VOL, XIV. NO. «3. 



AND 



GARDENER'S J O U R N A I. . 



1 



171 



inforiiiation in nil tlio (Icpiiiiiiionts of rural icoii- 

 omy, either liy the vohiiit.irv nssociiilion of tlio 

 afllucnt, industrious and oimdous portions of the 

 coninuinity, or in conformity to express laws and 

 royal edicts. In aid of tliese powerful auxiliaries, 

 botanical and horticultural societies, and experi- 

 mental farms and gardens were rapidly founiled 

 from London to Naples, and from Paris to Mos- 

 cow. 



The proceedings of these numerous treasuries 

 of knowledge, and seminaries of mutual instruc- 

 tion, being published in the form of reports, or 

 periodical journals, whatever useful discovery is 

 made or interesting fact announced in any part 

 of the large region included within the circle of 

 their influence, soon becomes known in all the 

 others. In addition to all these very eflective 

 means for the dissiniination of intelligence, funds 

 have been provided by the contributions of the 

 members of the several corporations, the generous 

 bequests of individuals, and the munificence of 

 govenuuent for the encouragement of tillage by 

 the distribution of rewards and premiums. 



From England, our ancestors brought the the- 

 ory and practice of husbandry, which there pre- 

 vailed at the period of their adventurous expatria- 

 tion ; but the progress of improvement here, has 

 not kept pace with that of the parent country. 

 Latterly however, honorable and very successful 

 exertions have been made to awaken a more 

 zealous spirit, diffuse greater infonuation and 

 create a better taste in relation to a subject which 

 is of such vital crusequence to the United States, 

 where at least eight tenths of the inhabitants are 

 actually engaged in agricultural pursuits, and who, 

 besides supplying the entire alimentary subsistence 

 of the whole population, a large portion of the 

 clothing and other articles of comfort and luxury, 

 furnish more than three quarters of the native 

 products of exportation, amounting to over fifty 

 millions of dollars. 



[To be concluded in our nest.] 



THE SILK -WORM. 



There is neither perplexity nor mystery in the 

 art of rearing and managing this extraordinary 

 insect. We propose to prove this position by an 

 appeal to the most popular treatises extant — re- 

 lying on those oidy which are best adapted to the 

 circumstances of our own coimtry. The works 

 which we consider most entitled to faith in the 

 premises, are Kenrick's Guide, of which we have 

 already spoken — and Cobb's Manual, piddished 

 two years since by order of the Legislature of 

 this Commonwealth. 



We learn from these sources, that in six weeks 

 the vegetable substance of the mulberry leaf is 

 converted into silken threads, by the operations of 

 the silkworm. The eggs, whence the maggot 

 proceeds, when first deposited, are of a pale yellow 

 hue, in size smaller than grains of ordinary beach 

 sand. In the course of four days, those which 

 are likely to produce, assume a sort of lilac, or 

 deep slate color — those whicli exhibit no change 

 of shade, are unproductive, and of no value. 

 Until preparations are made for supporting the 

 worm, the egg should be pi-eserved in a dry cellar, 

 inclosed in a box made tight, suiticiently safe from 

 the depredations of vermin, and from the moul- 

 dering effects of moisture. 



In the latter part of May, or beginning of June, 

 when the mulberry leaf puts out, the eggs of the 

 silkworm may be subjected to the process of 



halchiug, if the wcallicr be not cold and dauif). 

 The I apcrs upon which the eggs have been lodg- 

 ed by the parent nioth, may be placed on tables 

 or hurdles in a warm room, having a southern 

 aspect, but not direct y exposed to the sun's rays. 

 In a few days, according to the temperaHuv, the 

 eggs will turn somewhat |>ale ; when then; should 

 be laid over them sheets of white paper, riddled 

 by means of a knitting needle, and bent up at the 

 edges, that the young brood may not escape. 

 Over these sheets, lay a few twigs of the mulber- 

 ry, containing the young leaves. 'I'owards these, 

 the insects will be attracted, and will at once 

 commence feeding. Fresh leaves, finely cut up, 

 should now be administered three or four times a 

 day. 



On the fourth day, the insects will have i)assed 

 what is commonly deemed the first stage of their 

 existence — at which time they become torpid, 

 and must be allowed to rest. During this stage, 

 the litter which they occasion, should be twice 

 removed. They remain inactive three or four 

 days, when they awake with an increased appe- 

 tite; more food, less delicately prepared, must 

 then be supplied, and their litter oftener removed. 

 Another change, or moulting, preceded also by 

 a state of torpitude, occurs on the thirteenth or 

 fourteenth day. Hurdles of coursely woven 

 twine may be placed above them, overlaid with 

 leaves, to which they will resort, leaving their 

 litter to be easily removed — an operation which 

 shou'd now be daily performed. 



Having reach'd the fourth stage, the worms are 

 commonly of a light flesh color. They now eat 

 ravenously, and consume the fullest grown leaves 

 in large quantities. They require feeding, in this 

 stage, night and day — and their product of silk 

 is increased in pro|)ortion to their supply of food, 

 and their ability to devour it. It is important to 

 the health of the worm, that cleanliness, and a 

 pure atmosphere be always maintained, especially 

 in this stage. 



When the insects are ready to commence spin- 

 ning, or forming cocoons, they manifest an appa- 

 rent restlessness, and frequently are seen wander- 

 ing over the untasted leaves and reaching upward^. 

 This period ordinarily arrives in about one month 

 after the hatchiilg. The worms are then usually 

 more than three inches long, and nearly transpar 

 ent. Brush, broom corn, or other convenient 

 means for climbing should be placed for their 

 accommodation. They soon ascend and enter 

 upon their final labor, whereon they emplo}' them- 

 selves without cessation for four or five days, 

 when the cocoon is completed, the laborer remain- 

 ing within, and changing to the chrysalis state. 



A fortnight afterwards, a little light gray moth 

 emerges from the coccoon, and without taking food 

 at all, for the space of thirty or forty hours, pro- 

 ceeds to lay its eggs, three or four hundred in num- 

 ber, arranged circularly, and closely adhering to 

 papers prepared for the purpose. The moth 

 exists, but a few hours after having thus made 

 provision for a new generation. 



Ther3 are numerous details, of course, con- 

 nected with the treatment of this wonderful and 

 interesting insect, which we have neither time 

 nor space herein to specify. But we liave j#e- 

 sented a sufficiently geneial view of the subject, 

 to satisfy the reader that- there is but very little 

 intricacy or difficulty in the matter. Those who 

 may determine, practically, to pursue the inquiry, 

 we will engage, shall be furnished with all neces- 



s.iry iulbrmation at a very trifling expense. Our 

 only design in the puf'sent article, bt?ing to dispel 

 doubts touching the ease and facility of transform- 

 ing the mulberry leaf into silk, we have herein 

 abstained from entering into particidars respecting 

 the natural history of the worm, the ap|)earance 

 and i)reparation of the cocoon, &.c. &c. all, or ■ 

 any of which, shall be cheerfully conununicated 

 to those who may need them for cxjierimental 

 purposes JVantucket Inquirer. 



BiTCiMiNons COAL. — In an article in a late num- 

 ber of Sllliman's Journal, it is stated, that great 

 an<l valuable as are the anthracite deposits in 

 Pennsylvania, her bituminous coal region is still 

 more extensive and inexhaustible. The Allegha- 

 ny mountains form the dividing line between these 

 two species of coal, or between the transition and 

 secondary formations. It is there stated : — " The 

 bituminous coal beds vary from one foot to twelve 

 feet in thickness, but rarely exceed six feet. — 

 They lie in nearly horizontal strata, with about 

 sufficient dip to free the mines from water, some 

 hills contain three and four beds, with alternate 

 layers of earth and slate, and rest between a firm 

 and smooth slate roof and floor. Faults or trou- 

 bles are seldom met with, and in this they differ 

 frotn the anthracite, and go far to confirm the 

 opinion, that all this vast extent of secondary rocks 

 was once the bottom of the great lake or sea, and 

 that it suffered little, if any, interruption from the 

 gradual discharge of its waters, through its distant 

 and widely extended boundary." 



New England Tobacco. It is surprising- to 

 see the great quantity of tobacco that is constantly 

 arriving from the Connecticut river. The Bunker 

 Hill brought down, last trip, fully equal to fifty 

 hogsheads. We learn that it is not only cultivated 

 extensively along the banks of the Connecticut 

 river, but that it commands a much higher price 

 than any other American Tobacco. — jV. Y. Daily 

 Advertiser. 



Mice. A farmer, of Beame who kept his corn 

 on an unbearded floor, found it con.stantly de- 

 voured by mice. To remedy this, he plunged a 

 number of earthen jjots into the earth, all round 

 the heap of corn ; he filled them half full of water, 

 and, being varnished withinside, when the mice 

 came to drink they slipped in and were drowned. 

 In the space of two months he thus destroyed 

 14,-500. 



Gentlemen : — This being the season in which 

 the Ague and Fever generally prevails, I think 

 you will serve the cause of humanity by publish- 

 ing the following recipe, which was brought to this 

 city by a respectable gentleman now deceased. 



JIlXTURE FOR THE CURE OF AgUF- AND FeVER. 



Take three drachms of Yellow Bark, six table 

 spoonfuls of Port Wine, two table spoonfuls of 

 French Brandy, and the juice of a lemon ; mix them 

 together, and take a table spoonful three times a 

 day when the chill and fever are off, until the 

 whole mixture is taken. 



The above is a simple mixture that can injure 

 no person, and is worth a trial. It has not been 

 known to fail where it was properly used. 

 Respectfully, yours, 

 V EoM. F. Brow.v. 



[JVational Intelligencer. 



