For this, the material is not abundant, or, I should rather say, good material. For the most voluminous writers upon this subject have evidently regarded their imagination as a fountain of facts. There are however, a few well authenticated facts in regard to its history :

First, Columbus found it growing wild on the Island of Guadaloupe in 1493.

Second, Baron Von Humboldt found it in the valley of the Orinoco, and elsewhere, in the uninhabited wilds of South America.

Third, At an early period it was found naturalized in Africa, Asia and the East Indies. This has led some to question its American origin. But the first fact named settles that beyond dispute, for whatever may be said of the passage of the ancestors of our aboriginal tribes across Behring Straits, or the Icelandic discoveries upon northeastern borders, it is very certain that no voyager from any country where the pineapple could be grown, ever set foot upon the shores of either the American Continent or Islands previous to the days of Columbus. It is equally certain that it has been widely distributed by the hand of man, and that, too, at an early period. It is said to have been found naturalized in Java as early as 1599. It was carried to Europe soon after its discovery in America by Columbus, and thence to regions beyond. But it is probable that it was carried to China from Peru by way of the Pacific, and thence distributed to surrounding regions. It is also probable that India derived its first supply from the European stock through Portuguese soon after its introduction into Europe, and thence extended to adjacent countries.

Wherever introduced, it at once was conceded a high rank among the fruits of earth, because of its large size, its delightful aroma, and the abundance of its juice of a most exquisite flavor. - Rev. Jas. H. White, in Florida Dispatch.

Transactions of the Illinois Horticultural Society, 1883. - A. C. Hammond, Warsaw, Secretary.

Transactions of the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society, 1884. - From W. H. Ragan, Greencastle, Indiana, Secretary.

Ontario School of Agriculture, Ninth Annual Report, 1883. - From James Mills, President of Ontario Agricultural College.

What a grand work for the horticulture and natural history of our country, some one might do who would undertake to make a general index of all the good things that have appeared during the past quarter of a century in works like these, - no individual could afford to do it, but some society possessing complete sets, and having the means at command, could not put the money to better uses. One of the best pieces of work General Le Due did when Commissioner of Agriculture was to make an index of all the volumes of that department up to his time. Would it be out of order for the same department to make an index of all State reports? What a very useful work it would be! These before us contain very valuable essays; but just when one wants to refer to them he will forget where to look. A few days ago we wanted to look over all that had been written on actual experiments or observations on the intercrossing of Indian corn, and after an hour's search found nothing, yet surely there must be much on record somewhere.