30 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



August 18, 1826. 



part ot'tiioltiijoai may be performed Dy women and 

 children. The quantity of silk manufactured in 

 Mansfield in 1825, was about 300 pounds, valued 

 at $15,000. The last year was not considered an 

 average one ; the extreme hot weather killed a 

 great many worms. 



We learn from the "Bulletin dcs Sciences" that 

 the British East India Company first planted mul- 

 berry trees in Bengal, and encouraged the culture 

 of silk worms, about the year 1780 ; and that the 

 business has so much extended in that province 

 that the export of silk for some years past has 



been not far from a million of pounds annually. 



In 1821 the quantitycxported was 1,057,000 pounds- 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



BOSTON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1826. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL 

 REPOSITORY. 



The last number of this Journal has just come 

 to hand. It contains valuable original articles 

 from the pen of Mr. Lowell, and judicious selec- 

 tions from various sources. The following are its 

 contents. 



" The raising of the Silk Worm, and the pro- 

 duction of Silk in Massachusetts. 



" On the change, or the supposed change in the 

 character of Fruits, by the farina of other varieties 

 of the same Fruits, in the same year in which the 

 intermixture is made. 



" Some remarks on the destructive powers of 

 ihe Rose Bug. 



" On tlie longevity, or duration of varieties of 

 Fruits. 



"Review of the third volume of the " Memoirs 

 of the Board of Agriculture of the State of New- 

 \ork. 



" Betached hints from the New-York Agricul- 

 uiral Journal with remarks. 



" On the effect of stirring the surface of the 

 Earth, as a relief against drought." 



We shall take the liberty to transplant the last 

 article without further delay into our field. We 

 think that it settles a disputed and important point 

 in husbandry in the manner and on the basis 

 which good husbandmen could wish it might be 

 established. The theory we think is correct, in- 

 genious, well illustrated, and confirmed by the on- 

 ly conclusive test actual experiment. 



^N THE EFFECT OF STIRRING THE SUR- 

 FACE OF THE EARTH, AS A RELIEF 

 AGAINST DROUGHT. 



This is a trite subject, and one, which we are 

 aware has been long since settled by intelligent 

 cultivators in all countries. It is very familiar to 

 gardeners, and the cause of the superior produc- 

 tion of gardens over field culture may be attribut- 

 ed in part to the more frequent application of the 

 hoe and the spade. Yet it is true, that a -very 

 great number of farmers deny the proposition, and 

 disapprove the practice. They think it dangerous 

 to plough and hoe, in the time of extreme drought 

 and heat, while our own experience of 20 years 

 has convinced us, that it is much superior as a 

 remedy, against drought than watciing in the lim- 

 ited manner, in which that must always be applied. 

 There has never been a season in our memory in 

 which there was a greater necessity for tlie appli- 

 cation of all remedies against drought than the 

 preser.t. The drought was not only of loDcer du- 



ration, but it took place, when plants were the 

 least able to resist it, not having sent their roots 

 in quest of nourishment far, wide, and deep. The 

 early foliage, also, is more tender, and more liable 

 to wilt under a scorching sun and a drying wind. 



In this extraordinary season, I had a small patch 

 of early potatoes planted in a warm and sandy soil 

 purposely to procure an early crop ; the soil was, 

 at least, three quarters pure sand, mixed with some 

 food for plants among the sand. The severe 



drought threatened a total loss of the crop. The persuaded, that every farmer will find that t 



potatoe stalks were feeble, drawn up, scarcely 

 larger than goose quills, and I expected every day 

 to see them wither; all hopes of a crop were a- 

 bandoned. I thought, that they were the fair sub- 



ries, I always distrust them, I look only to tactf 

 and having observed that a slight covering of ha 

 an inch of sea weed would preserve my strawbel 

 ries from drought, which can only arise from i| 

 lying so loose on the surface, I have been led | 

 infer, that the undoubted /act, that soil in a loci 

 pulverized state resists drought, is owing to tt 

 same caust, to wit, the slowness with which t i 

 heat of the solar rays is communicated to t l 

 roots. But be the theory sound, or unsound, I si 



free use of his plough, and hoe, in times of seveB 

 drought, will be of more value to him than u 

 much manure, as that labour would purchase. ^ 

 have been always convinced from my expericn 



jects of a desperate experiment. On one of the ' as an horticulturist, that the great secret of cul 

 hottest, and driest days, I gave them a thorough ■ vation consists in making the soil porous, 

 ploughing, passing the plough four times, through ' raising exotic plants, we know it to be true, ai 

 eaeh row ; first ploughing two furrows from the ' our flower pots are always supplied with soil, t 

 hills, as near the roots as possible, without throw- j most porous, which we can obtain. The fariri, 

 ing out the seed potatoes, and then returning the ' may borrow light from an occupation, which ,; 

 loam, or earth, instantly back by two other fur- looks upon with disdain, but which serves to elu- 

 rows. No rain intervened for ten days. In three date and e.xplain the secrets of vegetation. J. L 

 days after, the potatoes changed their colour, they 

 started afresh, as if they had received the benefit 

 of ample showers, while not a drop of rain had 

 fallen. 



The dews, which were abundant, settled upon 

 the new turned earth, while, beforo the ploughing, 

 no moisture had been apparent. 



The last fact, though it cannot have escaped the 

 notice of the most careless cultivator, has not been 

 as yet explained. We can easily sec, that a soil, 

 rendered porous, would more readily and easily 

 convey its moisture to the roots. It becomes, like 

 a sponge, and is readily permeable, or rather read- 

 ily permits tlie moisture to pass between its parti- 

 cles. But it is not yet understood, why it attracts 

 the moisture. Perhaps, however, this may be ow- 

 ing to its presenting a much greater surface to 

 the moist air of the night. The fact, however, 

 which is what most concerns us, is settled. Per- 

 haps some of the experiments of our distinguished 

 countryman, Dr. Wells, a physician of London, 

 who rendered himself distinguished by his remarks 

 on dew, may tend to explain this fact, though it 

 is not my purpose, now to examine the theory. 



Every man, who feels an interest in the ques- 

 tion, can satisfy himself, at once, by stirring a 

 small piece of earth, in a time of severe drought, 

 and if he does not find it in the morning more fill- 

 ed with moisture, than tbff undisturbed ground in 

 its vicinity, let him continue a disbeliever. 



But there is another mode, and it is one, wliich 

 I have never seen suggested, by which I appre- 

 hend the stirring of the surfaee, and making it 



PRESERVATION OF CUCUMBERS FQli 

 PICKLES. 



Mr Fessendf.n — In your first number of I 

 present volume, page 3, a query is made as to 1 

 best mode of preserving cucumbers for pickles. 

 The writer of this does not pretend that he 1 

 found out the best method ; but will state a pr 

 tice that has given satisfaction to himself ! 

 friends. Put cucumbers immediately after ga 

 ering them into a tight, clean barrel, with a si 

 ciency of salt, when melted to cover them. In 

 same manner proceed till the barrel is filled, h 

 ing salt with every additional parcel, and keepi 

 the cucumbers immersed in the pickle ; for 

 suffered to float will rot immediately. When pi* 

 les are wanted for use, take a sufficient quant" 

 put them in a clean barrel or tub, in a cool, but 

 a freezing place, and pour tlirce times the qua 

 ty of boiling water to them, and let them st 

 twenty-four hours. Then pour off this water, 

 add as much more boiling hot. Proceed in 

 same way a third time, and the cucumbers wilttfP"' 

 green, plump and hard, and fit for the vinegar 

 other seasoning. 



H. C. in the query alluded to above, compU '"I 

 that cucumbers preserved in salt, soften in fqi 

 ening. This is true, when only warm, instead 

 boiling hot water is used, and perhaps they 

 left standing in a warm place, and the water 

 changed. Either of tiiese errors will injure 

 pickles. 



The writer of this has practised pickling cue 

 light and porous, is beneficial iin great droughts, hers as above, upwards of twenty years : and 



It is this ; light porous bodies are bad conductors 

 of heut; perhaps because they have more air be- 

 tween their interstices. The facts are familiar to 

 us. Metallic bodies acquire an intense heat under 

 the rays of the sun, so do stones in proportion to 

 their density. The earth, when very compact, 

 will become exceedingly hot. but garden loam, 

 which is very porous, remains cool at noon day, 

 two inches below the surface. I believe, tlieru- 

 fore, that moving the surface, and keeping it in a 

 light and porous state, enables it to resist tite heat 

 of the sun's rays, that the air betvveen the parti- 

 cles of earth communicates the heat more slowly, 

 than the particles themselves do, when in close 

 contact. 



<!l 



had them teniyears old, perfectly good. Thus 

 seasons of scarcity, the provident family may ur 

 fully supplied, from former years of plenty. E 



P. S. Another query is now submitted. It 

 been stated by many credible people, that t 

 have eaten excellent pickles, made without * 

 or cider-vinegar ; but preserved in a'mixture 

 N. E. rum, molasses and water. Will some j 

 son, acquainted with the due proportion of 

 above articles, state tlie same in your useful paf imy 

 It is also said, that good vinegar has been mad( 

 the above articles. Will some gentleman have 

 goodness to give the public tlie art of making \ 

 egnr, without wine or cider? 



i[The above is from a person of respectability,! 

 wp-doubt not may be relied on Editor.] 



k 



