VOL. XVI II. XO. II. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



ifi 



HONEY-DEW. 



George W. Johnson, in the Quarterly Journal of 

 Atjriculture, after enumerating, and, as he supposes, 

 disproving' the several theories which ascribe the 

 honey -dew upon plants to insects and to the atmos- 

 phere, traces it we think correctly, to a morbid 

 state of the sap. lie says — 



"Heat, attended by dryness of the soil, as during 

 the drought of summer, is very liable to produce an 

 unnatural exudation. This is especially noticed 

 upon the leaves of some plants, and is popularly 

 known as honey-dew. It is somewhat analogous to 

 that outbreak of blood which in such seasons is apt 

 to occur to man, and arises from the increased ac- 

 tion of the secretory and circulatory systems, to 

 which it affords relief. There is this great and es- 

 sentia! ditference, that in the case of the plants the 

 extravasation is upon the surface of the leaves, and 

 consequently in proportion to the extruded sap, is 

 their respiration and digestion impaired." 



The remedy which Mr Johnson prescribes for 

 this disease, for such it evidently is, is a solution of 

 common salt and water, applied to a soil in which 

 the plant is growing. For, says he, 



"If we admit that the irregular action of the 

 sap is the cause of the disorder, then we can under- 

 stand that a portion of salt introduced into the 

 juices of the plant, would naturally have a tendency 

 to correct or vary any morbid tendency, either cor- 

 recting the too rapid secretion of sap, stimulating it 

 in promoting its regular formation, or preserving its 

 fluidity. And that, by such a treatment, the honey 

 dew may be entirely prevented, I have otlen myself 

 witnessed in my own garden, when experimental- 

 izing with totally different objects. Thus I have 

 seen plants of various kinds which have been treat- 

 ed with a weak solution, of common salt and water, 

 totally escape the honey-dew, where trees of the 

 same kind, growing in the same plot of ground, not 

 so treated, have been materially injured by its rav- 

 ages. I have noticed that standard fruit trees, 

 around which, at the distance of six or eight feet 

 from the stem, I had deposited, at the depth of 

 twelve inches, a quantil f^f salt, to promote the 

 general health and fruitfnlness of the tree, accord- 

 ing to the manner formerly adopted to some extent 

 in the apple orchards of cider countries, that these 

 escaped the honey dew, whi, '■ infected adjacent 

 trees, just as well as those wIhl i liad been watered 

 with salt and water. I am of opinion that one 

 ounce of salt (chloride of sodium,) to a gallon of 

 water, is quite powerful enough for the intended 

 purpose." — Cultivator. 



From ihe Albany Cultivator. 



■tHE SILK HUSINESS. 

 J. BuEL. Esq. — Dear Sir — You are aware that I 

 am strong in the faith that this country will ere 

 long, not only supply her own wants in the article 

 of raw silk, but have a large surplus for Europe. 

 You are also aware that I have given much atten- 

 tion to the subject ; in fact, have devoted my whole 

 time to it for the last nine years, and that I have 

 plantations for making silk, and factories for work- 

 ing it, and that thousands are now engaged in the 

 same pursuit. Well, sir, notwithstanding all this, 

 we have daily accounts of persons who assert that 

 the whole affair of silk culture is a "humbug." Al- 

 most every paper I take up, has something of the 



nlation, &c., and advising all within their influence 

 to have nothing to do with it — that " we cannot 

 raise silk in this country, and that it is preposter- 

 ous to think ot it." May I ask you, sir, to permit 

 me the use of your columns to discuss tlio matter 

 with any or all who make those assertions ? My 

 object is, to have the question settled beyond a 

 doubt, and if any of the doubters will favor us with 

 the grounds (if their unbelief, in our ability to raise 

 silk, or that we shall not in ten years supply our 

 wants, at least from our soil, I pledge myself to ex- 

 amine the subject fully, and if 1 cannot answer 

 them, will confess that I have been deluded and 

 have deluded others into the belief, that we can 

 raise silk on all our farms, and to more profit than 

 any other agricultural production, cotton not ex- 

 cepted. I will now assert that we can raise silk 

 cheaper than France or Italy, in any part of our 

 country from Maine to Mexico, of a quality equal 

 to any in the world ; and shall esteem it a favor to 

 all who are engaged in the business, in fact to the 

 country at large, if any of your numerous readers 

 will, in reply to this, state why we cannot do it, or 

 if they cannot refute the above, then why we shall 

 not seriously engage in the cultivation of raw silk 

 for exportation. SAMUEL WHITMARSH. 



J\forthampton, Mass., Aug. 8, ]6.3f>. 



Thk Silk Company. — Not many days ago we 

 accepted an invitation to visit the farm formerly 

 belonging to Samuel H. Smith, Esq., about three 

 miles north of this city, and now in the possession 

 and occupancy of the Silk Company which was 

 formed some time ago in this city. 



We understood that the capital stock of this com- 

 pany is $10,000, a moiety of which (500 shares of 

 $10 each,) has already been paid in. The Silk 

 Company purchased Mr Smith's farm for $12,000 ; 

 they have planted about 170,000 buds of the Morus 

 Multicaulis, and have now growing about 80,000 

 very healthy trees. The farm is about three miles 

 distant from the centre of the city, and is under the 

 superintendence of an intelligent gentleman, Mr 

 Hand, who resides with liis family in the mansion 

 upon the farm. Besides the morus multicaulis trees 

 there is a choice and well selected orchard of peach, 

 apple, apricot, pear, plum, and other fruits in great 

 abundance. There are also about eighty acres of 

 wood, a spacious, pleasant, and comfortable dwel- 

 ling, with all the necessary outhouses and appur- 

 tenances of such an establishment. 



We are gratified to learn that the Silk Company 

 are much pleased with their purchase and the pros- 

 pect before them of a profitable result of their en- 

 terprise. With the present appearance of the mo- 

 rus multicaulis trees on the farm, (which, indeed to 

 our view appeared generally healthy and thriving,) 

 the company are much delighted, believing that all 

 the shareholders will derive substantial benefit. 



It is stated to us that the Silk Company contem- 

 plate feeding several ounces of silk worms this sea- 

 son ; and the next year they intended to feed sev- 

 eral pounds of the several varieties, and manufac- 

 ture a large quantity of sewing silk, the machinery 

 for which they have already procured. 



We presume that this information will be ac- 

 ceptable not only to those country friends who are 

 anxious to learn from us what the Silk Company in 

 Washington and the individual cultivators of the 

 morus multicaulis are doing, and how the silk cause 

 progresses in the district, but to all others who are 



Massnchusetts Horticultural Society. 



EXHIBITION OK FluriTS. 



Saturday, Sept. 7, 1839. 



The show of (ruits was very imposinf; and highly cred- 

 itable to tiiecontributorB : the most ardent and sanguine 

 vutarii'S of Puinona, who witnessed the exhibitions in 

 lorraer years, could h.irdly have anticipated such desira- 

 ble results in so short u period of time as has elapsed 

 since the formation of the Society. 



Mrs Biijelow, Medford, exhibited splendid specimens 

 of Rareripe Peaches. 



Mr Voi-e exhibited Purple Gage, I mperial Gage, Corse's 

 Nota Bene, and Duane's Purple Plums; Lady Haley's 

 Nonsuch Apples. 



Mr Brimmer, Jamaica Plains, exhibited Nectarines. 



Mr Oliver exhibited Franc real d'ete and Washington 

 Pears. 



Mr J. G. Coolidge exhibited Coulidge's Favorite 

 Peaches. 



Mr Manning exhibited Petit Mirabelle, Elfrey, Green 

 Gage, Red Aprioot, Peter's Yellow Gage, Bingham, 

 Nota Bene and Byfield Plums; Striped Cherry Apples, 

 Julienne, Grise Bonne, llasel, Dearbon's Seedling, 

 Franc real d'ete, Lowry's Bergamot, Duquesne d'ete, 

 Paysans de Portugal, Sugar and Hoyerswerda Pears. 



Col. Wilder exhibited Bon Louise d'Jersey Pears; 

 Smith's Orleans and Bingham Plums. 



Mr Mitchell exhibited a splendid cluster of Grapes 

 from his green house, Nantucket, weighing 3 1-4 lbs. 



Mr S. R. Johnson exhibited Bolmer's Washington 

 and White Gage Plums. 



Mr Tidd exhibited a large basket of Black Ham- 

 burgh, St. Peter's and White Chasselas Grapes. 



Mr Vandine, Cambridgeport, exhibited Plums resem- 

 bling the Orleans, but said to be a seedling. 



Mr J. W. Newell, Charlestown, exhibited Flushing 

 Gage and White Gage Plums. 



Mr Pond exhibited Bolmer's Washington, Smith's 

 Orleans, Green Gage, White Gage, Duane's Purple, and 

 Isabella Plums; Julienne Pears. 



Mr James L. L. F. Warren, exhibited White Gage, 

 Green Gage and Seedling Plums ; Royal Kensington, 

 Royal George and Heath's Favorite Peaches ; Prolifique 

 Figs. 



Mr Richards exhibited Summer Pearmain, Pie, Red 

 Juneating, William's Favorite, Yellow Ingestre, Orange 

 Sweeting aad Benoni Apples; Bell de Beaucaire and 

 Seedling Peach'68. 



Among the great variety of fruits, particularly of 

 Plums, were specimens remarkable for their size and 

 o-reat beauty. 



On the previous Saturday, Mr F. A. Curtis, Newton, 

 Lower Falls, exhibited 6ne specimens of Peaches. 

 For the Committee, 



E. M. RICHARDS. 



EXHIBITION OF FLOWF.RS. 



Saturday, Sept 14, 1839. 



JVative plants by Wm. Cakes, Esq., viz : Aster .' from 

 Cambridge, Mass. ; Solidago bicolor,do. ; puberula, Em- 

 petrum Conradi, Aster spectabilis. 



Bouquets from the gardens of Wm. Kenrick, Rufus 

 Howe, John Hovey, Wm. Carter, Thos. Mason, Hovey 

 & Co, and S. Waliier. 



Dahlias by Mr Swectser, MrMcIntire, Mr Wm. Car- 

 ter, Mr Slickney, Messrs Breck & Co., Hovey & Co., 

 Col. Wilder, and Samuel Walker. Rival Sussex, by 

 iMr Mcintire, was the best specimen presented this sea- 

 son, Hope, and Prima Donna, in the collection of Mr 

 Wilder, were very fine, The " unknown," in the stand 

 of Mr Sweetser, and also presented by Col. Wilder, was 

 beautiful. We were very much pleased with several of 

 Ihe specimens of Messrs Hovey & Co. and Mr Wm. 

 Carter. 



Mr W. H. Cowen presented a fine specimen of Stre- 

 litzia Augusta, from the conservatory of Hon. T. H. 

 Perkins, of Brookline. We were much gratified with a 

 si>rht of this splendid flower, it being the first specimen 

 presented at our rooms, and probably the first specimen 

 seen in the United States. 



Mr S. R Johnson presented Balsams, Asters, &c. 



Mr Albert H. Hovey exhibited Viola grandiflora, As- 

 ters. *fec. 



