• FESSENDEN'S 



AND 



BeToted to the Culture of Silk, Agriculture, and Kural Economy. 



VOL. II. 



BOSTON, AUGUST, 1836. 



NO 4. 



PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY 



Of£.OK(jf£. V. tSAKKKXT, ^^ 



. • V-. I 



51 8f 52 JVorth Market St., at the JST. E. Farmer Office. 



T. G. FESSENDEN, Editor. 



Fifty cents per year — twelve copies for five dollars 

 — always in advance. 



0= Postmasters and Agents allowed 10 per cent on 

 all subscribers. 



BOSTON, AUGUST, 183G. 



(Fr«m the Northauiploa Coufler.) 



Extract from Gen. Tallmadge^s Corrtspondence. 

 CUIiTIVATION OF SII<K, &c. IN PRANCE. 



Paris, April 9, 1836. 

 " I have had the pleasure to attend, by invita- 

 tion, at two meetings of the National Institute of 

 France. It is a noble assemblage of scientific 

 men, and a source of continual benefit to the 

 public weal. A small sum, about 200 dollars, is 

 allowed by the government to each member for 

 his attendance at the weekly meetings, and for 

 which the Institute returns rnswers to the gov- 

 ernment when required, ui)on questions connected 

 with the arts and sciences, including agriculture, 

 manufactures and the kindred branches. I have 

 also attended a meeting of the Agricultural Soci- 

 ety, and was present at the awardir.g of the pre- 

 miums for the services of the la'^t year, and found 

 it not only interesting, but a fund of useful infor- 

 mation. I send you their Programme of their 

 proceedings, as also of the subjects and prizes 

 offered for the next year. This paper will afford 

 useful suggestions to the American Institute. 



The public institutions of France are open and 

 a".cessible to strangers, and are a matter of just 

 pride to the nation. The specimens in mechanics 

 are curious and useful. There is a Swede here, 

 now a denizen of France, who claims to have 

 made an essential improvement upon the steam 

 engine. His proposition is to dispense with the 

 steam boiler, fire and its attendant fixtures, and to 

 adapt to a common high presssure engine, the use 



of ammoniacal gas as i.n efficient power. It is 

 <jl|eged that this gas can be prepared in reservoirs, 

 so as to come jn |;i;)ce of fuel, ai cv oUo^^poi. i-ate, 

 with an exemption of nii danger of explosion, 

 and a great saving of the s, ace for the engine and 

 its fixtures. It is insisted there will be a saving 

 of at least one half in expense, as well as in space. 

 He has shown me his model. He has obtained a 

 patent for England, and also for France, and he 

 intends to sail in a few weeks for New York, with 

 a view to obtain a like patent in our country. 



Many questions of interest under our patent 

 laws have been propounded to me here, and, 

 among other things, it is noticed that while En- 

 gland and Frarfce open their patent privileges to 

 all the world, America limits hers to her citizens, 

 or to resident aliens intending to become citizens. 



I have visited the anatomical museums and 

 medical establishments, and attended operations 

 at the hospitals. Very many opportunities are 

 offered to naedical students ; and when we cast a 

 look, in comparison, to New York, who will not 

 breathe a sigh, that bad organization and personal 

 feuds, should have so long prevented a like grow- 

 ing institution in our city, where I insist there is 

 equal talent afid more enterprise. We have heard 

 so much pro and con in relation to Mcinsieur Se- 

 viale's new process of Lithotomy, t lat I have 

 made his acquaintance and witnessetl his opera- 

 tions on both male and female patients. The 

 sion'J was successively broken and extracted, and 

 the patirmts arose and walked away ahiiost unin- 

 jured. The operation is not often very .severe or 

 painful. I have full confidence in his improved 

 plan, and his instruments, if they are not abused 

 in conceited or unskiliul hands. I was gratified 

 to find among the spectators two or three medical 

 young men from our country. 



I send you a report of M. Bod in on the agricul- 

 ture of France. These papers demonstrate the 

 g-eat interest felt in France in the improvement 

 of its agriculture ; and it appears to be increasing 

 in its general prosperity. It is often said, that the 

 husband with his vineyard, and the wi^e with the 

 silkv orms, are at present the best sources of na- 



