1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



745 



ashes equal to five loads of rotten dung, and par- 

 ticularly improved the sod and verdure. The 

 Reverend Mr. Dudley formed, in Essex, com- 

 posts of these ashes with marsh banks, which 

 were mixed well together, and spread on grass 

 land with great eflect. Hence there is conside- 

 rable reason for believing, that there is scarcely a 

 manure to be procured, that will be found so pro- 

 fitable (price considered) as these ashes, and that 

 the farmers in the vicinity of London, and of all 

 the navigations leading from it, may embark 

 largely in the use of this manure, without the 

 smallest apprehension of loss by so doing ; but 

 that, on the contrary, they will find the profit de- 

 cidedly great, and, by the use of them, may pre- 

 vent the continual advance of all sorts of manure. 

 Barges bringing lime, chalk, timber, bricks, malt, 

 and corn to London, can get a freight back at 

 twelve hours' notice. 



Conclusion. — It is evident, from the preceding 

 observations, that the use of soapers' waste is well 

 known in various parts of the kingdom ; but as 

 the quantity of this valuable manure is likely con- 

 siderably to increase owing to the more extended 

 use of kelp in the soap manufacture, it would be 

 desirable to have the following particulars ascer- 

 tained, in a more satisfactory manner than hither- 

 to has been the case. 



L The soils and the crops lor which this ma- 

 nure is best calculated 1 



2. The quantity that should be laid on each per 

 acre? 



3. The proper period of the year for laying it 

 on? 



4. Whether any mixture should be used with 

 soapers' waste — what is the best mixture — and 

 the best proportions? 



5. What are the effects of this article compared 

 with other manures, and its relative value? 



Any information regarding these particulars, 

 transmitted to the Board of Agriculture, 32, Sack- 

 viile street, London, will be particularly accepta- 

 ble. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE SILK CONVEIVTION. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



In advance of a more detailed report, I propose 

 to give you a sketch of the proceedings of the late 

 National Silk Convention, which met in Baltimore, 

 on the llih of the present month. 



The convention was a numerous and highly re- 

 spectable and intelligent body of men, composed 

 of delegates from a number of states. Judge 

 Comstock, ol Connecticut, was called to the chair — 

 the duties of which he discharged with prompti- 

 tude and ability. His long devotion to the oh|ects 

 which brought the convention together, entitled 

 him to this mark of distinction; and the dignity 

 and amenity of his manners fully justified the'^pro- 

 priety of the choice. 



Previous to the assembling of the convention, 

 it was supposed by many persons, and li'ared by a 

 still greater number, that it would be mostly com- 

 posed of speculators in multicaulis, anxious to 

 keep up the mania which has for some time past 

 astonished the sober-minded portion of the com- 

 munity. It was thought that the ruling passion 

 would be a desire to reap another harvest from 

 the sale of plants, which have been sought after 

 Vol. VI.— 94 ^ 



with an avidity proportioned to the high prices 

 which have been demanded lor them. But though 

 there might have been, and probably were, some 

 members of this description; yet the great majori- 

 ty consisted of persons anxious to promote the cul- 

 ture of silk, and to introduce a new and useful 

 branch of industry into our young and thriving 

 country. The indirect effect may, and no doubt 

 will be, to extend the demand for the multicaulis; 

 for the two cultures are inseparably connected; 

 but if the multicaulis can be beneficially appro- 

 priated to its legitimate purposes, instead of being 

 made an article of speculation, its merits will 

 then be appreciated as an auxiliary to the silk cul- 

 ture; and, however extensive the demand may be- 

 come, its value will no longer be factitious. This 

 is certainly the basis on which it should be placed. 

 After the organization of the convention, a com- 

 mittee was appointed to suggest and introduce 

 proper subjects on which its action should be had. 

 These will appear at full in the journal of its pro- 

 ceedings, which will be published in the course of 

 a few weeks. There was one subject, however, 

 which gave rise to considerable debate, and in- 

 deed to some feelinff, which it may not be impro- 

 per to advert to. This was the propriety of adopt- 

 ing a standard reel, and recommending it to the 

 silk-growers of the United States. The impor- 

 tance of this was first suggested by G. B. Smithj 

 and upon his explanation, and that of others, it 

 passed the committee with entire unanimity; but 

 it was opposed in convention for a length of lime, 

 and at last was only sanctioned afier some modifi- 

 cation of the resolution. It was contended by the 

 opponents of this measure, that it would be re- 

 stricting the exercise of American ingenuity, which 

 was believed to be fully competent to invent any 

 machinery which the future wants of the silk- 

 grower might require. The propriety of the re- 

 commeridation, however, was fully sustained by 

 Mr. Smith and other practical men, whose argu- 

 ments, it is hoped, will be reported in full, as a 

 stenographer took notes of the debate. The reel 

 recommended was the Piedmontese, or any other 

 combining the same principles and dimensions. 

 And now, in the infancy of the business in this 

 country, before we have any long-rooted preju- 

 dices to contend with; and with a view to the ulii- 

 rnate export of silk to Europe, it was the proper 

 time to fix upon a standard. It was shown tliat 

 before such standard was fixed in France and Ita- 

 ly, reels of various dimensions were in use — the 

 result of which was so much confusion, that it 

 was impossible manufactories could flourish. Un- 

 til some specific principle was recognized in the 

 construction of reels, no set of manufacturing ma- 

 chinery could be adapted to such a total want of 

 uniformity as the raw material exhibited. At 

 length, the subject was acted upon by the goverr- 

 ment, and the Piedmontese reel was adopted and 

 the use of it enforced upon silk-growers by legal 

 penalties. So accurate is this reel in its propor- 

 tions, and so simple in its principles, that it was 

 contended by Messrs. Smith, Whitmarsh and 

 Cobb, all of whom had invented some modifica- 

 tion of that reel, and by other gentlemen who had 

 also been exercising their ingenuity in making im- 

 provements upon it, that the wit of man could in- 

 vent nothing more simple or more perfect. The 

 hanks reeled upon it are all of the same size; the 

 threads of every skein are precisely of the same 



