878 



FARMERS' REGISTER— CULTURE OF SILK. 



manures 16 French hectares, or about 40 Enj^lish 

 acres. Many other farmers adopt the same system. 



" It is proper to state, that several intelligent 

 practical farmers oljjoct to tiiis plan ; alleging-, that 

 the dung of the farm-yard loses as much as is 

 gained by the cistern system. But those who 

 were appointed to examine Mr. Mondez's practice 

 declare, that owing to the judicious concavity of 

 the farm-yard, there was as much moisture as was 

 necessary to ferment the straw, which may be 

 effected by water alone, and repeated turnings, as 

 gardeners know well ; and it is now ascertained, 

 by the experience of the Swiss, that liquid manure 

 is the most efficacious of any, and produces a third 

 more effect than what is spread on the surface. 

 Hence, after the dung is fermented, they dilute it 

 in water, and the liquid alone is carried to the field, 

 and scattered over it. The earth immediately im- 

 bibes the liquid, which soon reaches the roots of 

 the plants, and causes a rapid vegetation; whereas 

 it is a long time before dung in a solid state fer- 

 tilizes the soil. The straw that remains after the 

 dung is thus washed, is applied as manure for po- 

 tatoes. 



" Tlie experience of Mr. Harley, who keeps a 

 great dairy near Glasgow, corroborates this doc- 

 trine. He says, ' That the advantages of irriga- 

 ting grass lands with cows' urine, almost exceeds 

 belief. Last season some small fields were cut six 

 times, averaging fifteen inches in length at each 

 cutting, and the sward very thick. The soapsuds 

 of a neighboring wash-house are applied to the 

 same purpose, with considerable advantage.' 



" The great argument for separating the urine 

 from the dung is, that it is always at the command 

 of the farmer, and can be applied in any manner 

 he thinks most advantageous. It is peculiarly 

 useful in spring, when the application of liquid 

 manure gives a new fillip to the plant, and makes 

 its growth more vigorous. The urine is much 

 improved by powdered rape-cakes, which are fre- 

 quently thrown into the cisterns." 



CULTURE OF SILK. 



From the Genesee Farmer. 



3farcellus, Sept lOth, 1833. 



Mr. L. Tucker, — I send herewith, for publi- 

 cation in the Genesee Farmer, a copy of a letter, 

 lately written by myself to a friend of mine, in the 

 county of Oneida. The subject of it is the culture 

 of silk, with reference to its general introduction 

 in this section of the country. As I have, not un- 

 frequently, addressed the readers of the Farmer 

 on the same subject, I am aware, they may accuse 

 me of bringing it too often to their consideration. 

 My apology, if apology be needed, is, that I con- 

 sider this as a subject of deep interest to the com- 

 munity. The silk-growing business is already 

 commenced, by many praise-v/orthy citizens in 

 Western New-York : it must, and 1 am sure, it 

 will, go on. Yet, in the present stage of its exis- 

 tence, while no profits are realized, and its advan- 

 tages are seen only at a distance, and perhaps 

 through a false glass, it is necessary, in order to 

 keep up the excitement, that the bellows be kept 

 constantly blowing. At the bellows, therefore, I 

 take my station, and there I hope to stand, until the 

 object is secured. 



When once Mulberry foliage shall have become 



plenty in the country, and the business of silk- 

 making, shall have assumed the attitude which be- 

 longs to it, there will be no farther need of individual 

 exertion to keep it in motion, and accelerate its 

 progress. The business will then recommend 

 itself; and, as the fire will burn spontaneously, 

 there will be no need of continuing the use of the 



bellows. DAN BRADLEY. 



Copy of a letter to Samuel Royce, Esq. of 

 Clinton Village, in the county of Oneida, on the 

 Culture of Silk, and its application to this coun- 

 try. 



Marcellus, September 9, 1833. 



Dear Sir — Since I left your hospitable mansion, 

 into which, while a sick man, it was recently my 

 good fortune to be cast, I reflected on the conver- 

 sation that passed between us, relative to the cul- 

 ture of silk, and its adaptation to the circumstan- 

 ces and condition of your family, [t appears to 

 me, that the subject, in relation only to your own 

 interest, merits greater attention than we then gave 

 to it. 



For several years, I have had the culture of silk, 

 with reference to its general introduction in the 

 United States, and especially in this section of the 

 country, under my own special consideration, and 

 iiave given great attention to the subject. Of 

 course,! have kept myself in the constant pursuit 

 of such information as might give me light in re- 

 lation to this subject. My success in this has been 

 less than I hoped it would be ; yet I flatter myself, 

 that I have acquired some knowledge of the silk 

 business, that may be useful to my fellow citizens, 

 and to yourself, and your family in particular. So 

 far as relates to nurturing silk-worms, and con- 

 verting their produce into merchantable commo- 

 dities, I yet lack the best of all knowledge, that is, 

 such as is derived from practical experience. But, 

 sir, such knowledge as I have, it will give me great 

 pleasure to impart to you, if it can do you any 

 good, or afford you any satisfaction. 



In the first place, permit me to say, the question 

 is settled beyond all dispute, that silk may be pro- 

 duced in the United States, and in Western New- 

 York particularly, to as great advantage as in any 

 part of the world. That vast quantities of it are 

 produced someivhere, we all know: and we know 

 too that tlie annual consumption of this article in 

 the United States alone, amounts in value to little 

 or nothing less than eight millions of dollars. We 

 are informed, by unquestionable authorities, that, 

 in whatever parts of tlie world the silk growing 

 business prevails, it is there considered one of the 

 most productive occupations, yielding to industry 

 a greater reward than almost any thing else. 



As my subject is vast, I must pass over it with 

 all practicable brevity. It need not be considered, 

 that there is any obstacle in the way of making' 

 silk to great profit, in the village of Clinton, or any 

 where else, within the bounds of oiir happy coun- 

 try. If, as is known to be the fact, it is a profita- 

 ble business in other countries, no reason can be 

 seen why it may not be equally so in this. In re- 

 gard to the expediency of introducing it at your 

 own premises, permit me to say, I scarcely know 

 of another private situation, at which it could be 

 introduced, under circumstances so felicitous. I 

 need not assign my reasons for thinking so. The 

 most of them will readily occur to your own mind. 



