22 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 



% 



Fur the yttc Genesee Fanntr. 



REVIEW. 



Journal of the Am-.rican Sith Society — Edited by 



Gideon B. Smith, Biillimorc. Nos. 11 and li, 



for Nor, and Dec, 1840. 



Tbie ie the only piiblicntion now remaining in ihe 

 United States, cxclueively devoted to the culture ol 

 Silk. It was originally ieaued under the auspices of 

 the American Silk Society; but the society itself is 

 long since defunct, hoving existed only during the 

 continuance of the inulticBiilis mania. The Journal, 

 however, has been continued, with distinguished abili- 

 ty, by Dr. Smith, the earliest, most steadfast, and 

 most persevering advocate of the industry to which it 

 is devoted. It contains, throughout, a mass of facts 

 and information indispensable to the cultivator of silk- 

 worms in the present infancy of the ort in this coun- 

 try. It is with deep regret that it is perceived that it 

 also must soon follow the fate which has overtaken 

 other periodicals of the kind, unless the friends of the 

 eauee promptly step forward andhand in their subscrip- 

 tions for another year. This crisis in its existence, 

 together with an anxiou9 solicitude for the prosperity 

 of the cause, has induced to the present communica. 

 tion. 



The second volume of the Journal has just been 

 brought to a conclusion — the November and Decem- 

 ber nuinbers having been issutd under one cover. — 

 The value of these numbers perhaps exceeds any that 

 have preceded them, with the exception of those which 

 contain the account of the new and very importont 

 theory of the editor, in regard to the principle of sa- 

 ving and preserving silkworms' eggs with safety, tor 

 the purpose of successive crops. The promulgation 

 of this theory will, it is believed, constiiuie an epoch 

 in the progress of silk cidture in the United States. 

 The principle is philosophicol and rational; and while 

 it explains, satisfactorily, most of the difficulties and 

 disasters of the past year, a knowledge and apprecia- 

 tion of it will serve to guard against similar consequen- 

 ces in future. That its discovery should have been re- 

 eerved for this day and country, is by no means sur- 

 prising. In the old silk growing countries, the rear- 

 ing of successive crops has been attempted; and, ow- 

 ing to the character of their climate, it is no doubt 

 improcticablc. American cultivators, however, hav„ 

 looked to a more extended field of operation, and with 

 the advantage of the multicaulis, have conceived the 

 practicability of producing silk throughout the warm 

 season. That they have been subjected to much dis- 

 couragement and disaster in the outset, ought not to 

 be a matter of any special wonder. It is not to be ex- 

 pected that an ort, confessedly in its infancy in this 

 country, and conducted on entirely new principles, can 

 be prosecuted at once with entire success. It may 

 possibly require several years of experiment and ob- 

 servation, to establish what maybe termed the Amcii- 

 can System of Silk Culture, on a sure basis; but the 

 ultimate advantage, both national and individual, by 

 which its triumph would be attended, offer strong in- 

 ducements to persevere, even had its failure been 

 much more general than it has been. As to the old 

 system of single crops, reared in the spring, it has 

 succeeded in no country better than in this. 



The two las', numbers of the Journal contain gratify, 

 ing intelligence from various parts of the conntry. In 

 Tennessee the business appears to have flourished bet- 

 ter than in ony other State. There is a well organi- 

 zed State Society to promote its atlvancement, and the 

 exhibition of silk goods has been highly creditable.— 

 At Economy, in Pennsylvania, the quantity of silk 

 produced, during the last year was very considerable; 

 •nd atFrederiekton, in .Maryland, the culture was at- 

 tended with decided success. These instances, to- 

 gether with numerous others that might be adduced, 



go to show that the cultivators of the silkworm have 

 still much encouragement to prosecute their labors. 



The use of lime has obtained extensively, during 

 the past season, as a preventive of disease amongst 

 silkworms. In the 1 Ith nnmbcr of the Journal, there 

 is an article on this subject which is worth more than 

 the annual subscription. 



The Address to the friends of silk culture, in the 

 closing number, is a highly interesting paper. It con- 

 tains a general view of the present state of the business 

 in this couitiry, with a notice of what is doing and moy 

 be done to promote its permanent advancement. 



The following extract from the "Last Appeal" 

 of the editor to the fi lends of the cause, deserves spe- 

 cial attention: — " After considerable effort, the sub- 

 scriber has been enabled to complete the publication of 

 the second volume of the Silk Journal. This has 

 been done at great personal sucrifcc, the subscriptions 

 to the work not having been sufficient to pay the ex- 

 pense by several hundred dollars. It now remains 

 for the friends of the silk cidture to pay whether the 

 Journal shall be continued another year. The subscri- 

 ber believes that the information which he will be able 

 to publish during the ensuing season, will be invalua- 

 ble to the cause. The great and important improve- 

 ments made in the art, in the United States and in 

 Europe, and those that will be made next year, ought 

 to be disseminated freely amongst the people. Par- 

 ticularly the Nlv\' Thkoky may he referred to as one 

 item of inimer.se importance, that requires the freest 

 discussion and examination. If that theory shall be 

 proved to be the true one, the widestcirculation ought to 

 be given to its principles and details: hecouse it will 

 effectually establish the business in the United Stotes, 

 and place it beyond the reach of casuality. All this 

 cannot be done without the aid of a publication devo- 

 ted to the cause exclusively." 



The terms of the Journal are Two Dollars a year, 

 payable in advance; ond we earnestly desire that the 

 friends of the culture may freely sustain it. P. 



Virginia, 1 mo. 1'2, 1(^41. 



Iiightaiing Rods. 



Last summer during a thunder-storm, the lightning 

 rod attached to our house, received a very heavy 

 stroke of lightning — the shock was tremendous; but 

 we only mention it at this time on account of the prac- 

 tical inferences to be drawn from the circumstances. 



The rod is fiee-eigldhs of on inch in diameter near 

 the top, but six-cighllis of on inch below, — in two 

 pieces scrczrcd together, with a single point on the top 

 ca/>pcd trilh silccr. It is upheld by large oak pins 

 eighteen inches long, driven into the frame, and the 

 rod parses through them near the outer end. It is 

 painted to prevent its tnsting. Near the surface of 

 the ground it begins to slant from die house, descends 

 into the earth, and terminates in a bed of charcoal si/ 

 feet deep, which extends still further from the building. 



This fixture has beeu/oHH(/ siijicicnl with a slight 

 exception, to let off a discharge that shook the whole 

 neighborhood. The exception follows: — A stove pipe 

 twenty feet in length, entering the chimney just under 

 the roof, ten feet below the point of the rod and three 

 feet from it, — received a small portion of the fluid, 

 which passed through two chambers in succession on 

 its way to the cellar. Tsvo joists under the stove 

 were very slighdy shattered, and a few panes of gla.ss 

 broken by bursting outward. It appears thot the nails 

 conducted it through the pine floor into the joists. 



The point of the silver cap was melted. This we 

 suppose was occasioned by the crowding of the fluid 

 to get down the rod; but if there had been more 

 points, probably no fusion would have happened, ond 

 the stove pipe have been protected. 



No traces of the lightning whatever, could be dis- 

 covered on the oak pins, although the wood was in 



contact with the rod; and neither glass nor anyot 

 substance employed to prevent the scattering of 

 fluid. We infer therefore that all such appendages 

 useless; and that it is quite as safe to fasten the rot 

 the building by cleats as to have it stand off at a 

 tance. It must even be safer unless the upper | 

 leans against the building. 



The prejudice against painting such rods, appi 

 to be unfounded. We presume indeed that paii 

 not more objectionable than rust. 



pi 



The Roads. 



The winter is a favorable time to lay up instruct 

 After a light snow has fallen wiiho brisk wind, 

 him that feels an interest in the stale of the roads, 

 into a cutter and drive a few miles to make obse: 

 tions. I'or this purpose, he will commonly succ 

 best when he goes alone. Where the highway 

 been turnpiked and raised considerably above the g 

 ral surface, he will find in most places more hubs I '" 

 snow, and he may heartily wish for a good side-tr 



As this is a term not often to be lound in the vo 

 ulory of path-masters however, we shall stop tc 

 plain; and as in many districts, owing to the impi iai 

 denee of the people, nothing of the kind can be 

 covered, we shall proceed to tell what and whi 

 ought to be, 



The law allows our highways to be sixty-six 

 wide; but if they are only sixty feet in the clear, 

 iJiirty feet be appropriated for the turnjiike, the 

 shall have fftecn feet on each side for side in 

 Make the ditch six feet wide with easy slopes, an 

 the bottom, and clear out all large and loose st 

 and there will be a most convenient track foi 

 snow to settle in, when it is driven by the wind 

 the turnpike. No belter sleighing can be desired 

 what we occasionally find in a ditch of this del 

 tion, while much of the track which is ordinarily 

 in summer, is unfit for any loaded sleigh to 

 along. 



But another side-track ought to be provided on 

 comparatively level. Between the ditch an 

 fence there are nine feet remaining, where a sr 

 sod ought to be found; and on this not more 

 two inches of snow will be required to make 

 fortable sleighing. To see the traveler vv'ho haj 

 lured from a more snowy region, at one lime { 

 ing over the bare ground with his horses on thes 

 ond then starting on a trot as he reaches thi 

 which perchance was left by the way side, — ou{ 

 moke US, who hove it in our power to do b 

 ashamed of our negligence. 



Why not go to work in the summer, level 

 the inequalities, and remove all obstructions, b 

 pecioby large stones whetlier fost or loose ? In 

 cases, the necessary labor would not be a tyi 

 what is annually spent in hauling mud, or stuff i 

 ly unfit, into the beaten track. Hove path-m 

 no memory ^ Con they never recollect in su 

 what we shall need in winter ? If so, now is the 

 to make men.orandums, as well as observations.! 



■It 



(ill 

 Itii 



Snow Drifts and Meadow Slice 



Young trees surrounded by snow drifts, ar« 

 dangerous condition. Such as are quite small ai 

 vercd by snow, in consequence of its weight ar 

 hesiveness ore olmostoureto be crushed; while 

 03 reach above the drift, with most of their liml 

 veloped, will have them stripped ofl' ond their 

 lacerated. 



A worse disoster however, often happens to 

 thot stand in snow drifts. The meadow mouse; 

 aware of its numerous enemies, seldom, if eve 

 locks tree that stands clear in the open ground 

 where it can work in safety under cover, it is 

 destructive. We had one tree, three inches in i 



