82 



StLK CL'LTURE. 



each separately; the latter plan is recom- 

 mended as heing decidedly the best, as 

 there is not room for the trees to expand 

 and grow when placed so closely together. 

 Method of layering lohere the brandies 

 are taken off- — Prepare the ground with 

 neatness, and pulverize it thoroughly by 

 ploughing, harrowing and rolling; strike 

 out the furrows of the prescribed distance, 

 north and south, manure in the drill with 

 good barnyard manure, then take the root 

 with the main stem attached to it, lay it 

 down in the furrow and cover it over about 

 two inches deep. As you cover the root 

 and main stem, press down the earth light- 

 ly with the fiat jjart of the hoe, so as to 

 make the soil adhere to both. Be careful 

 to draw into the furrow none but well pul- 

 verised mould, so that the leaflet may meet 

 wiih no obstruction in its ascent to the sur- 

 face. A little care in this particular at the 

 time of planting, will save trouble and 

 ])revent loss. The roots and main stem 

 being thus planted, proceed to lay down 

 the lateral branches in the same way, and 

 cover as before directed. 



Bi/ Cuttings. — There are three ways 



becoming an object of interest throughout 

 the United States, but more especially in 

 our immediate neighbourhood is claiming 

 the serious care of the farmer, the mechan- 

 ic, and men of practical information on 

 the subject. It is a little remarkable that 

 so profitable a business as this is likely to 

 be, should have been so long neglected by 

 men of enterprise and capital. — At so early 

 a period as 1778, ladies of rank and fortune 

 in I^ondon, merely for amusement, were 

 raising the silkworm; and from 244 worms 

 one lady, without the assistance of reels, 

 actually produced one ounce and a half bt 

 beautiful silk of three colors, viz: a light 

 buff or gold color, a lovely white and an 

 apple green and this very silk was pro- 

 nounced by competent judges to be supe^ 

 rior to the Italian: and as early as 1785 

 another young lady received a silver med- 

 al for producing 5 lbs. of sewing silk from 

 30,000 worms. She also measured one 

 cocoon with critical exactness, and found 

 it 404 yards, and weight only 3 grains. 

 This same lady, in a letter to a friend, 

 says, " I got 4 oz's of silk from 1270 

 worms, and on an average 350 produce 



of propagating by cuttings, two in open ' one ounce. I frequently wound the cones 

 culture, the one"' by placing the cutting out of boiling water, placing them after- 

 down flat or horizontally in the furrow, wards on dry paper, and always found the 

 the other by giving it a vertical position, moth came to life again at its proper timej 

 at about an angle" of fortv-five degrees, heat injures the strength and glossy hue 



inclining to the north, the bud facing the 

 south — the last by starting the plants in 

 hot-beds. If the cuttings should be plant- 

 ed in open culture, two buds should be 

 used; if in hot-beds, one bud is sufficient. 



Care must be taken as the cuttings come 

 up that they be not choaked with grass 

 and weeds, and at the early part of the 

 season the safest plan will be to hand weed 

 until the plant reaches a height when it 

 may be safe to use a hoe. To prevent the 

 growth of grass or weeds, the plough or 

 cultivator may be used. 



If it were practicable to water the plants 

 before they get above the ground, in case 

 of a drought, it would be of great service 

 to them. — Manual. 



From the Pennsylvania Enquirer. 

 SILK CULTURE. 



'vVe invite attention to the following, 

 from the pen of an intelligent corresponcl- 

 ent:— 



The raising of the silk worm is not only 



of the silk, and by this process, the silk 

 may be gathered and the moth preserved; 



The one I measured had been feeding 

 only one week on mulberry leaves, and 

 the silk a little coarser. I did not find 

 noise to hurt them." The signs of spin- 

 ning in the worm, is a visible circulation 

 of the blood or glutinous matter down the 

 middle of the back, erecting themselves 

 on thier bellies, a playfulness and wasting 

 of food; when in this state they seek a cor- 

 ner and commence spinning their ball. 



The profits arising from silk are im- 

 mensely advantageous, one-fourth part of 

 the price being adjudged enough to defray 

 the whole expenses. The proper and best 

 food for ilie silk worm is in my estimation 

 to be procured from the Morus Multicau- 

 lis Mulberry alone; it is undoubtedly the 

 most valuable of the species for many 

 reasons. The tree is very vigorous and 

 UDrisht in its growth, the leaves in a rich 

 soil are large and cordiform, but in an a- 

 rid soil less size, eliptical and without the 



