464 



FxVRMERS' REGISTER, 



[No. 8 



and I would recommend a continuance of the practice, 

 so far as practicable. The practice of applying iin- 

 rotted straw is, in my opinion, the preferable and most 

 economical mode 

 younj;; clover. 



practice, which is, that seeils'of sp9lt,"&c., are thus 

 applied to the soil in a state favorable to their vege- 

 tating. The cutting of the clover in the proper sea- 

 son, and consequently of these foul weeds before 

 they get into seed, would, however, remove this ob- 

 jection. Andrew Nicol." 



the reader.? of ihe Register, who are reported to 

 be succesf^iul maiiurers with leaves on a large 

 scale ; and it is earnestly desired by the writer, 



le of applving it, particularly if on ;,:: ' , ' ,■ '^ " -- — ■J' -^-' <^u uy u.e wnitj.. 

 There is only one objection to the T J^^ ""'^'^ 'f'^^T ^^li give to the public, through 

 ■ ■ ' ipis journal, at length, their more extended prac- 



tice, and more valuable opinions. It will be gra- 

 j 'ilying to the writer ofthese observations, to aid thus 

 indirectly, il" in no other manner, in causing light 

 to be shed on this imj)ortant subject, even though 

 it should be accompanied by the showing his own 

 views and practice to be erroneous. 



Edm. RUFFIIV. 



It may seem contradictory, as well as strange, 

 that the ri|ieningof the wheat should be retarded 

 by the top-dressing of leaves, which so manifestly 

 forwarded its early growth, and improved the pro- 

 duct. But these opposite etiects are easy to ac- 

 count lc>r. The leaves not on'y sheltered the 

 ground Crom the extremes of cold in winter, but 

 also, in some measure, from heat and drought in 

 summer. Thus, the mechanical effect is to give 

 the benefit of a cooler summer climate — which, 

 to our wheat crop, especially, would be a creat 

 benefit. It is known to others, as well as toiny- 

 sellj that Irish potatoes, made without tillage, 

 under a very thick coat of leaves, are of a very 

 superior quality, (as well as in good quantity,) 

 and more like those grown in northern and moist 

 countries, than such as we usually make on ground 

 not thus covered. This thick cover preserves 

 moisture, as well as shade and cooler temperature. 

 It may be necessary to adtl, in explanation, that 

 all the parts of the practices referred to, or des- 

 cribed in the foregoing statement, were not con- 

 siilered judicious, but were compelled at the time, 

 to avoid still greater loss. For example — though 

 an advocate lor top-dressing in general. 1 do not 

 extend the approval to putting out barn-yard and 

 stable manure as top-dressing in the latter part of 

 summer. Top-dressing with manures so putres- 

 cent as to be soon ready to act, (as tho.?e from the 

 stable and barn-yard,) oaglit to be given to a crop 

 then growing, and ready to consume the food furn- 

 ished by the decomposino- manure; and all top- 

 dressings should, if possible, be applied to a crop 

 in its young state and early in the growing season, 

 that it may h.ive the longest time to derive bene- 

 fit therclrom. Leaves, therefore, should be also ap- 

 plied to clover early; and for an additional reason, 

 viz: that its growth may cover (he top-dressing in 

 a short time, and thereby not only protect the leaves 

 from being moved by the winds, but, by keeping 

 them shaded and moist, forward their decompo- 

 sition, and convert them to food as soon as possi- 

 ble. Of course, it is an essential part of this plan 

 of top-dressing that the growth of clover shall 

 not be taken olf, by grazing or mowing, until 

 the previous top-dressing is decomposed by the 

 aid of its shelter and shade. The process de- 

 signed, is, first to make the leaves, (or any other 

 top-dressing,) to manure and feed the clover — and 

 the next, to make this crop of clover, (turned in 

 green or dry,) manure the 

 wheat or corn. 



No apology will be offered for presenting these 

 theoretical views, sustained, as yet, by so little 

 practical experience. The main object of the 

 communication is to elicit, fiom other persons, 

 who arc much more experienced, and, therefore, 

 much better ([ualiiled to instruct, llieir more prac- 

 tical views, and more profitable results. "There 

 are many intelligent and improving tarraers among 



niRKCTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SILK- 

 WORMS THROUGH THEIR HATCHING AND 

 FEEDING TIME, ACCORDING TO THE MOST 

 APPROVED EUROPEAN PRACTICE. 



Translated from tlie French, for the Farmers' Register, 



BY THE EDITOR. 



Translator'' s Introduction. 

 It is now more than ten years since silk-culture was 

 proposed as a new and profitable direction for a part 

 of the agricultural labor of the United States; and for 

 sixty years, silk has been made, upon a small scale, 

 and with satisfactory profits, in a part of Connecticut. 

 In the last few years, many adventurers have embarked 

 in this new business, in the northern states, or have 

 made preparations for commencing. The successful 

 and known results however, have fallen far short of 

 the expectations excited by the first promises of profit, 

 and the loud notes of preparation for silk culture. 

 Some of the causes of such results, have been stated 

 at length in an article in the last number of the Farm- 

 ers' Register, (commencing at page 389, volume VI.) 

 It is sufficient here to state the general fact, that the 

 business of selling the multicaulis mulberry plants, 

 offered so much greater profits than feeding the leaves 

 to silk-worms, that the former business has supersed- 

 ed the latter, for the present, and may continue to do 

 so for a year or two to come ; and thus, in providing the 

 means, the end designed seems to be forgotten. 



The recent introduction of the most valuable variety 

 of mulberry, the morus multicaulis, will so much lessen 

 the labors of silk-culture, that it may correctly and 

 properly have the effect of extending the business, far 

 beyond its otherwise proper and profitabfe limits. The 

 actual demand for the plants of this variety, has re- 

 cently produced a speculating mania, which has enor- 

 mously enhanced the market value of all the stock 

 now growing in the country; and this fictitious demand, 

 for speculation, and its feverish and improper excite- 

 ment, are spreading rapidly over all the southern and 

 middle, as we'd as the northern states where it com- 

 menced, and to which, though the least favorable region 

 ucceeding crop of j of our country, schemes of silk-culture had been before 

 almost exclusively confined. 



The first effect of this speculating mania, will be to 

 cause a large amount of money to be made by some 

 purchasers, and perhaps much to be lost by others. 

 The mere cultivator of the plants, in no case has yet 

 lost any thing, nor can he lose by the mad speculations 

 of others, or by any decline of prices, unless in suffer- 

 ing disappointment of his own too highly excited 



