VOL.. XV III, NO. 6. 



AND HORTI-'CULTURAL REGISTER. 



49 



our negligence here, in not preserving the due 

 proportion ol barren and fertile plants. 



This peculiarity in the blossoms is very little 

 known or understodd, even among scientific culli- 

 vaters. It was first pointed out to us by our es- 

 teemed friend, N. Longirortli, Ksq., of Cincinnati, 

 one of our most distinguished Western horticultu- 

 rists. Its truth we have repeatedly verified, .Tnd a 

 slight examination will convince any person of the 

 cause of the numerous worthless yet thritty looking 

 strawbe-ry beds throughout our gardens. 



The finest of the large English varieties of this 

 fruit which we cultivate here is the Bishop's. It is 

 remarkably large, a most abundant bearer, and of 

 superior flavor. Many of the larger berried sorts, 

 as the Methveu Castle, have been hollow and com- 

 paratively tasteless, though of uncommon size. — 

 This variety, however, appear to us to unite all 

 that can be desired, to constitute a truly fine and 

 delicious strawberry. a. j. d. 



Silk. — Incredulity as to the possibility of rais- 

 ing silk in this country, must, we should think, 

 give way, if facts have any force. It has long been 

 contended by gentlemen who have investigated the 

 matter, that silk might be as easily raised here, 

 and of as good quality, as any where in Europe. — 

 Every experiment, judiciously conducted, has prov- 

 ed the truth of this conviction. We have now al- 

 most before our eyes while we write, another dem- 

 onstration of the practicability of the silk culture 

 in our climate. Dr Deane, of this village, has in 

 the course of rearing, about 40,000 silk worms. — 

 This we believe is the first attempt in this town. 

 Some of his brood have spun their cocoons, a part 

 of which have been reeled and made into very 

 beautiful raw silk. The reeling was performed on 

 a common reel, by a young gentleman, as a tempo- 

 rary amusement. We advise all who are curious 

 in the matters, to call at the doctor's. They will 

 probably see specimens of the business from half to 

 full grown worms ; feeding and winding cocoons, 

 together with cocoons ready made, and the raw 

 silk procured from those that have been reeled. 



There can be no doubt that the silk business is 

 a profitable one when properly managed. In the 

 first place it is entitled to a bounty of 10 cents a 

 pound on cocoons and a dollar a pound for reeled 

 or raw silk, wiiich is about equivalent to two dol- 

 lars a pound, where one person raises and reels the 

 cocoons — and tliis will just about pay the expense 

 attending it. The market price is about five dol- 

 lars a pound, which will be mostly elear profit. — 

 What better business than this can a man find ? — 

 Greenfield Mercury. 



ing, a worthless intruder that occupies the ground 

 exclusively where it spreads, and that is rapidly, 

 when it is once allowed a foothold. See that this 

 weed is cffoctually demolished wherever it appears. 

 Look on your spring sown grain, and if it is full of 

 yellow blossoms, you will jjrubably find that char- 

 lock is in your fields, and if it is not pulled prompt- 

 ly and completely, you may find busmess for years 

 in attempting vainly its extirpation. The crow- 

 foot of your meadows, or the daisy of the pastures, 

 umst be looked to, else lean cattle may be expect- 

 ed when fat beasts should be looked for. In short, 

 allow nothing to be in your fields that usurps the 

 place of more valuable plants, lessens the amount 

 of your crops, or renders your fields a place in 

 which pests are multiplied to reduce your own prof- 

 its or vex the souls of your neighbors. — Genesee 

 Farmer. 



GliAiN Plants. — The growth of the wheat, both 

 winter and spring wheat, barley and oat plant, this 

 year, is on the most magnificent scale, approaching 

 to the luxuriance of the tropics. Wheat from six 

 to seven feet in height, not a few stalks only, but 

 whole fields ; oats which in size already resemble 

 the cane brakes of the south, and are still towering 

 upwards ; barley on the same scale of rapid growth ; 

 in short scarcely a cultivated plant, with the ex- 

 ception of corn, (and this is now coming on finely) 

 that does not exhibit the same aspiring character. 

 There is now, (July 22,) every prospect that the 

 barns and the granaries of the husbandman will be 

 filled to overflowing. The wheat crop as far north 

 as Pennsylvania has been secured, and in good con- 

 dition ; and from every account is better than a 

 medium one. Wheat in Michigan, and some parts 

 of Indiana, has suffered much from insects ; in 

 some districts of these States the crop will be al- 

 most a total failure. This is particularly to be re- 

 gretted, as the financial condition of the West re- 

 quired the aid of good crops to restore prosperity, 

 and a healthy sound state of things in that respect. 

 — Genessee Farmer. 



From the Cullivaior. 



EXTIRPATION OF G.VRLIC. 



Montcalm, Va., June 'SUt, 1839. 

 J. BuEL, Esq. — Sir — The extirpation of wild 

 garlic has been regarded rather as an object to be 

 desired by the agriculturist, than one to be suc- 

 cessfully accomplished. An experiment, made by 

 myself, not with that view, however, will at least 

 point out one mode by which this unpleasant plant 

 may be destroyed. In one-third of a field of about 



eating the garlic. In the spring, I sowed the field 

 in oats and clover. The oats were good ; the clo- 

 ver was destroyed by the burning drought of last 

 summer; thus leaving the field entirely naked. I 

 then determined, (last fall,) although the fourth 

 crop in succession, to sow it in wheat, which I did, 

 and this spring in clover and timothy, a full quan- 

 tity of each. Now, sir, I have in the last fortnight, 

 repeatedly and carefully searched for the garlic, 

 and found two stalks only, where thousands stood 

 before. The garlic is now in full bearing, and 

 may be easily detected. 



It is manifest that this method of destroying this 

 pest will not generally answer. But the idea may 

 be improved on. If a farmer have but one field of 

 corn, and garlic prevails in it, he may gather near- 

 ly the whole of it, and instead of seeding it, as is 

 the usual practice, let him turn in all his hogs that 

 are to be kept over to the next year, and they will 

 soon get hold of the roots, &c. He will then put 

 in a spring crop with grass seed. So well satisfied 

 am I with the result in this case, that I shall pur- 

 sue the same plan in respect to two other fields in 

 which tliere is a good dral of garlic. It will occur 

 to you, that the ground being light and mellow, 

 from the recent cultivation of the corn crops, the 

 hogs have no difficulty in finding the bulbs, which 

 they will not attempt in a field well set in grass or 

 stiffened with a sod, although abounding in garlic, 

 and this for two reasons : they have a plenty to 

 eat, and with less labor. 



Vours, &c. JAS. McILHANY. 



E.iriy rising is conducive alike to health, to 

 pleasure, and to profit — we mean to the farmer. — 

 To health, because it gives exercise when the at- 

 mosphere is most cool, pur>' and bracing. To 

 pleasure, because nature is then in her most lovely 

 garb, and the birds most full of song. To profit, 

 because the two morning hours effect more in la- 

 bor and avert more mischief than four hours at mid- 

 day. Early rising and exercise in the open air, are 

 the best stimuli for our meals, the best anodyne for 

 sound sleep, tlie best solace for care, and the best 

 evidence of thrift. " Come boys', is the best rev- 

 eille upon the farm. The farmer who rises late is 

 generally behind his work ; while he who rises ear- 

 ly keeps before it. — Cultivator. 



Comparaiive value of targe and small turnips. — 

 We have frequently alluded to the fact, that the 

 ruta baga is the only cultivated root that increases 

 in nutritious properties as it increases in size. — 

 Sinclair found, on analysis, that a root of the com- 

 mon turnip, measuring seven inches in diameter, 



