56 



F A R x^l E R 8 ' REGISTER, 



[No. 1 



ingin my opinion, more similar to our climate than 

 any other in the same latitude, I was induced to se- 

 J«;ct the seed ol'the Brussa mulberry tree, in prefer- 

 ence to thoi^e of any other phwe, as one more likely 

 to endure the rigors or our severe winters, and not 

 be so subject to the effect of frost, as trees fjrought 

 from more southern latitudes, or warmer climes. 



"The leaves of the 7n')rits ulba of Brussa are 

 said to contain a much greater quantity of saccha- 

 rine matter, than any other of the white species, 

 and moreover, the leaf is much larger than those 

 of Italy and Spain; it is also a hardy tree, suscep- 

 tible of being raised in climates, where the frosts 

 are severe. 1 therefore believe, that the morus alba 

 of Turkey, is decidedly the hest for our climate, and 

 next to it, those of Italy and S[)ain; although the 

 latter were, I presume, originall -obtained from the 

 east, as we find the culture proaressinii; fi-om Asia, 

 through Greece, Sicily, theBel'uric islands, Spain, 

 and Italy, and eventually to thi; south of France. 

 It is probable that the species has degenerated 

 more or less in those countrii'.s, since neither of 

 them produce an article of commerce, equal to 

 that of Bi'ussa, notvvithstandiiig the cultivation 

 and manipulation of silk, in Turkey, is flir inferior 

 to that of Italy or France ; I con.^-equently attribute 

 the superiority in the quality of the former, to the 

 greater quantity, or richer nature, of the nutritive 

 substance contained in the leai". 



"The morus multicauh's, although poss-^ssing a 

 larger leaf than those of Brussa, does not, I appre- 

 hend, cotitain an equal quantity of nutritive matter. 

 Count Daadolo says, that the leaves of the broad- 

 leafed white mulberry, contain but little saccha- 

 rine matter; and I heme infer that ihs mnliicaulifs, 

 being of similar species, contains less saccliarine 

 matter thui the hardy alba of colder climates. 

 In southern latitudes, similar to those o!' Chma, 

 where it is said to be cultivated to most advan- 

 tage, and where frosts are unknown, the miiHi- 

 cauUs. may be most sVuable; but for our climate, 

 the morus alba is decidedly the best and safest. Fu- 

 ture experiments will iloubtless elicit tne compara- 

 tive excellence of the diri'erent species. Bui since 

 we know that the Brussa tree is of superior qual- 

 ity, and I have proved that it will endure the se- 

 verity of our winters, (for the last three were un- 

 usually severe, and althoujzh young as they were, 

 not a sins-ie tree was lost,) hence they may now 

 be considered as acclimated. 



"That silk can be produced with infinitely less 

 trouble than is generally supposed, I am fijlly per- 

 suaded; and I have, in the course of my travels, 

 visited most of the silk-growing count ries, and 

 fvave considerable attention to the subject. 



"The culture of silk is peculiarly deserving the 

 encourajjement of patriotic and benevolent men, 

 inasmucti as it will atibrd (in its difii?rent manipu- 

 lations,) a living to the most helpless of our race ; 

 aged and decrepit persons, and children., can all be 

 employed in some part of the process, and to a por- 

 tion of the female sex, who may have been reared 

 in luxury and indulgence, but bychanrre of fortune 

 have become reduced, yet are willing to labor, 

 rather than depend on the cold hand of charity, or 

 the benevolence of friends, this culture will afford 

 a certain and independent livin.T, without exposing 

 them to the scoffs and scorns of a selfish world. 



" In the city oi' Brussa, containing about 100,000 

 inhabitants, their principal occupation is the pro- 

 duction of silk. When the crop-season commences, 



the leaves are brought to the city by the cultiva- 

 tors, in baskets, and sold in the market in quanti- 

 ties to suit the purchasers, in the same manner as 

 fruits and vegetables. Almost every fimiily, when 

 the season begins, clear out the rooms of their dwel- 

 lings, (reserving one or two apartments to live in) 

 and fill the rest on the floors, with the worm. The 

 women and children chiefly attend to feeding them, 

 and when the worms form their cocoons (generally 

 in about six weeks) they (the women and children) 

 reel the silk, which is then ready for market, and 

 thus in little more than six weeks, thev gain suffi- 

 cient to support their families, (in their simple style 

 ofliving,) until the next season." 



Extract of a Letter from Judge Spencer to Mr. 

 Rhind. 



"The trees which I received from you [Brussa 

 mulberry, of three years old] indicate great hardi- 

 hood, and I should think, not only from their not 

 havintj suffered at the extreme points, and also, 

 from Mr. Bradish's account of the trees, that they 

 will endure our climate perfectly well, almost ev- 

 ery tree has put fijrth leaves, and fhey are consid- 

 erably larger and thicker th.an the white mulberry 

 leaf. The Brussa leaf is nearly, if not quite equal 

 to the moras multicaulis." 



At the annual fiir of the xlmerican Institute, 

 at New York, in October last, specimens of the 

 leaves of the Brussa * tree, of diU'erent years- 

 growth, were exhibited, and excited universal 

 approbation, and (he institute awarded a silver 

 medal tor the introduction of this invaiunhle tree^ 

 observing in the report of the committee, "that 

 these with every new and.ns;:(bl plant, calctilated 

 to withstand the rigors of our climate,, are- worthy 

 of attention, and those introdiicing them into our 

 country, deserve to be placed on the catalogue of 

 our country's benefactors.''' 



From tlie New Yorlc Spirit of tlie Times. 

 THE HORSE-TAMER. 



Llangollen, Ky., February 19, 1837. 



Dear Sir— It was on the 26rh of May, lg-23 at 

 Orange Court House, in the Old Dominion, (G'xf 

 bless her!) where I then lived, thai I first saw the 

 late Jonathan Smith. It was court day, and he, 

 surrounded bv a crowd Oi geutlfmen, began thus: 

 "Every groom and trainer, gentlemen, has his own 

 wayof liridling, and breaking, and mana.cring hor- 

 ses. I am a teacher of the art. I can tame the- 

 most ungovernable horse on this green rn one 

 hour. And if any of you want to know how, I 

 will teach you the theory, and sliow you the prac- 

 tice, on this condition. li'l i;'.:!, you shall pay me 

 nothing: if I succeed, and sa'isiy you that you 

 can do it as well as I, you find each of you wha 

 are taught, shall pay me ten d )l!arf:. ! will make 

 the horse follow me without bridle, halter, or sad- 

 dle, through this crowd; stasid quietly while f crack 

 this whip repeatedly over his hack; making him 

 give me any foot ai comm.md; and lie down if you 



* In the publication of the Institute . the word Russia 

 has been erroneously substituted tor Brvssa — vide the 

 publication of the Institute tor November and Decem- 

 ber, 1836. 



