1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



613 



two persons; for the second, four; for (he third, 

 eight; lor the remaining two, Qfteen or twenty." 



Tins will make an aggregate amount of 324 days 

 necessary lor a family of this number. The 

 same writer estimates the product of this number 

 at 500 pounds, which, at present prices, cannol 

 be estimated at less than s3 a pound, after deduct- 

 ing the expense of reeling. 



If these statements are to he relied on, it will be 

 easy to calculate the nett profit, which may be ex- 

 pected from 1,000,000 worms. The, gross profit 

 being $1500, the expense of the labor is to be, de- 

 ducted. Calling this a dollar a day, which is the 

 highest it can be called, it will amount to 

 which being deducted as aforesaid, would leave a 

 nett profit of £1.176. But when the fact is taken 

 into consideration, that most of the labor can be 

 performed by bo\ s and girls, and aged women, its 

 expense will be materially diminished, and the 

 profit proportionably increased. 



From the Silk Culturist. 

 PRICE OF MAKING COCOONS. 



In most of our estimates of the profits of a mul- 

 berry plantation, we have put down the labor of 

 making silk at three-fourths of its value, and in no 

 instance less than one-half A few days since a 

 silk grower from Mansfield informed us that he 

 was readv to contract for making cocoons at $1 a 

 bushel, which is one. third of the price they are 

 now selling at the silk factory in this city. He re- 

 marked that he could furnish the help and make a 

 fair profit at that price. From this statement it 

 will be seen that foliage sufficient to make a bushel 

 of cocoons is worth, on the tree, £2.00, and ac- 

 cording to to the quantity ordinarily consumed in 

 making a bushel, one and a half cents a pound. 

 Takingthis as the basis of a calculation, a firmer 

 may readily ascertain the income he may derive 

 from this source, without interfering with his other 

 agricultural operations. The sale of mulberry 

 foliage is a very important article of traffic in Eu- 

 rope and Asia, and we have no doubt, will soon be, 

 in America. Every farmer who sets out mulberry- 

 trees will very soon derive a fair profit from them, 

 though he may not be disposed to engage in the 

 culture of silk. We hope no firmer will neglect 

 to provide in this manner, a fund from which, both 

 himself and his posterity may draw at pleasure. 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIE- 

 TY OF PENSVLVANIA. 



The second half volume of this work has recently 

 been published, and is a splendid monument of the 

 public spirit and liberality of the Society, and of the 

 individual members of whose labors it records. We 

 have learned, with more regret than surprise, that this 

 very expensive publication has exhausted the funds of 

 the Society. Compensation for even the pecuniae 

 expense of the publication was probably not counted 

 on, and will certainly not be found. But it well be- 

 comes every wealthy friend to science, and to the best 

 interests of our country, to bear a small portion of this 

 expense, and at the same time serve himself, by adding 

 this valuable work to his library. We profess not to 

 be able fully to appreciate the value of this and simi^ 



lar works, and unfortunately but few persons in Vir- 

 ginia, as yet, are much better informed on this very 

 important branch of science. But all those who are 

 as little instructed as we are, may profit well by an 

 examination of this volume, even though the benefit 

 be limited to their learning what vast and rich resources 

 such investigations may present, and how greatly they 

 are needed to bring to light the natural resources, and 

 the (as yet) dead capital of every country, and none 

 more than of Virginia. If more is wanting to induce 

 Virginians to lend such slight aid to these noble ef- 

 forts of the Geological Society, they may be present- 

 ed in the fact that a large proportion of the papers are 

 devoted particularly to the geology of portions of this 

 state, and must serve greatly to develope our mineral 

 resources and wealth. Especially, all individuals 

 concerned in coal lands, and in mining of every kind, 

 will find much interesting matter, and in many cases, 

 in reference to their own individual labors, or posses- 

 sions. It will be a laudable, though very small return 

 for important value conferred by this Society, if the 

 legislature of Virginia would purchase as many copies 

 at least as to furnish one to every College and public 

 library in the state. However small the means, this 

 and similar measures would aid the most important 

 public w rk now in successful progress, of a general 

 geological survey of Viig'nia, by fostering the growth 

 of a taste for such investigations, gaining favor for 

 them from intelligent inquirers in all parts of the state, 

 and by aiding and directing their examinations, might 

 put to work hundreds of private individuals, who 

 would gather and treas re up numerous facts, by ob- 

 servations made in advance, and yet essentially in aid, 

 of the future examinations of the geological surveyor. 



Besides other papers of general application and in- 

 terest, the following are reports on subjects belonging 

 to Virginia, and several of which required much time, 

 labor, and science to investigate, and the results of 

 which are here presented to the many who may profit 

 by these gratuitous labors. 



Memoir of a section passing through the Bitumin- 

 ous Coal Field, near Richmond. 



Analysis of some of the coal of the Richmond 

 mines. 



Notice of a geological examination of the country 

 between Fredericksburg and Winchester, including 

 the gold region 



Review of geological phenomena, &c. in two hun- 

 dred and fifty miles of sections in parts of Virginia 

 and Maryland. 



Account of travertin deposited by the Sweet Spring 

 waters (already re-published in the Farmers' Register.) 



Observations on a portion of the Atlantic Tertiary 

 region. 



We shall hereafter extract some of the portions that 

 may be found suitable to our work — though the choice 

 will be very limited, owing to the necessity of our 

 omitting the plates which are so often required for il- 

 lustration, and with which the volume of Transactions 

 is profusely and beautifully embellished. Some of the 

 most expensive plates are representations of fossil 

 bones, such as are often found by our marl digging 

 farmers, but which are rarely preserved to aid scientif- 

 ic investigations. In this manner, many persons might 

 easily aid the labors of the Society: and for this pur- 



