888 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 16, 1828, 



to advance, not only tlie interests of agriculture, i than could be done bj a sipgle individual and ni Mr Skinner — I have taken the liberty to en- 



but those of manufactures and internal improve 

 ments, and of course the general and best inter 

 aste of our country. It cannot be doubled, that 

 there are many ore mines, coal beds, peat, marl, 

 and clay pits — granite, slate, soap-stone, and raar- 

 Me quarries, yet unknovvn or not applied, with 

 Iheir greatest efl'ect, to their legitimate uses — 

 which proper researches and examinations may 

 bring to view, and ingenuity and enterprise apply 



stranger, however well he might be qualified for close a specimen of the s:lk of this conn :y, as 



the undertaking. They would at least bo able to 

 afford great facilities to some futi.re researches, 

 which might be more strictly scientific, and ana- 

 lytical, and be prepared to be interested and pro- 

 fited by them. 



Fourlhly, It may, perliaps, be the most feasible 

 course. At present, though the science of geolo- 

 gy has made more rapid ad\ances within th« last 



to increase the wealth and gonaral prosperity ot j twenty years, than did ever any other science in 

 the country. | the same period of time, there is still, in a great 



The importance of such researches and exami- ; part of the community, almost total ignorance upon 

 nations, guided by the light of science, I know ^ the subject, and if a considerable part of the corn- 

 will not be questioned, by the gentlemen whom I j munity can be enlightened into its principles and 

 take the liberty to address ; but what is the most i „ses. it can hardly be doubted, that they will take 

 eligible method of effecting an object which all nieasures to avail themselves of the advantages 

 acknowledge to be important may be a subject of j which it ofl'ers. 



doubt. To present some definite measures, I hope I I mil here take the liberty to mention, that I 

 I shall be pardoned for the liberty of suggesting j have been taking measures for several months 

 for the consider.ition of the gentlemen of the So- | past, to collect specimens of the useful produc- 

 ciety, a plan which has appeared to me feasible tion in the mineral kingdom, and in such quanti- 



and perhaps eligiide, in the initiatory steps. 



The course, v\hicli, with some reluctance, I ask 

 permission to propose, is to take some measures 

 to diffuse through the community, and particular- 

 ly the younger part of it, a knowledge of the gen- 

 eral principles of Geology, with their application 

 to the business of the farmer, the nianul'acturer, 

 and the civil engineer. 



It is however, difficult, if not impossible, to give 

 a knowledge of this srience by books merely ; — 

 specimens ami explanations are important if not 

 essential, for a knowledge of its first elements, 

 and by the aid of these a knowledge of this 

 science, is perhaps, more easily and readily ob- 

 tained, than of^y other which is taught 



Measures to present opportunities an^ ihduce- 

 nienta to various classes of the community, and 

 among them teachers with a portion of their pu 

 pils, to hear explanations of the general principles 

 of the science, and all specimens attended with 

 appropriate descriptions, Is the plan which I beg 

 leavr to submit. 



ties as to be able to furnish sets to academies, 

 schools, societies for improi'fmcni, or individuals, 

 as they should wish to procure them. And that if 

 any arrangements can be made between several 

 towns in the same vicinity to furnish attendants, 

 I will undertake to aflTord them what little aid 

 is in my power to forward this subject of common 

 interest, and favorable alike to the pecuniary, 

 the intellectual, and the moral prosperity of the 

 country. 



The foregoing is submitted for the considera- 

 tion of the officers and members of the Massachu- 

 setts .Agricultural Society by their friend and the 

 friend of science and arts. 



To forward the introduction of this science as a 

 branch of common education, all teachers engaj^- 

 ed in schools, as the subject is offered to their at- 

 tention, are invited to a gratuitous attendance. 

 JOSIAH HOLBROOK. 



IS found in the forest. The size of the Locoons 

 struck me as being remarkable, though froin what 



I can learn, not uncommon in this com. try 



When brought to me, it was about the si/.e of a 

 hen's egg, and different from nil others that i have 

 seen, by having a husk on the outside, in M re- 

 spect similar to that which immediately enclosed 

 the worm. Between the two husks the silk was 

 extremely loose. It was brought to me by a legro 

 who said it was found upon a black multerry t 

 The cocoons are found sometimes upon the linn 

 and sometimes upon the cane. Upon the latter, 

 they are generally small, but upon the linn they 

 are mostly larger than upon th«-«iulberry. 



This part of the country abounds with the mil- 

 berry ; mostly black and red, though there are 

 many of the white. Probably four-fifths of the 

 forest mulberry are barren, but from the shape of 

 the leaf, are supposed to bo of the black species. 



I am anxious to obtain some information upon 

 the culture of silk, as applicable to this country. 

 It would give mo pleasure, therefore, to hear from 

 you upon the subject. 



Respectfully yours. 



W. U. BENTON. 



I'EACH TREES. 



" Peach trees are liable to three casualties : 



1. The fly, that deposits its egg near the root, 

 and there forms a worm. 



2. The bursting of the bark by severe frost in 

 wet winters. 



n. The splitting off the limbs at the fork of the 



The fly which is blue, (but not a wnsp.) begins 

 its attack about the middle ot'July, and continues 



its depredations until the middle of September 



It wounds the tender part of the bark, and gener- 

 ally at the surface of the ground, there depositing 

 its eggs, which hatch into worms, and prey upon 

 The foregoing plan and proposals having been I 'he mucilage and tender part of the bark; until 



' the communication between the root and the 



aid before the Trustees of the Ms. Ag. Soc. and the 



Several advantages have suggested themselves, visitors of the Professorship of Natural History, 'branches is cut off, causing the death of the tree. 

 which might probably arise from the proposed i they referred the same to John Lowell, Dr. J.Jack- 1 To guard against this, raise a little hillock in the 

 course: and, I son, and Benjamin Guild, Esqrs. The Committee j i"onth of June, round the tree, about a foot high, 



J^tVs^, It would i'urnish to the rising generation j havinn- taken the same into consideration, are of ^° ''s completely to cover that part of the bark 



a subject of instruction, calculated to enlarge their j opinion, that the instruction proposed to be given 

 minds and extend their views— an agreeable and i by Mr. Holbrook, would be of great public benc- 



healtliful exercise and amusement, in collecting 

 and examining the productions of the mineral 

 kingdom, which in various and rich profusion are 

 scattered around them, and convert their recre- 

 ations into sources of rich and lasting improve- 

 ment. 



fit. The subject is one of importance to the farm 

 ers, and manufacturers of this country, and the 

 views which Mr. Holbrook entertains of the mode 

 of instruction appear to the Committee rational 

 and just. Of Mr. Holbrook's qualifications for such 

 a task, he has produced highly respectable cvi- 



Secondhj, It would place the information arising j ([qucc : and the Committee, therefore, cheerfully 



from the examinations where it is wanted, viz 

 the possession of the people, and probable to a 

 greater extent than if they were made by an in- 

 dividual merely, though he should proceed strict- 

 ly upon the principles of science, carefully note, 

 and faithfully report, to the public the result of 

 his researches and examinations. 



Thirdhj, It is believed that the proposed course 

 though imperfect in its initiatory steps, would 

 eventually be thorough and minute. If individual 

 in various parts of the country can be induc- 

 ed and enabled to examine for thnniselves, and 

 that too in tlioir ordinary walks and journios, the 

 geology and agricnlture of the country around 

 ihem, they would have it in their power to devel- 

 9pe more fully and minute'", its natural resources, 



recommend to the citizens of this State, the en- 

 couragement of this gentleman in his laudable ef- 

 forts "to diffuse through the community, and es- 

 pecially the younger part of it. a knowledge of 

 the general principles of Geology with its appli- 

 cation to the business of the farmer, the manufac- 

 turer, and the civil engineer." 



Per order of the Committee, 



JOHN LOWELL, Chairman. 



From the American Farmer. 



SILK. 

 [Every fact upon this subject is interesting, and 

 here are some new ones, shewing the spontaneous 

 growth of the worm and its food, and the uncom- 

 mon size of their cocoons, in Mississippi.] 



kept moist and tender at the surface of the ground. 

 This hillock will not stand so long at one height, 

 as to tender the bark above, as the rain will grad- 

 ually wash it down level with the surface, and it 

 must be raised again every summer." 



To take out the worm, the roots must be uncov- 

 ered, and the spot looked for where the gum ooses 

 out : follow the cavity round with the point of a 

 knife, until you come to the solid wood, and lay 

 the whole open : the worm will be found with a 

 white body and black head ; which must be des- 

 troyed, and the holes carefully filled up with cow- 

 manure rendered adhesive by sand or lime core 

 and ashes, as directed by Forsyth. 



Soap-suds heated after a family wash, and pour- 

 ed on the roots of the trees about the middle of 

 August, has been used with success in destroying 

 the eggs, or the young worm. 



According to Mr John Ellis of New Jersey, tli< 

 injury arising from the worm may he prevented ir, 

 the following way : 



In the spring, when the blossoms arc out, c'ea- 

 away the dirt .so as to expose the root of the tree 

 to the depth of three inches ; surround the trer 

 with straw about three feet long, applied length 



