When Dr. Montgomerie made his enquiries in 1842, this substance was quite unknown to the people at Malacca, and to the natives of Sumatra, "although," he says, "I was inclined to suppose that the substance might have obtained its name from that island, the Malayan name for the Island of Sumatra being Puto Percha."

The tree producing the Gutta Percha is one of the largest found in these eastern forests; its wood is seldom used, but an edible concrete oil is procured from its fruit, and taken by the natives with their food.

The plan of obtaining the Gutta Percha from the tree was, as late as 1846, by felling the tree, stripping off the bark and the milky juice or sap gathered.

But in February, 1847, measures were taken by the East India and the London company, to prevail upon the Rajahs of the different provinces to introduce the plan of drawing the sap from the trees, in the same manner as the caoutchouc is drawn by the natives in Brazil, and we are informed that the Rajahs issued edicts throughout all their provinces to that effect, therefore the tree will be spared. Such is the history of the discovery of this most valuable article Gutta Percha.

Since the name of it is differently pronounced by the public, it appears desirable to give the origin of it, and its correct pronunciation. The name is a pure Malayan one, "Gutta," meaning the gum, or concrete juice of a plant, and Percha the particular tree from which this is procured. The ch is not pronounced hard like a k, but like the ch in the English name of the fish, Perch.

Gutta Percha was first introduced into London as an article of manufacture in 1845 or 6. The first experiment was made by Archibald Brooman, as an artificial fuel, but in the course of his experiments he discovered many valuable properties in it, and found it applicable to many useful purposes, and very soon applied for and obtained patents for numerous applications of the article. Charles Hancock, of London next takes it up and obtained letters patent. Charles Keen, Christopher Nickles and Henry Busby, of London and Dublin, are next found in the patent office with Gutta Percha.

In 1846 the Gutta Percha company was formed in London, with a capital of £500,000 sterling paid in, they sending their agents throughout the whole Malayan coast to monopolize the raw material. The company purchased of the patentees all their rights in England, France, Belgium and the United States, (where patents had been applied for) by all the patentees, therefore the Gutta Percha business is at present monopolized by the London company in England. This company disposed of their patents in France to the house of Rattier & Cubal, by whom the business is extensively carried on.

In the month of June, 1846, S. T. Armstrong, of this city, received from one of the directors of the East India Company a small quantity of the raw material, with a request to make some experiments, and give him the result of his experiments. And at the same time suggesting the idea of visiting Europe on this business of Gutta Percha, however, being at the time engaged with some heavy government contracts, he was unable to leave for Europe until March, 1847, arrived in London in the month of April, and spent six months in England and on the continent, visiting all the Gutta Percha manufactories then in existence, and after much negotiation succeeded in purchasing the rights in the United States, applied for by the English patentees, and of visiting and perfecting himself in the art of manufacturing the different articles from Gutta Percha, and made arrangements with this company for a supply of the raw material. Mr. A. returned to this city in September following, and immediately made arrangements for the manufacture of articles from Gutta Percha. He imported the first lot of Gutta Percha for manufacturing purposes that was imported into the port of New-York, and is at the present time the only person who understands the art of manufacturing the article properly in the United States. He has now established in Water-street Brooklyn, a very large manufactory which is devoted entirely to Gutta Percha.

This mysterious substance can be manufactured into articles as soft as silk, and as hard as marble; it will take a polish equal to marble; it is made into machine belts, shoe soles, decorations of all kinds, round cords, book-binders' boards, military equipments of all kinds. &c., &c.

The supply will be limited for some time, excepting to those who have secured their supply, but after a few years the supply will be abundant.

Accompanying this short sketch you have a few samples of the many articles manufactured by the American Gutta Percha Company, office 139 William-street, N. Y.

S. W. JEWETT'S MERINO PRIZE SHEЕР.

Sheep husbandry among the agriculturists of our extended country, is claiming more attention at this period, than in former times; but the spirit of improvement is far behind, what it ought and will be for years to come. There are thousands of flocks now in different portions of the United States, numbering from ten to five hundred that are no better, and of the two rather degenerated when compared with the original flocks of the country, as they stood thirty years ago.

There is no branch of more importance to the agricultural com munity, than the improvement of the vast herds of sheep, and none that can be effected in so short a period of time; every decided improvement not only benefits the farmer, but it adds to the wealth of the nation. Near our large market towns the improved breeds of mutton sheep, must be raised for the butcher; but as wool is to be one of the leading articles of commerce among the states, and for export, it is important that we improve a portion of our farms, which is so congenial to the growth of this domestic animal, to the finer breeds of our country.

The merinos, descendants of the fine Spanish breed of sheep, among all of the species stand at the head. It is to this strain of blood that we must depend upon for a basis, and for the improvements of our common flocks, where wool is the main object; the pure merinos are the most hardy and best adapted to our soil and climate, of any known species; no other race of sheep can be sustained in as good condition, and make so good returns as the merinos, they are better adapted to thrive on scanty keep, and range in larger herds than the other improved breeds, or what we term the "natives," of our country; these however, like the other breeds, thrive better in small flocks. I do not allow over about sixty to graze in summer, or fold in winter in one flock; although by proper attention two or three hundred merinos can be kept in one herd to good advantage.