years ago from an island in lake in
New Hampshire, has been sown with great sue
cess in the exposed districts 81 Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia, yielding from 80 to 100
bushels of shsled corn to the acre, and taking but
ninety days to mature from the time Of planting.
Other advantages of this corn are that, it may be
planted close, is of dwarf growth, and all its
stalks and leaves may be used for fodder.
FORAGE PLANTs.-Te Chinese Sugar Cane re-
Gently introduced into this country from Natal, in
South Africa, 10 particularly recommended to the
| American agriculturist If the seeds are planted
in May or still earlier in the Southern States they
will produce two crops of fodder in season; the
first of which may be cut in June or July, the
second couple of months later. With careful
cultivation, the Chinese sugar cane will yield seven
tons of green or two tons of cured fodder to the
acre. When almost ripe, the stalks are filed with
saccharine sap from which sugar, alcohol, or beer
may be made, or which may be used for dyeing
purposes. Cattle Of all sorts eat the plant with
great greedness. 1t is estimated that this plant j;
susceptible of cultivation in the United States tc
an extent equal to that of the Indian corn $4,000,
600 acres per annum), and that the average yield
of cured fodder would be 100000 tons, worth
at the lowest calculation $5O0,0O0,O0O. The Chi.
nese sugar cane is capable of bearing hard fros
without injury.
The GertOan Ailet aforage plant imported from
France, has been found productive, rapid in
growth, and well adapted to dry soils.
| TuBERous Roors-Ths Chinese Yam, Originally
China, has been introduced into this country from
Francs, and has been cultivated in various part
of the Union with great success. Its most re-
marksble quality is that once planted it will re
main perfectly sound in the ground for years, sus
tanning no injury from frost, and being Away
ready for use. Mr.. Prince, of Flushing L. L, pos
sesses the seed of this valuable ssculent, aud ha
recently published pamphlet descriptive of it
properties and peculiarities.
The Earth Almond or Chyta, small tuberou
vegetable, has been brought from Spain, and i
found well suited to our soil and climate, exceed
ingly productive and likely to prove valuable q
food for cattle and swine
Cuttings of the "Raisin" and "Currant" vine
have been imported from France, from which the
| "Ascslon," aud "Sutsna'' raisin and the 'Zinte'
: or "Corinth" Currant are made, and have don'
we'll in the central portions of the country.
MEDICINAL PLANTS Roots of Liguorioe and III
Common or Opium Poppy, have been introduced
and fully realize the hopes of those who have eul
tivsted them in the Central and Southern States
Both are extensively used for pharmaceutical pur
poses, and are likely to prove profitable and usefu
productions. Crude lquorice Of the value Of $500,
900, and opium of the value of $407 900, are nov
annually imported.
The Vanilla Plant might be grown to advantag
in the South, and in hot houses in the North
This plant is extensively used in aavoring confec
tonery Upwards of 5000 lbs. of vanilla are an
nually consumed, valued at from $40 to $50 pc
pound, or SIPS, 900 year.
Iceland Moss, from Iceland and the mountains G
Scotland The FlOrentine Iris, or Orrfs root plan
from Carniola The Palmated Rhubard, from Rus
sa and some parts of Asia, the Chinese Rhubart
the Assgfc6da plant the Mslabar CdrddmOn, tn
Sinhara Water nat, from Cashmere, and the LOtu
, | from the same place, plants which are useful fo
medicinal purposes as we'll as for food, are several
" recommended as worthy of culture and as csps
bic of easy cultivation in our climate.
: Some new grass, Of which the Guinea grass and
the Russack grass are the most important, are spo
ken of in the Report, the former as well adapted
to the Southern, and the latter as capable of pro
! ftable cultivation in the Central States.
The report advises experiments TO be made with
several plants cultivated for their fibre, or othe
, uses in the arts the principal of which are tn
Manila hemp, the Ne,O Zealand far, the CHINO
| 0rQss and the SIsGl hemp. The Cochineal plant il
supposed to be easy of cultivation in Florida ane
| | Texas, and now grows well in Mexico. The Dy
ers aadder, so useful for dyeing purposes, indigo
, nous to the south of Europe and Africa, and ex
tensiveIy employed in calico printing, might b
grown in the United States, and detailed instrre
tons as to the mode Of cultivation and harvesting
are given. The report concludes its notice of thi
article by saying:
1.-THE quantity Of madden yearly consumed i
the United States is vsriously estimated from t
5000 tons, valued at 81, 000,0 00-a sum annual.
paid to foreign countries for an article that Nigh
be produced as chesply and of as good quality
home.
. ICouespondence Of the Missouri Democrat