242 



FARMERS' REGISTER— SILK— WHEAT AND INDIAN CORN, 



For any practical purpose, there is no difference 

 between these two varieties. — They are found 

 growing together. 



The following characteristics will render tliis 

 grass obvious to common observers : 



It grows in tufts or bunches, measuring about 

 two teet across and three in height ; which tufts 

 are composed of numerous branches, springing 

 from a common root, which is tuberous in its form 

 for about three inches, and terminates in many 

 small, but strong radicles. These branches, in 

 their origin, form the common root, and have a 

 peculiar arrangement ; being produced from two 

 opposite sides of the tuberous portion only, and 

 departing from it at an angle in opposite direc- 

 tions, gives to this part of the plant a tlat shape. 



The leaves which (previous to the period of 

 flowering) all issue from the root, are of a deep 

 green color, from two to three feet long, and li-om 

 one to one and a half inch wide, are shaped like 

 a blade of fodder, but are sawed or rough on the 

 edges, particularly towards the point. The leaves 

 commence in a sheath at the bottom, which in- 

 closes and covers the origin of several other in- 

 terior leaves. About the last of May, a number 

 of flower stems shoot up from different parts of 

 the bunch, and grow from three to seven feet high, 

 and terminate in one, two, or more finger-like ap- 

 pendages (called, by botanists, spikes.) The up- 

 per end of the spike, resembles a single spike of 

 the tassel of Indian corn, and has a blossom (fari- 

 na) on it. The seeds, (which vary from three to 

 six on each spike) are imbedded immediately be- 

 low this tassel, and when flowering, each has a sin- 

 gle tag, of a deep purple color, resembling the 

 silk of Indian corn. The tassel drops as soon as 

 it has shed its pollen, and then the seeds ripen, 

 one by one, and drop off. The seeds are imbed- 

 ded on opposite sides of the stem, and attached to- 

 gether, after the manner of the rattles of a rattle- 

 snake. 



The flower stem is jointed and clothed with 

 leaves, much shorter than those which proceed 

 from the root, the sheaths of which embrace the 

 stem, to within a short space of the next joint. 

 It is channelled on alternate sides like a stalk of 

 corn. When full grown, it puts out branches 

 at nearly every joint, which terminate and pro- 

 duce seeds like the main stem. 



I have been thus particular in my description, 

 to enable persons to search out this grass. I am 

 satisfied it will be the source of mucli wealth and 

 comfort, in our pine country particularly. It is 

 certainly the spontaneous product of our own state. 

 I know it grows in New Hanover, Brunswick 

 and Bladen counties, and have been informed it is 

 found in Craven and in Orange, and may, proba- 

 bly, on any of our alluvial bottoms. 



Now is the time to search for it. It is in 

 bloom and more readily identified, by the pecu- 

 liarity of the seed. When not in bloom, it very 

 much resembles some otiier grasses which are dif- 

 ferent in their nature, and not so valuable. I 

 might add much more regarding it, but again re- 

 fer your readers to the essays above referred to. 

 Very respecfuUy, yours, wm. b. meares. 



Silk i^laiiiifactwre. 



From the Boston Mercantile Journal. 



One of the most gratifying exhibitions we ever 

 witnessed is that of the silk worm in all its stages, 



with the mulberry leaves, eggs, cocoons, chrysa- 

 lis, miller, &c. together with a complete domestic 

 process of manufacture, which may be seen at the 

 Agricultural Warehouse, North Market street, 

 Boston. The machine which is there in motion 

 was invented last winter by Mr. Adam Brooks, 

 of Scituate, Massachusetts, and a patent of it, 

 which we have seen, was issued on the late 29th 

 June. It is an improvement, as it seems to us, 

 of vast importance; for unlike the Piedmontese 

 wheel, heretofore chiefly used, m hich only per- 

 formed the reeling process, it combines the reeling 

 and ttoisting J and the saving in labor is such in 

 consequence, that one hundred and fifty skeins can 

 be made in a day by one woman and a little girl 

 to turn this improved wheel, as easily as forty can 

 by the old. — This we learn from those who have 

 tried both. One of the new machines is used in 

 Connecticut, and another in New York, besides 

 those hi the family of the ingenious inventor, who 

 now devote their time in a great measure to this 

 business. 



Mr. B. is one of the Society of Friends. His 

 wife, who superintends the wheel, and has paid 

 some attention to silk making for several years, 

 had made frequent complaints of the labor lost by 

 the old machine. Her husband doubted the prac- 

 ticability of amending it, and told her so in plain 

 terms ; but went to thinking, it seems, and in 

 about three weeks produced this capital improve- 

 ment. Mrs. B. says it was formerly a very hard 

 days work to make thirty skeins : she can now 

 make one hundred in ordinary hours. 



ON RAISING GOOD CROPS OF WHEAT AKD 

 INDIAN CORN. 



From the Cohimbia Sentinel. 

 The introduction of gypsum or plaster to aid the 

 germination and growth of clover, has produced 

 nearly as great and desirable a change in farming, 

 as the introduction and use of steam has in the 

 navigation of our streams. Both have been 

 sources of the developement of powers with which 

 we were recently unacquainted, and while the one 

 has fertilized and is fertilizing our fields, the other 

 is adding to our span of life, because it enables us 

 to accomplish more. Strange as it may seem, 

 they are mutual aids ; for w hile the first causes 

 the earth to yield of her abundance, the other gives 

 a quick transit of that abundance to places from 

 whence we are to expect the most ample returns. 

 Gypsum furnishes us the means of bringing land 

 into a high state of cultivation, and producing of a 

 rapid succession of crops which are constantly im- 

 proving. Experience, the guide of the farmer, 

 has long since established the fact, that a good clo- 

 ver ley well turned under, is as sure to give a 

 good crop of either wheat or corn as it is almost 

 possil)le for the farmer to insure, with all the un- 

 certainties that are incident to his occupation, and 

 are likely to lessen his products. The addition of 

 stable manure is not considered essential to insure 

 a crop, and will hardly, on some soils, compensate 

 tiie farmer for the labor and expense of its 

 application where plaster has been freely used. 

 The point I wish to establish is this — that, with 

 suita. le management, a good crop of clover will 

 insure a succeeding one of grain, whatever it may 

 be, if the soil is carefully turned over and the tilth 

 permitted to remain undisturbed, so that it may 

 afford food for the plants that follow. But with 



