40 



SILK MANUAL, AND 



An additional fact in relation to the fertilizing 

 quality of lime seems to be rendered very proba- 

 ble, if not certain, by some experiments- which 

 have been recently made, in this town. A Mr 

 Moore, in digging a well, hit upon a formation of 

 soft or friable limestone, combined with fossil 

 shells of great diversity of formation. Specimens 

 were sent in different directions, and there was 

 but one opinion among those who tasted them, 

 ihat it was a limestone formation. A bed of gyp- 

 sum is very valuable. Mr Moore and his neigh- 

 bors appeared determined to believe that they had 

 discovered a valuable gypsum formation on their 

 farms. They sent wagon loads to Plaster Mills 

 and Grist Mills, and caused, what they pronounc- 

 ed gypsum, to be spread on a great number of 

 fields, during last fall and this spring. The re- 

 sults have been in every instance, that the clover, 

 wheat and spring crops have been essentially ben- 

 efited by the application ; and Mr Moore and his 

 neighbors still believe the substance which they 

 are selling as gypsum, surpasses in efficacy, either 

 the Wheatland or the Cayuga plaster. That tliis 

 forujation is equally efficacious with the plaster 

 which is generally used iu this section of the 

 '^tate, there seems no reason to doubt, and that it 

 is a limestons formation, is beyond the possibility 

 of doubt. 



It is possible that the mechanical operation of 

 grinding or pulverizing crude or unburnt lime 

 stone, renders it equally fertilizing with gypsum ? 



It appears difficult to avoid this diffi?rence. Mr 

 Moore has erected a windmill, — in digging and 

 vending what he calls plaster, iu great quantities ; 

 and the farmers, from hundreds of experiments, 

 entertain the most entire confidence in its effica- 

 cy- 



With a view of obtaining some additional facts 

 on this subject, which in its present age, is a little 

 perplexing, a person called on Mr Moore with a 

 vialof miuiatic acid in his pocket. Mr Moore 

 showed him specimens of Chittenango, Cayuga, 

 Phelpstown and Wheatland plaster — each of 

 these specimens effervesced on the application of 

 acid. This fact scenes to add to the perplexity of 

 the subject, and would appear to indicate that we 

 are using (and certainly deriving great benefit 

 from the use,) a certain description of limestone, 

 but which is not gypsum. If this is a fact, it 

 goes to confirm the idea that limestone in a pul- 

 verized state is equally fertilizing as gypsum. 



This subject is important to the farming inter- 

 est, and certainly merits further investigation. It 

 would not be difficult to erect machinery which 

 would crush the hardest limestone, and prepare it 

 for grinding in a common plaster mill. — Living- 

 ston Democrat. 



Grub or Cut Worm. — The farming interests 

 of this country, have long and ineffectually sought 

 for some mode to arrest the depredations of this 

 Worm, so destructive to the prospects of our 

 Agriculturists, in the staple article of Indian 

 Corn. 



The writer of this, is fully confident from anal- 

 ogy, that the following, if carefully adopted, will 

 perfectly secure the Corn against the influence 

 of any insect or worm accustomed to injuie it, 

 viz : 



Take one gallon of coininon fat or slush, and 

 one quart of the spirits of Turpentine, let them be 

 put together in a tight barrel, (having one head 

 out) and being well stirred, add half a bushel of ' 

 unslaeked lime. — In this condition, the lime 

 should be carefully slacked, and intimately mixed 

 with the other ingredients, and water gradually 

 added, until the barrel is full. 



Ae soon as the corn makes its appearance above 

 ground, let a portion of the mixtiu-e be applied by 

 means of a common watering pot, to the amount 

 of about a tea cup full to each hill of corn, and 

 there is scarcely a doubt but that the worms will 

 vacate the identical spot, from the abhorrence that 

 all kinds of worms have to even the very smell of 

 Turpentine. — U. S, Gaz. 



The Cut-fVorm. — We regret to learn that the 

 cut worm has discovered a keen relish for the 

 Chinese Mulberry, the superior quality of which 

 makes its introduction so desirable to our silk 

 growers. The Noithampton Courier says they 

 eat off the shoots of the young trees just at the 

 stu'face of the earth. Soot and ashes are preven- 

 tatives. — JVantucket Inq. 



Starch from Potatoes. — We are informed that 

 the manufacture of Starch from Potatoes has en- 

 gaged the attention of our enterprising neighbors 

 in Vermont, and already become an important ar- 

 ticle of commerce, it being employed to a great 

 extent by the New England cotton manufacturers 

 and calico printers, with much success, as a substi- 

 tute for wheat starch for the purj)oses of sizing and 

 finishing cloths. Its superiority over wheat starch 

 is conceded, we learn, by many of the principal 

 manufacturing establishments. It gives to fabrics 

 a more brilliant and elastic finish, requires less in 

 quantity and bears a less price ; three important 

 considerations, which we should suppose would 

 induce every manufacturer to try the experiment 

 of its use. The mode of preparation is similar to 

 that observed in wheat starch, except that it re- 

 quires a slight fermentation, which is produced by 

 exposing it to the air for a short period. — Troy 

 Whig. 



An EnglisJi clergyman, has invented anew mo- 

 tive [jower, arising from the compression of fluids. 



