356 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 6 



fhr ehort of what was expecteJ. The phints which 

 survived these disasters, are now <:frowing with a 

 luxuriance of ibliase that realize to the mind by 

 a single gh^nce ot' the eye, the sterling value of 

 the niullicaulis for the production of silk. It is 

 true that different n:iodes of planting, and a differ- 

 ent course of cultivation, have produced different 

 quantiiles as well as different qualities of trees, 

 some having succeeded better than others. But 

 from the stock of trees now growing, it is certain 

 ihat the short supply will be more than compen- 

 sated by the high prices they will command. 

 There can be no doubt that trees will sell higher 

 the coming fall and spring than they have ever 

 done yet. The character of the multicaulis is 

 now well established in the middle states, from 

 practical acquaintance with it, and it has lived 

 uninjured, in the open fields of Burlington, during 

 the whole of the past winter. As its value be- 

 comes better known, the demand for it increases 

 from all parts of the United States. The high 

 bounties on the production of silk which are given 

 by the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 

 have been found sufficient to pay all the expenses 

 of producing the cocoons and of reeling the silk, 

 making the whole produce clear profit. This fact, 

 when added to that of an acre of ground planted 

 with trees two years old, producing a net profit of 

 $300 to S'lOO per annum, has stimulated the 

 farmers in various sections of the middle states to 

 embark largely in the business of planting trees 

 for the sole purpose of raising silk. 



From notices we have read in our exchange 

 papers, of nurseries in various places, an impres- 

 sion appears, to exist that all the trees now grow- 

 ing throughout the country are for sale. Nothing 

 could be more contrary to the fad; and those per- 

 sons who expect to make large purchases of trees 

 this fall, will find themselves greatly mistaken. 

 Some growers in our neighborhood could not be 

 induced to sell at any reasonable price. We know 

 one instance of a company which intended going 

 into the business last spring, with a stock of 

 30,000 trees, being compelled to begin with about 

 5000 only, such was the impossibility of getting 

 trees. Of all the trees now growing, probably 

 but one-third are raised for sale — full two-thirds 

 being grown to feed the worms. So far as the 

 business has progressed in Burlington, it has an- 

 swered every expectation that was formed of it. 

 Very great profits have been realized from small 

 lots of ground, and there is every prospect of our 

 ancient city becoming the emporium of American 

 silk. 



ency. An agriculturist, more especially -than other 

 men, who never changes his opinions on the subjects 

 of his profession, must necessarily remain as ignorant 

 in the end, as his " consistency" would show him to 

 be narrow-minded in the beginning; and one who 

 does not frequently change his views of the relative 

 advantages of practical details, must profit very little 

 by investigation and by experience. It may be sup- 

 posed, that the farmer or the politician who changes 

 his opinion, is at least wiser than he had been before; 

 and we have never valued the virtue of consistency 

 of opinion so much as to defend our claim to it, if our 

 brother editor had correctly understood and reported 

 either our first declaration, or the alleged " unsaying 

 of it." We shall not here repeat again at length what 

 we have several times §tated; but merely refer to all 

 that has been said on this subject, to show, 1st, that we 

 did not in any sense " venture a sweeping condemna- 

 tion of those who look for profit in the selection of 

 seeds;" and 2d, that we maintain now, as stoutly as 

 before, ih^tthe principle and manner of selection which 

 were condemned are worthless. 

 The following is the passage referred to: 



"The Editor ventured a sweeping condemnation 

 of those who look for profit in the selection of 

 seed; he is met by one of his correspondents on 

 the question, which it seems has two sides, and 

 the strongest against him. Our unhappy brother 

 finds himself involved in the necessity of unsay- 

 ing his rash opinion; while he insists upon his 

 consistency as sturdily as a politician who may 

 happen to prefer the reputation of far-sighted wis- 

 dom, to a I'rank confession of mistake. The ex- 

 amples of benefit from the selection of seed, are 

 too numerous and too familiar to daily observa- 

 tion, to leave a doubt that much depends upon it. 

 Sometimes the opinion has been placed in unne- 

 cessary contrast, with the acknowledged advan- 

 tage of an occasional change of seed from one 

 climate or kind of soil to another. Which is pro- 

 ductive of the greatest good, is not very easily de- 

 termined. But there is no very plausible reason 

 why both means of improvement should not be 

 combined. For example, corn very Iruitful in 

 ears, or bearing ears of an extraordinary size, 

 may be simultaneously cultivated in situations dis- 

 tant and diftering from each other, and mutual 

 exchanges profit both parlies." 



SKLECTION OP SEEDS. 



The August No. of the Southern Agriculturist con- 

 tains ah editorial general notice of the contents of the 

 July No. of the Farmers' Register, with the kind and 

 approving tone of which we have reason to feel grati- 

 fied, and find no exception to that feeling in the follow- 

 ing comment upon our (alleged) heterodox opinion, 

 and the vain attempts to defend that opinion from the 

 attacks of assailants. We have often enough, in these 

 volumes, readily confessed mistaken opinions, to free 

 ourselves from the charge of holding obstinately to 

 any, for the purpose of maintaining a claim to consist- 



To the Editor of tlic Farmers' Register. 



Hanover, August 4, 1838. 



Sir — Your last number has just arrived ; and I 

 see in it a communication, from some one who 

 sio-ns himself '' Rusticus," in regard to capons. 

 He says that he has never seen one in this coun- 

 try, arid that every person of his acquaintance, 

 who has attempted to make them, has tiiiled. 

 Now, there are living near me some young men 

 who raise great quantities'.of fowls, and who, for 

 their amusement, have performed the operation 

 on several young cocks, and have succeeded in 

 every instance but one, and that failure was owing 

 to the bird being too large. 



