RESOURCES OF AMERICA, SILK, ETC. 427 



By this system, the Misses Reina obtain crops which average 75 

 kilogrammes of cocoons (16d pounds) to the ounce of eggs; and, 

 what renders this result still more extraordinary, with a consump- 

 tion of only ten pounds of leaves to one pound of cocoons ; this suc- 

 cess being rendered the more remarkable, from the circumstance, 

 that it extends alike through all the colonies of the estate of Count 

 Reina, and the result having been equally as great during every year 

 for many years past, including all seasons, both good and bad. 



Silk is, without doubt, destined, ere long, to become one of our 

 greatest resources of national wealth, as it is also, at this day, in 

 France and in Italy. It is believed that few additional improve- 

 ments are now wanting to cause the scale, in the silk culture, favor- 

 ably to preponderate, and even to out-rival that of cotton. What was 

 cotton before the invention of the Cotton Gin ? Nothing. What is 

 it now ? Wonderful to relate. 



In America, the culture of silk is progressing rapidly, and is fast be- 

 coming established on a sure and lasting foundation. At many of the 

 establishments since early in 1841, the silk-worms are fed and man- 

 aged on the system of Edmund Morris, Esq., of Burlington, New Jer- 

 sey, and with a success the most perfect and extraordinary. Mr. 

 Morris is a gentleman extensively known for his practical knowledge 

 and writings on silk. In some particulars, his system resembles that 

 which is practised so successfully in the vicinity of Constantinople, as 

 already described by Miss Pardoe and Commodore Porter ; his being 

 a very high improvement on that system. It dispenses with all trouble 

 in cleansing, and makes a saving of full half the expense of feeding by 

 other modes, while the silk-worms by this system are exempt from 

 disease. Parts of this system are secured to Mr. Morris by patent, and 

 these rights are disposed of by him, either to individuals, or to coun- 

 ties, or to states, at exceedingly low rates ; and every necessary in- 

 formation is furnished by him gratuitously. By this system, the silk- 

 worms are fed on the fresh twigs of the mulberry almost exclu- 

 sively ; by these also, they are readily removed in vast numbers. In 

 the last age, they are fed exclusively on the feeding frames, which 

 are of very simple construction, being formed of a single layer of 

 straw, which is thinly secured to its place. These slide in grooves 

 formed in upright stanchions. From these feeding frames the silk- 

 worms rise at the suitable time, and form their cocoons on the under 

 side of other frames, similarly formed of straw, and placed over a 

 foot above. These last, being covered with sized paper, serve also 

 the double purpose of roofs ; they defend from the continual fallings 

 from other feeding frames, which are placed but a few inches above 



INSECTS. 



(See also INSECTS, p. 49.) 



PYROLIGXEOUS ACID is not only destructive to insects, but protects 

 the bodies of trees, to which it is applied, even from their approach. 

 CAMPHOR is powerfully repulsive, from its strong odor. 

 BITTER ALOES. Plants, according to Mrs. Tredgold, are com- 



