vol.. XlII. NO. 43. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL 



339 



I consider it as a fact dcnionstrated, that our 

 soil and climate is genial to the growth of the 

 mulberry tree, and the culture of silk. Trees of 

 this description are already growing and flourish- 

 ing in various parts of the State, and I presume 

 that tlie location of this State from Skeneatales 

 to Lake Erie, is peculiarly adapted to the mulberry 

 from the fact that the most delicate fruit trees 

 come to great perfection within that region. 

 Since 1760, the silk worm has been reared in 

 Windham county, Connecticut, which is about 

 the latitude of Albany. The culture of silk has 

 been successfully prosecuted in that county, and 

 it has reached to a large amount. The following 

 is an extract from the Daily Advertiser of the 15tli 

 instant : " American Silk. — Raw Silk, we learn 

 from the Burlington Free Press, has been produ- 

 ced this year in IMansfield, Connecticut, to the 

 amount of over .$60,000. The county of Wind- 

 ham, Connecticut, produces five tons of silk an- 

 nually, valued at $500,000, and if reeled would be 

 worth double that sum." If this be true, and 

 that it is substantially true I fully believe, the ques- 

 tion is settled that the soil and climate of this 

 State is genial to the culture of silk. It settles 

 also another question, that it is much the most 

 profitable business that can be undertaken. 



We have the testimony of Mr D'Homergue, a 

 man born at Nismes, in France, and brought uj), 

 from infancy, to the reeling and manufacture of 

 silk, and who came to this country on the recom- 

 mendation of the late James Brown, then Minister 

 in Paris, who asserts in his essays, that he was 

 surprised to find the American silk superior in 

 quality, and the quantity yielded by the cocoons, 

 to any he ever saw. But, my dear sir, could you 

 have seen specimens of American silk exhibited in 

 this city a few days since, manufactured by Mr 

 Gay, all doubt would be removed. These speci- 

 mens were pronounced by the many who saw 

 them, to be equal, if not superior, to any silk 

 which had ever been seen here. 



Now, sir, what are the impediments to be over- 

 come, in introducing the culture of silk extensively 

 in this State ? And here let me observe that there 

 is no danger of overdoing the business; there will 

 always he a demand in England for all we can 

 raise beyond our own wants ; where, from the 

 humidity of the climate, or other causes, the silk 

 worm is not reared. 



It is necessary to devote a small space of good 

 and fertile ground, as a nursery in which to sow 

 the seeds. It is computed that one ounce of seed, 

 properly sown, after the ground is thoroughly 

 ploughed, or dug and harrowed, or raked and 

 sown, in drills, at about three feet apart, will give 

 ibout five thousand young trees. They require 

 to be kept free Irora weeds and injury from cat- 

 tle. At two years of age, they are generally fit 

 For placing in an orchard, at the distance of from 

 seven to twelve feet, at right angles — and here the 

 abor of man terminates. All the subsequent cul- 

 ure may be conducted by women and children. 

 They pluck the leaves, and feed and tend the 

 ivorms until the cocoons are formed ; so that you 

 Jerceive the culture of silk detracts nothing from 

 igriculture. 



The greatest embarrassment, hitherto, has been 

 he extracting or reeling the silk from the cocoons. 

 The reels of France and Italy, and indeed of all 

 )arts of the world, receive the thread, which con- 

 iists of the fibres of several cocoons, according to 

 he requirement of tlie fabric to be made, in skeins, 



which must be spooled before it can be twisted. 

 Two of our countrymen, Messrs Gay and Mosely, 

 have invented a reel which receives the thread on 

 spools, and thus the labor and wastage of the old 

 process is avoided. Mr Gay assures me that an 

 ingenious woman can be taught, in a short time, 

 to reel, on his reel, with great perfection. A great 

 advantage of reeling on spools consists in its safe 

 and easy carriage any distance without injury. 

 We have, therefore, surmounted the most difficult 

 process in the whole operation. 



These gentlemen have also employed the sev- 

 eral machines in use in France and England in 

 the manufacture, .so that it will rerpiire but a com- 

 paratively small capital to establish manufactories 

 of silk in this coimtry. 



When we consider how admirably adapted to 

 silk are County Poor-house establishments; how 

 the wants of the poor may be mitigated by induc- 

 ing them, also, to enter on the culture, by obtaining 

 leaves of the mulberry from their rich neighbors; 

 how the middle classes of society may improve 

 their condition by entering on the culture of silk; 

 I feel, I confess, a strong desire to be able to per- 

 suade people to lose no time in laying the founda- 

 tion of their culture, by immediately setting about 

 it hi earnest, and not to let anything hinder them 

 from sowing the mulberry in the manner indicated 

 this spring. 



The morus alba, or white mulberry, I am satis- 

 fied is the most proper for making the best silk ; 

 the purple mulberry, which is indigenous to some 

 parts of our country, although it will make silk, 

 yet it is not of as good a quality. The morus mul- 

 licaulis, or Chinese mulbeiry, has recently been 

 introduced into this country, but it is api)rehended 

 that it will not withstand our rigorous winters ; 

 and as the common white mulberry will withstand 

 them, and make excellent silk, I should not recom- 

 mend the propagation of the Chinese. 



I forbear saying anything on the mode of rear- 

 ing the worm. I am satisfied that it does not 

 require the care and pains to i-ear it in this country, 

 which the precepts of Count Dandalo would im- 

 ply. In due time, instructions will be given level 

 to every capacity. May I not count on your co- 

 operation in this most imjiortant subject. 

 With sincere respect and esteem, 



Yours, A. Spencer. 



To S. M. Hopkins, Esq. Geneva, Ontario Co. 



GARDENERS' WORK FOR MAY. 



[By T. G. F.— From the llonicultural Begisier.] 

 Frdit Gakden and Orchard. — Now, is perhaps, 

 the most suitable time in the year for pruning trees. The 

 period immediately before, or commensurate with the 

 rising of the sap is to be preferred for this operation. If 

 however, pruning is commenced when the tree is young, 

 and is properly and seasonably attended to, it will rarely 

 be necessary to take off a large limb, and small limbs, if 

 cut close and smooth may betaken off at any season. 

 The time of the year for grafting, as well as pruning, is 

 when the sap of the stock has begun to move in the 

 spring, and just before the bud has unfolded. For di- 

 rections see New American Gardener, p. 143. Water 

 newly planted fruit trees, if the weather boat all dry. 

 Give water so copiously as to reach the roots, and some- 

 times water the tops as well as the roots. To preserve 

 the earth moist about the roots of trees recently planted, 

 it has been recommended to place about them some 

 litter from the stables, or the shives of flax, over which 

 may be placed a httle loam or inverted sods to keep the 



shives or litler from being blown away by wind. These 

 will keep the ground moist beneath them, especially if 

 watered now and then. With a syringe, or garden en- 

 gine, sprinkle or shower your fruit trees with soap 

 suds, or a weak alkaline solution at le^st once, better 

 twice a week during all the earlier part of the season. 



Attack insects by sprinkling over the plants infested 

 by them, by means of a syringe, watering pot, or garden 

 engine, simple water, soap suds, decoctions of tobacco, 

 of elder, &c. &c. 



The borders and surface of the ground in general 

 where fruit trees grow, should be kept very clear from 

 weeds by the application of a sharp hoe, in a dry day, 

 and as soon as hoed, rake off all the weeds and carry 

 them to the compost bed, or bury them beneath rows of 

 plants instead of permitting them to dry and waste away 

 in the open air. 



ViNEvARD. — Where suckers from the roots or shoots, 

 from the under part of the stems of grape vines appear 

 let them be carefully and immediately stripped off. Wdst 

 of the work if attended to in due season, may be done 

 by hand, but where that will not answer, you may now 

 use the knife with safety if vegetation is well advanced ; 

 for although these plants bleed profusely eariy in spring 

 when destitute of leaves, yet when the foliage is fully ex- 

 panded the e.-shalation carries off the fluid or it is expen- 

 ded in the growth of the plant, and it will, therefore, not 

 escape from a wound made in pruning. 



All the shoots which bear fruit, and those which are 

 suitable for next year's bearing, when grown sufiiciently 

 long, should be carefully tied up to stakes. It will 

 not, at this time be advisable to undertake to hoe or 

 plough the ground between the vines, lest the blossoms 

 or young shoots should be injured. But after the vines 

 have been tied up, towards the end of this or the begin- 

 ning of the next month, clear the ground thoroughly of 

 weeds either by the hoe, plough or cultivator. 



Nursery.— Attend to destroying weed before their seeds 

 are ripened. " Weeds should never be suffered to grow 

 between rows of trees, &c., for these rob them of a great 

 portion of the necessary nourishment ; nor should you 

 for the same reason ever plant there any kitchen vegeta- 

 ble, as is practised by some unskilful and slovenly persons. 

 '* The seed-beds of all young trees and shrubs, should 

 now in particular be kept remarkably free from weeds, 

 and this must always bo done by a very careful hand 

 weeding." — M'Mahun. 



Look to vohb grafted trees. — Loudon says, ■' In 

 a month after grafting it may be ascertained whether 

 the scion has united with the stcok, by observing the 

 progress of its buds ; but, in general it is not safe to re- 

 move the clay for three months or more, till the graft is 

 completely cicatrized." Those which are not well 

 united may have the bandage slackened and fresh clay 

 applied as at first; or the clay and composition may be 

 applied without the bandage in order to preserve tlie 

 wounds from the weather. Seedlings in pots and tubs 

 of the most delicate plants should now be kept in the 

 shade, in the middle of the day, but allowed the morning 

 sun till nine or ten o'clock, and that of the afternoon, 

 after four ; they must be frequently watered and kept 

 free from weeds. 



Flower Garden. — First week. Sow all kinds of 

 annuals and on fine days give plenty of air to the tender 

 plants advanced under glass. Towards the middle and 

 latter end of the month put out balsams, cypress vines, 

 amaranthus, and other flowers intended for especial culti- 

 vation, replacing them under the glass, and shading them 

 the first few days, until the new fibres have taken hold 

 of the earth. Destroy all appearances of weeds in the 

 flower beds. 



