Rainfall Per Acre

People scarcely understand by rainfall in inches, what this really means, but an inch of rain means a gallon for every two square feet, or 100 tons per acre.

Locusts In Mexico

A correspondent of the Friends' Review, writing from Matamoras says: "In their flight, the locusts always go due north, and that they feed in divisions; one flock descends to feed, and when they rise, they fly over and descend beyond the flocks already feeding, and so they continue as they advance. They start on their journey about 8 A. M. in that region. The people prevent them from descending, by firing guns and making noises, when the creatures think it best to move further on".

Turquoise Plant

This is the common name under which a grassy-looking liliaceous plant, common in cultivation, is now known in Europe, and which botanists call Ophiopogon. The flowers are not showy, but the peculiar violet-blue berries are attractive, and have probably suggested the common name.

Dr. Joseph Hooker

This world-renowned and esteemed botanist has retired from the Directorship of the Kew Gardens. His son-in-law, Professor Thistleton Dyer, succeeds him.

Dr. Asa Gray

Dr. Gray on the 18th of November passed his 75th birthday. It was made memorable to him by a pleasant testimonial from American botanists.

John Thomas

We regret to learn that among the early florists of St. Louis Mr. John Thomas is among those recently deceased. He had been in feeble health for a period of twelve years. His death occurred on the 28th of October. He was among the first to welcome the appearance of the Gardeners' Monthly, and continued a constant reader to the last.

American Garden

With the 1st of the year, the American Garden appeared as a $2 magazine, but with a re-doubled bill of fare that we are sure will make it doubly acceptable to the readers. Dr. Hexamer, its former editor, has joined the staff of the American Agriculturist.

The Verbena

The disease that is so great a foe to the lovers of Verbenas in America, is just as troublesome in the Old World, and M.Duren says there it is now the custom to raise the plants yearly from seed, as they do annuals; all the cultivated forms have been derived from the species Chamae-drifolia, melindroides, teucroides, phlogiflora, Tweediana, and paniculata, natives of Chili and Peru chiefly.

An Early American Mowing Machine

According to the minutes of the American Philosophical Society, John Jones exhibited at the meeting of November 1st, 1771, a plan whereby a number of scythes could be worked by one horse, but the details of the plan are not given in the note. He exhibited a model of his machine on the 6th of December.