430 



OSAGE ORAi^GE AS FEED FOE SILK-WORMS. 



As Mr. Riley, in the American Entomologist of September, appears 

 to doubt the statement of one of our correspondents in regard to his 

 success in raising the silkworm {Bombyx morij on the leaves of the 

 Osage orange, f Madura aurantiacaj (see Monthly Report of the De- 

 partment for May and June,) for the reason that the name of the cor- 

 respondent was omitted, we give another letter received lately from the 

 same source, with name and residence appended, reiterating the state- 

 ment and giving a more detailed account of his experience. 



G. 



Spanish Fork CrrY, Utah Coutitij, Utah Territory, Septemler 15, 1870. 



Dear Sir : I take great pleasure in replying to your favor of the 2d instant. I wish 

 to state that my previous communication to you, an extract from which was puhlished 

 in the MonthlyReport of the Department, is strictly true. Since I commenced feeding 

 the Iioml>yx mori on osage orange, the fact has hecoine so familiar to myself and neigh- 

 bors that I did not suppose it would be doubted. If any additional testimony is neces- 

 Bary to confirm my statement, I can give the names of as many responsible persons, 

 under seal, as may be required, as the facts are quite familiar to all the inhabitants of 

 this town, and the greater part of the county. 



This season I have fed upwards of ten thoxisand worms on osage orange, and they 

 have all spun — the box of cocoons I sent you being an average sample of the crop. 

 This is the third season I have fed and projjagated the same worms entirely on osage 

 orange, and they show no signs of deterioration ; on the contrary, it was remarked by 

 many this season who had seen them during the past three years, that they looked 

 larger and better than they had ever seen them before. That portion of my crop fed 

 on mulberry the past four years shows no perceptible difference, hatching out and spin- 

 ning about the same time as those fed on osage orange. 



I would like to have the relative qualities of the silk thus differently fed thoroughly 

 tested, and would be pleased to forward specimens of each to any one who could do so. 



My worms hatched out this season on the 8th of May, and spun on the 19th of June, 

 feeding forty-two days, this being seven days longer tlan previous seasons, owing to 

 a cold storm that occurred in May, lasting about one week, rendering them almost in- 

 active during that time ; and I have used no artificial heat either at hatching or dmiug 

 the feeding time. 



I have jiaid particular attention to cleanliness and ventilation in my cocoonery, 

 keeping the doors and windows almost constantly open, even during the night w'hen 

 the weather was favorable. I attribute my success mainly to our tine dry cli.'ate. 

 We have no dews, and rain and thunder storms are of rare occurrence during feeding 

 season. 



If Mr. Eiley wishes to communicate with me, I shall be happy to give him all tlia 

 information I possess in relation to this matter. 

 Yours, very respectfully, 



SAMUEL CORNABY. 



Pi-of. Glover, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



THE LOUISIANA RICE CROP. 



The annual statement of James Wood, in the New Orleans Picayune, 

 says that the rice crop of 18Gy-'70 was the largest ever grown in the 

 State, though in quality it did not compare favorably with the produc- 

 tion of previous years. ' The annexed table exhibits the general progress 

 and value of this culture, showing the receipts of the several years 

 since 18(10 at New Orleans, the years extending from September 1 to 

 August 31, and the barrels averaging 230 pounds : 



