138 



SILK MANUAL, AND 



" Tliat bleak coast, which 

 Hears the German ocean roar, 



Whence full-bloom'd, strong, 

 And yellow hair'd, the blue ey'd Saxon came, 



then with him, and freerlom, and Christianity, 

 uhiniately crossed the broad Atlantic, and in con- 

 formity to proptietic annunciation westward still, 

 they keep their glorious course. 



During the ages of bloodshed, desolation, anar- 

 chy and barbarism, which succeeded the over- 

 throw of the Roman Emi)ire, agriculture was 

 almost wholly abandoned, and pasturage was sid)- 

 stituted for tillage. The earliest efforts for its 

 restoration was made by the Moors in Spain, and 

 was there carried to great perfection, during the 

 period of their supremacy in that kingdom. Re- 

 mains of numerous hydraulic structures, which 

 were erected for the purposes of artificial irriga- 

 tion, so indispensible in that sultry climate, are to 

 be seen in several parts of the country, which 

 evince the intelligence and enterprise of the 

 Moorish inhabitants. Some of the most learned 

 men of that extraordinary race also wrote al»!e 

 works on husbandry, which are still preserved in 

 the royal libraries of Madrid : but after the im- 

 politic expulsion of that most enlightened and 

 industrious portion of the population, the cultiva- 

 tion of the earth rapidly declined, and has never 

 since regained its former consequence. 



The Italian States early adopted the agricultural 

 improvements wliicli had been introduced into 

 Sicily by its Saracenic conquerors. The Normans 

 and Flemings next became conspicuous for their 

 advancement in husbandry ; and after the invasion 

 of Great Britain by the ambitious sovereign of 

 the former, numerous emigrants from both of 

 those nations, soon followed, who gave such a 

 powerful iinpulsc to rural industry, that it extend- 

 ed with various success, over the whole island, 

 wliere it has finally reached a higher state of |:er- 

 fection, in all its ai)pJications, than in any other 

 country. 



Stimii'ated by tiie favorable results, which had 

 been produced in England, most of the continen- 

 tal nations were induced to attempt like ameliora- 

 tions, in tlu'ir antiquated and very imperfect modes 

 of cultivation. Scientific experiments and practi- 

 cal illustrations in the renovated art of tillage were 

 made, and beneficial changes gradually effected, 

 so far as the character of the soil, the products 

 best adapted to their various climates, and the 

 peculiar demands of )ther branches of industry, 

 might dictate or require. This spirit of im- 

 provement has continually extended, with vary- 

 ing energy and advantage, but most successfidly 

 in portions of France, Hol'and, Belgium, Ger- 

 many and the valley of the Po. 



Agricultural institutions were very generally 

 established, for the concentration and diffusion of 



information in all the departments of rural econ- 

 omy, either by the voluntary association of the 

 affluent, industrious and emulous portions of the 

 community, or in conformity to express laws and 

 royal edicts. In aid of these powerful auxiliaries, 

 botanical and horticultural societies, and experi- 

 mental farms and gardens were rapidly founded 

 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 effective 

 means for the dessimination 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 

 government for the encouragement of tillage by 

 the distribution of rewards and premiums. 



From England, our ancestors brought the the- 

 ory and practice of husbandry, whic h 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 information and 

 create a better taste in relation to a subject Avhich 

 is of such vital consequence to the United States, 

 where at least eight tenths of the inhabitants are 

 actually engaged in agricultural pursuits, and who, 

 besides supplying the entire alimentar}^ subsistence 

 of the whole |}op)dation, 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 ta over fifty 

 millions of dollars. 



[To be continued.] 



Silk for domestic purposes. — In many fam- 

 ilies, there are individuals who are in feeble 

 health, or who have had the misfortunff of a dis- 

 located or broken bone, who suffer more or less 

 in variable weather, and by languor or pains, can 

 anticipate the approaching storm with a degree of 

 accuracy that cannot be mistaken. Physicians 

 inform us, that this sensation is occasioned by the 

 escape of that portion of electricity which is abso- 

 lutely necessary for the healthy condition of the 

 body — and as silk is a non-conductor of electri- 

 city, medical writers recommend its use, in evei*y 

 possible way, as an over-dress to cotton or flannel 

 shirts and drawers. In this way it may be made 

 to prevent or alleviate pectoral or consumptive 



