FARMERS' REGISTER. 



379 



culture, will have that impression entirely removed 

 by seeing the operation here. 



It is not our purpose to describe the particulars 

 of JVJr. Carter's (ceding operations, which, indeed, 

 there was not lime to observe careCully. He, 

 as well aa other persons to be mentioned, pro- 

 mised to lurnish, for the Farmers' Register, de- 

 tailed statements of results, having especial regard 

 to the labor, the cost, and the products. 



Mr. Schermerhorn's cocoonery being imme- 

 diately on the route, was also vis^iied. His build- 

 ing is 70 feet by 30, and of two stories. It was 

 epecially built for this purpose. The warming, in 

 worst weather, is as yet but insufficiently and une- 

 qually effected, by a small common stove. An 

 additional building, lor the hatching room proper, 

 is now in the course of consiruciion. Mr. S. had 

 hatched out the worms from 30 oimres of eggs, 

 and they so far were in good condition. But tlie 

 quantity is too large lor the means and tiegree of 

 experience, and we ereatly fear a liailure on 

 account of that error, which so many others have 

 also committed. With one fourth of 'he quantity, 

 we would be very sure of the success of Mr. 

 Schermerhorn's arrangements and labors. 



At Bellona, the principal cocoonery in the main 

 building, which is ready for use, had not been oc- 

 cupied. A smaller building, because more easily 

 warmed, had been fitted up in a rough manner for 

 the early broods. Of these, about 70,000 worms 

 were in their last age of feeding, and some eight 

 or ten small separate broods had finished spinning, 

 and the earliest of them were then laying eggs. 

 About 200,000 more were hatched but recently. 

 All so far had succeeded well, with the exception 

 of two particular parcels, (out of some 15 or more 

 of different kinds,) which had turned out badly. 

 Altogether, the success was abundantly gratifying 

 and encouraging. Yet great disadvantages had 

 been, and even then were suffered, in regard to 

 the out-door laborers, which it is expected will 

 soon be rectified. When Mr. Pleasants' subse- 

 quent feedings begin, in his large and admirable 

 cocoonery, there is every reason to expect success, 

 if zeal, care, and devotion of the head of the es- 

 tablishment can secure that result. So far, the 

 superintendence and the credit for the success of 

 these early operations, are indeed not Mr. Plea- 

 sants'; but belong to his sister-in-law. Miss D. 

 Brooke, who has given to the rearing her con- 

 tinued and untiring care and labor. Seeing her 

 success with these early and various small broods, 

 (which caused so much the more ditficuliy, added 

 to the generally operating difficulties of the wea- 

 ther,) induced us to beg that the like assiduous at- 

 tention might be bestowed on a single and larger 

 brood, and in a later and better season. We hope 



to be enabled hereafter to report the result of this 

 rearing, which will be carefully observed and all 

 the (acts noted, in accordance with our suggestion 

 and request. 



One ofthe objects of Mr. Pleasants, in the early 

 part of the season, (the best for the purpose in 

 view,) is to provide eggs of all the best known va- 

 rieties of silk-worms, and of healthy stock, and 

 likely to produce healthy progeny ; and this can 

 only be secured by breeding from a healthy stock. 

 This was the cause of his having so many diffe- 

 rent kinds of worms, and kept in separate and dis- 

 tinct lots. Much has already been lost by many 

 individuals, from their own ignorance on this sub- 

 ject, and much detriment caused to the progress of" 

 siik-culture. Even the best informed and most 

 experienced persons have yet much to learn on 

 this branch of the subject. Very few persons take 

 the care necessary to produce perfectly good eggs, 

 or know what means should be used to retard 

 their hatching afterwards, without injury to the 

 vigor of a before healthy stock. It is a remark- 

 able liict that the constitution of a diseased or fee- 

 ble brood of silk-worms will certainly be transmit- 

 ted to the next gpnerafion, even though the eggs 

 shall hatch as well as of the best. We are further 

 induced to believe that a neglected and much ex- 

 posed and sufliering brood of worms, though not 

 thereby rendered unhenlihy themselves, will lay 

 eggs which will produce only a diseased and 

 worthless progeny. Mr. Pleasants' operations in 

 this respect are conducted with a degree of care 

 and of rigor, which has been rarely if ever used 

 in this country; and not only would he reject the 

 whole of a diseased brood, but, of broods general- 

 ly healthy, first every suspected worm is rejected, 

 next every soft or otherwise inferior cocoon, and 

 finally every feeble or inferior moth, should any 

 such appear after the previous rigorous mode of se- 

 lecting the best individuals. If such care can lead 

 to the result, he will scarcely fail to reach the de- 

 signed end of securing perfectly healthy and pure 

 stocks of eggs of all of his different varieties of 

 silk-worms. He has also been conducting a 

 course of experiments in retarding the hatching of 

 eggs, in an ice-house, (the means which, by being 

 improperly used, have so often produced disap- 

 pointment and loss,) and from the results already 

 obtained, he is confident of being able to secure 

 both the desired objects, of retarding the hatching 

 to any time of the season, and yet preserve in 

 perfection the vitality and the health of the stock. 



The larger apartment at Bellona, already fitted 

 up for the regular feeding, and soon now to be oc- 

 cupied by silk-worms, is 96 by 31 feet, and will fur- 

 nish acconmiodations for -f00,000 silk-worms at a 

 time. JMr. Pleasants designs to hatch out 100,000 



