Pourpre De Tyre

A rich dark purple; a noble and excellent variety.

A Powerful Pumping Engine

One of the most ingenious and powerful machines for submarine operations is the Gwynne Pumping Engine, capable, when driven to its full capacity, of discharging the prodigious quantity of one thousand barrels of water per minute. By means of this wonderful machine, a sunken vessel, even in eighty feet of water, can be pumped out, filled with air, and thus raised without any injury. It is not necessary to attempt to make the sunken vessel perfectly tight; for leaks, admitting one thousand gallons per minute, are of slight consequence where the engine will discharge as many barrels in the same time. In case, however, of vessels being considerably shattered and broken, the application, in addition, of pneumatic and hydrostatic lifting power, will effect the object desired.

The Practcai Land Drainer, By B, Munn, Landscape Gardener, New York. New York: C. M. Saxton. 1855

Mr. Munn'b treatise has just been placed on our table as the closing pages of this number go to press ; so we have no space to say much about it. We have given it a hasty perusal, and regard it as a timely and useful work. Mr. Munn, as a landscape gardener, has had opportunities enough to acquire experience on the subject, and besides he has consulted the best English authorities who have treated draining as a science. The information here brought together in a small volume could not otherwise be reached without referring to a library of books and papers. Draining is but beginning to receive attention in this country. Every man who cultivates either a farm or a garden, should know something of it. Mr. Munn's book must be eagerly sought for. It will no doubt be found at all the bookstores. Messrs. Saxton & Co. have sent it out in very creditable style.

Practical Floriculture

A new edition of this has been issued, containing revisions by Peter Henderson and the addition of a chapter on grape culture under glass, by Hugh Wilson of Salem, Mass.

The editorial part of the work has been well done, and Mr. Henderson may feel well satisfied with the successful popularity of the book; but the printer, binder and paper maker have not dressed it up as well as it deserves.

Prairie Flowers

We have often wondered why some of our enterprising sendsmen did not collect and offer for sale the seed of some of our beautiful prairie flowers. This, at last, has been done by Mr. Heffron of Utica, and we shall expect, in consequence, to Bee some pretty additions to our flower borders. This field has been left, heretofore, almost entirely to European collectors.

Pram

Mr. J. De Jonge states that it requires at least 15 years before the real merit of a new variety of pear can be completely determined. This term is not too long for most varieties. For those that are fertile, the period may perhaps be reduced to 10 years at the utmost, dating from the time of their first bearing, providing that no time is lost in the nursery.

A White Apricot, dotted with red, has been produced in Belgium, where one amateur planted last year 4000 stones with a view to procure new and good kinds. The apricot succeeds well in Belgium, as many may remember who have travelled there in the season.