118 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



of the experimenter himself, that he should care- 

 fully and properly conduct his operations. This 

 all can do, though it may not be convenient to 

 all to be so methodical and systematic, as to fully 

 instruct and convince others as well as themselves. 

 But there are many individuals who can properly 

 and regularly observe and note down, as well as 

 conduct their operations, and they can perform 

 the important service to the public interests of 

 proving, and placing beyond all controversy or 

 <luestion, either that silk-culture is certainly pro- 

 fitable as an extended and regular business, or 

 that it is not so. The latter proposition, if true, 

 will be only secondary in importance and value to 

 the former. The truth, whichever way it may 

 be found, should be the only object sought ; and 

 such experiments as we recommend would be the 

 sure and speedy means of reaching that end, in 

 one or the other way. 



Though there have been already made, and re- 

 ported, some very interesting and valuable practi- 

 cal and even extensive operations in silk-culture, 

 -(and which have been published in this journal,) 

 still there is not one of them that was not defec- 

 tive in some important particulars, which more 

 careful observation might easily have supplied. 

 We request of all our readers who design to feed 

 silk-worms methodically this year, to select some 

 one or more broods, and to observe minutely and 

 write down every circumstance that may effect 

 the result, and afterwards to report to us the re- 

 sults. Any number of such reports can be thrown 

 into a tabular form, so as to present at one view a 

 comparative statement of the progress and results 

 of all the different operations. To induce more 

 -regularity and unilbrmity in such experiments 

 and reports, we will here suggest the matters 

 which are either essential, or, if not essential, at 

 least desirable to be known, in experiments that 

 can be considered as at all conclusive. 



The facts which should be observed and regu- 

 larly noted, in a full and complete experiment of 

 silk-culture, we deem to be the following : 



1. What variety of silk-worms — the weight of 

 eggs put to hatch — and the weight of worms to 

 be fed immediately after being hatched, (to be 

 ascertained by weighing the refuse eggs, and pa- 

 per or cloth,)— or by any mode to show, as 

 nearly as may be, the number of worms at the 

 commencement. 



2. Dimensions of feeding apartment — plan of 

 management and space (in square leet) of shelves 

 used. 



3. De.-criptiun and quality of land occupied by 

 the trees fed from, and its rent or value. 



•1. Numb'jr, age, and description of trees. 



5. Number and kind of laborers employed, and 

 the cost for preparation and cultivation of land, 

 gathering leaves, and feeding, stated separately 

 so far as may be, or otherwise altogether. 



6. Weight of leaves used — and of the uncon- 

 sumed leaves, litter and excrement taken out, 

 during the whole feeding. 



7. Temperature of feeding apartment observed 

 at, and belbre sunrise, 2 o'clock P. M., and 9 P. 

 M. — changes and state of weather — and when 

 artificial heat used, if at all. 



8. The product stated both in bushels and 

 pounds of cocoons, and of average number of co- 

 coons to the pound, by weighing and then count- 

 ing a bushel, or a peck. They should not be di- 

 vested of their floss before being weighed, and 

 the measure should be heaped. If flossed, it 

 should be so stated^ and then the measure should 

 be even. 



In addition to reports presenting the above facts, 

 or as many of them as can be observed, (and of 

 which many reports might be consolidated in one 

 table,) it would add much to the value of any re- 

 ports, that are otherwise full and complete, if ac- 

 companied by a minute diary of poceedings and 

 progress, during the whole time of feeding. 



An experiment may be very interesting and va- 

 luable, though it may not present half of the 

 above particulars ; and there.'bre we mean not to 

 discourage the making and repeating observa- 

 tions, though much more limited than the most 

 complete experimenting would demand. To make 

 a complete experiment, or one embracing proper- 

 ly even nearly all the above particulars, would cer- 

 tainly be very troublesome. But it would require 

 but 35 to 40 days, altogether, and the results 

 would amply compensate the experimenter, by 

 giving certainty to his subsequent operations; 

 and the combined reports would be of far greater 

 value to the public. 



All persons who desire to make accurate expe- 

 riments, on the safest larger operations, as a mat- 

 ter of business, will do well to use eggs of some 

 variety of worm known by experience to be of 

 good quality, and, also, of medium or ordinary 

 size. We object to all the " fancy" varieties of 

 " mammoths "' or others, for general, or for first 

 operations, though we would advise others to do as 

 we are pleased to do in that respect, that is, to try 

 a few of any highly prized or new variety, and 

 observe and compare them with the more com- 

 mon and known kinds. We repeat that above all 

 things it is important to breed from a healthy 

 stock ; and no one ought to rely on eggs from an 

 unknown or doubtful source, if he can possibly ob- 

 tain such as are from a stock of known healthiness, 

 and which have been properly kept. There will 



