P 11 A C T I C A L FARMER. 



179 



(From tlie New England Fanner.) 

 SILK CULTURE. 



Mr Fessenden: — Having recently received 

 from a valued corresponding member of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Horticultural Society at Paris, a pam- . 

 phlet, containing a report of the Committee of 

 Agriculture of the Society. for the Encouragement 

 of National Industry, on the subject of the mau- 

 ageiMcnt of silk worms, embracing various im- 

 portant facts, as exhibited in the result of a course 

 of experiments made by M. C. Beauvais, in his 

 extensive establishment near Paris, I have thought 

 that a translation of this report would be interest- 

 ing to those who are engaged in this particular 

 pursuit ; in fact, so extensive are the preparations 

 now making in various parts of our coiuitry to 

 pursue this branch of industry, that it is important 

 we should closely observe whatever is takingp lace 

 abroad in relation to it, which purports to be new. 



The valuable services remlered to the commu- 

 nity by the exertions of those meritorious individ- 

 uals who have acted as pioneers in the iniroductiou 

 of the cultivation of silk into our cout-.try, aOd 

 whose names are familiar to us all, cannot be too 

 highly appreciated ; with their continued aid we 

 need not fear but that the ingenuity of our coun- 

 trymen will arrive at the true juocess to be pur- 

 Kued under our own ciimate, and which the ven- 

 erable ami leanied M. du Ponceau has denomina- 

 ted the American System ; but it caiinot be denied 

 we are as yet, practically, in the infancy of this 

 pursuit, and it is im])ortant that we should be 

 made acquainted with the latest views and opinions 

 of distinguished men of silk growing countries on 

 the subject ; we %vant to know- the details of 

 important experiments; as well those which 

 eventuate in failure, as success ; in fact, we want 

 the whole subject before us, and when it is recol- 

 lected that this report is from the pen of the 

 distinguished chevalier Soulangc Bodin, founder 

 of the Royal Horticultural Institute of Fromont, 

 and one of the most eminent patrons of eveiy 

 branch of rural economy in Europe at tJie present 

 tlay, it will not fail to attract tile degree of atten- 

 tion which it deserves. 



The propositions presented by the conclusions 

 arrived at by M. Beauvais, under his particular 

 process of management, are, 



That tlie climate of the north of France is 

 equally propitious to the cultivation of the silk 

 worm as that of the south. 



An augtneutation of the product of an ounce 

 of seed from 50 to 55 pounds of cocoons (the 

 medium product in the south of France) to 137 

 pounds, the result of his last year's process. 



A great improvement in the quality of the silk, 

 and producing a nuicli higher marketable price, 

 and these flattering results are attributed very 

 much to a new method of ventilating the apart- 



ments, and thereby sustaining an equal tempera- 

 ture and a pure air, adapted to this purpose by M. 

 d\/lrcet, and considered an improvement on that 

 of the celebiated Count Dandolo. 



An expectation of second annual crops, about 

 to be attempted, for the success of which reliance 

 is placed on the Moms Midticaidis. 



But, as the report very frankly states, whatever 

 confidence this remarkable experiment merits, or 

 has already obtained, it must be repeated by 

 different persons, in different places, and under 

 different circumstances, to give it full weight and 

 consideration with the community at large. 

 With great. )-esj)ect, 



your obedient servant, 



El'Jah Vose, 



Dorchester, April 9, 1S36. 



REPORT 



Made to the Society for the Encouragement of 

 National Industry, by M. Soulangc Bodin, on 

 behalf of the Committee of Agriculture, on a 

 mode of managing Silk VV orms pursued by M. 

 Camille Beauvais, in the domain of Bergeries 

 de Senart, -near Montgeron, department of 

 Seine-et-M{irue. 



You have referred, gentlemen, to your commit- 

 tee of Agriculture, the examination of a letter 

 which was addressed to you the 20th of June last, 

 by M. Camille Beauvais. It brings before you 

 one of the most imyjortant questions of agricuU 

 twral economy which is agitated at the jnesent 

 day. 



In fact, among the thousand particular objects 

 of industry which your institution aids and en- 

 courages," a certain number attain gradual!}', each 

 year, degrees of perfection which you hasten to 

 prove, to reward, and to render profitable to all ; 

 and there can only be seen in these successive 

 ameliorations, the happy symptoms and the antici- 

 pated results of that great phenomenon which 

 characterises modern society, progression. Every 

 tiling advances imderthe same secret impulse, that 

 of the good of the individual, towards the same 

 apparent end, that of the general good ; and in 

 this universal movement governed by a high 

 philanthropy, each one receives quietly in his 

 turn the reward of his own efforts, under the 

 common banner of a well regulated emulation, 

 which has neither within itself, nor does it give 

 rise to any germ of discord or dissention. 



But it is not so when a question arises, embrav 

 cing one of those bold, exclusive, innovating ideas, 

 representing an entire system, which at times 

 bursts forth from ardent minds, whose natural 

 enthusiasm is supported by profound conviction, 

 and which astonishes the multitude, and tends to 

 displace some old order of things, These new 

 and arbitrary ideas, must of consequence contencj 



