1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



748 



ally employed to cleanse the crop 

 instrument^ (although placed in very caretijl 

 hands,) tlir more destructive to tlie trees, than ei- 

 ther grass or weeds. You are aware, that the 

 cutting germinates by throwing out (rom its ex- 

 tremities small and delicate roots, at first not larger, 

 and more brittle, than the finest cambric thread ; 

 before these are strong enough to eustain them- 

 selves, the slightest touch or even jar from the hoe, 

 will snap them asunder ; when the recuperatory 

 process, (especially in dry weather.) is bo slow, 

 ihat the plant perishes before it can take root 

 again. To avoid this danger, I would recom- 

 mend, as a substitute for the hoe, an instrument 

 made similar to a pitch-lbrk, but having a sharp 

 blade, in lieu of prongs ; or, if economy is to be 

 considered, an implement used by the old fashion- 

 ed Virginia gardeners for weeding gravel walks, 

 which is nothing more than a foot or two of an 

 old scythe blade, somewhat bent to make the edge 

 cut upwards, and fastened, midway its length, to 

 the handle of a rake or hoe, would be equally ef- 

 ficient. With such a hand-skimmer, the plants 

 can be rapidly weeded without danger of disturbing 

 them — but whatever substitute may be consider- 

 ed best, I can only say, thai experience has taught 

 me that the hoe cannot be used in the field culture 

 of mulberries without great risk, until the roots 

 attain strength enough to resist a blow from it. 

 In conversation the other day, on the subject of 

 the morus multicauli*-, (the prevailing topic of the 

 day,) with an eminent eastern culturist, he in- 

 formed me of a practice successfully followed by 

 him, which appears so plausible, that I propose the 

 next year to adopt it. If it does no good, it at 

 least has the negative merit of doing no harm, 

 and is therefore worthy of trial. My informer, 

 (who is, by the way, a most respectable man, 

 and well versed in his vocation,) says, that it has 

 been his custom, when preparing his cuttings for 

 planting, "to make an incision through the bark 

 from one extremity of the cutting to the other, 

 taking especial care not to wound the bud — the 

 result was, that from each side of the incision 

 roots were thrown out as well as from the extre- 

 mities, thus materially aiding the growth of the 

 tree and greatly tending to its preservation, as 

 every new root gave an additional assurance of its 

 living. This fact, if not erroneous, and I see no 

 reason to doubt it, would be especially advan- 

 tageous with one-bud cuttings. 



While on the subject of the Chinese mulberry, 

 I trust it will not be trespassing too far on your 

 time and patience, to hazard a speculation as to 

 their present extravagant value, its tendency, and 

 probable result. That no prudent man will, or 

 ought to purchase trees at present high prices, 

 with a view to engage in the culture of silk, is 

 obvious to all — and that the mulberry must in a 

 year or two depreciate, as an article of specula- 

 tion, and be only sought for as the means of mak- 

 ing silk, is likewise susceptible of demonstration. 

 The temptation, however, offered by the hope ot 

 a continuance of high prices, and the prospect, 

 (however dark it may be) of realizing great pro- 

 fits from the sale of trees, having induced many of 

 our most intelligent and wary farmers to engage 

 largely in their cultivation, is, I think, a most for- 

 tunate circumstance, and will eventuate most hap- 

 pily for the state, by opening a source of wealth 

 equally as abundant, and more beneficial, than 



I (bund that ever was her tobacco trade. Nothing but this 

 unaccountable morimania (if I may coin a word) 

 could have aroused attention and stimulated in- 

 quiry into the nature and practicability of growing 

 silk in the United States. Committees of Congress 

 might have issued reports, and wi^iters on eilk 

 have published volumes on the subject ; but our 

 apathetic brethren of the plough would not have 

 read either, or given a passing thought to the mat- 

 ter, until awakened by the astounding fact, that a 

 shrub six or seven tiset high, raised in eight 

 months, from a cutting six inches long, actually 

 sold for, and was worth a silver dollar. This came 

 home — curiosity and inquiry are now on the " qui 

 vive" — and now is the accepted time for the 

 friends of the silk business to strain every nerve to 

 push forward its introduction. This humbug, as 

 it is called, even by those who have been seduced 

 into it, is certainly the most fortunate delusion that 

 ever arose in Virginia ; it is the inscrutable work- 

 ing of Providence to convey a blessing, which is 

 destined to redeem this ancient commonwealth 

 from the state of decay into which she is rapidly 

 falling; and when the bubble of high prices for 

 trees shall burst, as soon it must, the question will 

 then be presented to the agriculturists, who have 

 engaged in it from motives of speculation, and are 

 left in the lurch — what is to be done with the stock 

 of trees on hand, for which there is no market 1 

 Are they to be dug up and thrown away, or shall 

 they be used for feeding silk-worms'? It is not dif- 

 ficult to anticipate the solution self-interest will 

 give to this query. The farmer has but to learn 

 the fact, that in conducting this new business (lor 

 which his soil and climate are peculiarly adapted) 

 not a single efficient laborer will be abstracted 

 from his farm— that his barns and other buildings, 

 (not in use during the short feeding season) will, 

 (for want of better) answer as laboratories — that 

 he has on hand abundant food for his worms ; and 

 above all, that the product of his care and atten- 

 tion will find a ready market at his door. More- 

 over, to give it a political cast, this grave fact is 

 worthy the consideration of the patriotic farmer, 

 as well as the statesman and political economist. 

 The market in Europe for raw and manufactured 

 silks, exceeds forty millions, and in the United 

 States twenty millions of dollars'; and to this 

 amount are we tributary to semi-barbarous Hin- 

 doos, indolent Turks, and imbecile Italians. Now, 

 Mr. Editor, is the auspicious moment to draw the 

 attention ol" the agricultural portionof the commu- 

 nity to this important subject. To do this effect- 

 ually, permit me respectfully to suggest the crea- 

 tion of a state society for the encouragement of 

 silk-growers. Such an association, with an active, 

 influential president at his head, with its commit- 

 tees of correspondence, premiums, &c., would da 

 much towards exciting attention, disseminating 

 information, and, finally, would pave the way for 

 the introduction of silk-making, as one of the or- 

 dinary occupations of every farm. Had I the ta- 

 lent of an essayist, the field is most ample, and it 

 might be indulged to satiety ; but as 1 do not pos- 

 sess it. I will close this (as you perceive) hastily 

 written and imperfect epistle, satisfied that in leav- 

 ing the subject with you, I place it in far abler 

 hands. I am, respectliilly, &c. T. M. R. 



