96 



SILK MANUAL, AND 



the method prescribed above, will be sufficient to 

 accomplish our purpose. 



How much, then, is to be deprecated that want 

 of zeal, which is so clearly manifested in this sec- 

 tion of the country in relation to the cultivation 

 and care of fruit trees. Providence has peculiarly 

 blessed us with the means of indulging in most of 

 the luxuries enjoyed by other sections of the globe, 

 but our apathy appearsto have created a total dis- 

 regard to her munificent blessings in this respect. 

 There is no spot on earth where most of the stone 

 fruit of other climes, could be cultivated in more 

 perfection than in this State. The diversity of 

 soil produces diversity of fruit, and although, on 

 Charleston Neck, peaches and nectarines are de- 

 stroyed by various insects, yet, all kinds of plums 

 and cherries may be raised in great perfection : 

 some of the lattL'r raised there by Mr Michel, are 

 equal in every respect to any ever produced in a 

 more northern climate. Cultivators instead of 

 importing and increasing the fine plums of France, 

 appear to be satisfied with the miserable trash 

 that grow unheeded and uncared for in thickets. 

 This negligence is reprehensible and ought to be 

 corrected. A Frenchman. 



[From the Baltimore Farmer.] 



DIRECTIONS 



FOR SOWING THE SEED AND RAISING THE PLANTS 



OF THE WHITE ITALIAN MULBERRY TREE. 



1. To SOW an ounce of seed, prepare a bed 50 

 feet long and 4 feet broad. Manure it well with 

 a compost composed of one third ashes, and one 

 third decomposed leaves from the woods, or gar- 

 den mould; dig c^ee;?, pulverise finely, and then 

 lay the bed off in drills 12 inches apart, one fourth 

 or one half of an inch deep; sow the seed astliick 

 as you would onions or parsnips; cover with rich 

 mould, press the mould down gently, but suffi- 

 ciently to cause the seed to come into contact with 

 the earth ; and should the weather be dry, water 

 the seed bed every other evening, it will assist in 

 promoting the germination of the seed and vigor- 

 ous growth of the plant. 



2. Keep the beds clean of weeds ; and should 

 they receive an occasional watering with suds or 

 soot and water, say once a week afier they are 

 up, if planted this month, August, they will be fit 

 to transplant into nursery rows in April next, or if 

 not desirable to be so removed, they may be per- 

 mitted to remain until the ensuing spring, care 

 being taken to keep the bed Clean of weeds, the 

 earth stirred and watered in dry seasons. 



3. The second year, if not removed before, the 

 plants must be removed into the nursery rows, 

 which must be prepared as for any other crop. 

 The ragged roots being taken off and the tap root 

 shortened, the plants must be planted out twelve 



inches apart in rows three feet apart, the earth to 

 be well trodden around the plant. As before, the 

 earth must be kept open and free from weeds. 



4. At two years old the plants may be planted 

 out into hedges, at 18 inches apart, in rows six 

 feet wide. The ground should be prepared as 

 before directed and some good rich mould put 

 into the holes to be pressed around the plant. If 

 intended to be planted out as standard trees, 20 

 feet square apart would be a good distance ; but 

 in that case the plants should not be transplanted 

 until they are about an inch in diameter. In ei- 

 ther case they will require trimming and topping, 

 and if kept as hedges should be treated as other 

 hedges are. Robert Sinclair, Jr. 



AMERICAN SILK. 



We have received a sample of exquisitely beau- 

 tiful silk, produced on the farm of E. Goodrich, 

 Esq. of Hartford, Conn, which we design to ex- 

 hibit at the anniversary of the State Agricultural 

 Society. The sample was reeled on the Italian 

 reel. It is worth from five to six dollars per lb. 

 A young girl, after one day's practice, can reel a 

 pound per day. 



Mr Goodrich, we believe, has planted out more 

 mulberry trees than any other person in the Uni- 

 ted States ; and while we tender to him our thanks 

 for the beautiful specimen of silk which he has 

 sent us, we cannot be unmindful of his ability, 

 nor can we doubt his willingness, to lay us and 

 the public under still greater obligations, by coui- 

 municating for the Cultivator, some results of his 

 experience and observation in the silk business. 

 Under these impressions, we respectfully solicit 

 from Mr G., in hiBhalf of the public as well as of 

 ourselves, answers to the following queries, and 

 such other information upon this interesting sub- 

 ject as he may please to communicate. 



1. Can the silk business be profitably managed 

 by the generality of farmers — or by any particu- 

 lar and what class of them ? 



2. What is the nature of the bounty offered by 

 the state of Connecticut for the cultivation cf silk, 

 and its probable advantages or disadvantages ? 



3. Does there promise to be a ready and per- 

 manent market for cocoons — and can the reeling 

 process be managed with economy and profit by 

 the cultivator ? — Cultivator. 



RAISING COCOONS. 



The Silk business will be best prosecuted in 

 this country by having it systematized as in France 

 and Italy. Raising the cocoons is one branch, 

 and not an expensive but rather a simple process. 

 Mulberry trees can be had at a trifling cost, and 

 when two or three years old, will furnish abun- 

 dant food for worms. They need occupy no 



