The soil of old vineyards is found to be deficient in potash. To remedy this, it has been suggested that granite should be heated to redness, plunged in water, and ground to powder.

Mix this with about half its weight of lime, and expose the mass to the action of the atmosphere; this compost may then be applied as a manure to the vines, with a probable hope that it will remove the disease now so prevalent.

Miscellanea #1

Mate Tea, & c - Measures are about being taken, through the Naval Expedition to Paraguay to introduce into the United States the Mate, or Paraguay tea; also a valuable medicinal plant, called Nard, believed to be a sure specific against the bites of venomous insects or reptiles; and a peculiar kind of honey bee, which builds on the branches of trees, instead of in hives or trunks of trees, as with the common bee.

Miscellanea #2

We regret to announce the decease of Professor Charles Morren, at Liege, in the 52d year of his age, after a very long and cruel illness. He was the author of a considerable number of carious papers on various points of interest in vegetable physiology, but was best known as the; editor of the Annates de la Societie Royale d'Agriculture et de Botanique de Gand, a Belgian work of the same class an "Paxton's Flower Garden," which terminated in 1849 with its fifth volume.

The London Zoological Society have had a notice of a talking canary - the second instance of the kind on record. The bird in question was, owing to the neglect of its parents, brought up by hand, and so became more familiar with human speech than ornithological war-blings. At the age of three months it began to talk, saying kissie! kittie! and since then it has gone on adding to its vocabulary, and now repeats for hours a succession of phrases, comprehending about a dozen words, whistling from time to time a bar of God save the Queen.

Miscellanea #3

B. K. Bliss, of Springfield, Mass., says the Country Gentleman, is an importer of all the finest verbenas raised in France and England. His seeds are especially fine, and usually germinate well if well planted. I think if "Irene" applies to him for seed, she will not be disappointed when her plants bloom. He is noted far and wide for his success in floriculture. It is a rare treat to walk through his greenhouses, and feast-your eyes upon the beauties they contain. He has orders for plants from the remotest States of the Union; even Iowa and Wisconsin are indebted to him for flowers. His greenhouses are extensive and under the best cultivation. His plants do not expend all their strength in blossoming in the forcing-houses, but are stocky and well grown, and his bedding-out plants are never forced. No one will be disappointed in plants received from him.