84 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 2 



The Flowers of Spring. 



Some trnvelere have 8pokcn of the punctuality ol 

 the seasons in boih high and low latiiudes, aa if the 

 lines there were stretched tight; though we know the 

 oscillation in more temperate climates, is very great. 

 TliiisDr. Clarke says the snow in Russia went off on 

 the day that had been foretold; and Bruce observed a 

 tree in Abyssinia to bloom on the same day for several 

 yeara. In tbis country however, in 1834, the flowers 

 of the Japan Quince were " nearly ready to expand" 

 on the first of the fourth month; but in 1841, on the 

 twentieth of the fifth month. 



The difference however, is not so great with the 

 spricot. In 1834, it bloomed on the thirteenth of the 

 fourth month— in 1841, on the 10th of the fifth month, 

 ihowing a difference of only twenty-seven days. 



The peach tree bloaaoms later than the apricot. In 

 1834, the difference was three days; in 1835, six days; 

 in 1841, ten days. But this delay is easily explained: 

 Cold winds from tha north, ccmtinued several days, 

 and vegetation was nearly at a stand. 



We will now notice flowers that appear earlier in 

 the season. 



ErylJtronium dcns-canis from EngUnd is a beauti- 

 ful little plant. One variety has white flowers, others 

 of a reddish purple. It is earlier than our native spe- 

 cies, and increases more slowly. 



Of Conjdalis, we think the American species are 

 ratuer more delicate than those from Siberia. All do 

 best in a shady soil abounding with vegetable earth, 

 particularly C.formosa, and Cnobilis; but C cava, 

 C. cucullaria., and C. canadensis, are very pretty in 

 the open border. C. solida with us, has not brought 

 its flowers to maturity. 



The Crown Imperial is "a thing to wonder at;" 

 but it is splendid as well as cvrious. Some other spe- 

 cies of the same genus ( Fritillaria ) are also interest- 

 ing. Of these, F. pyreimica, and /'. mdeagris, with 

 brownish variegated flowers, are the finest that we have 

 ■een. P. persica has very little beauty. 



Some species of Narcissus are too tender for this 

 climate; but others are very hardy. The Trumpet 

 JMijir in two varieties, is remarkable for its earliness 

 and tUe great size of its nectary. The single Daffo- 

 dil is showy, though lees so than its double varieties 

 known under the name of Phcenix. N. bijlorus of a 

 yellowifh white, is interesting. JV. argustifoUus. and 

 JV. poeticus with white petals and shallow nectaries 

 tipped with crimson, are very fine; and though near- 

 ly allied are sufficiently distinct for both the botanist 

 end the florist. 



The Jonquils are sometimes arranged as a separate 

 group, though belonging to the same genus. These 

 ore, the great jonquil (N. ealatliinus) arfd the com- 

 mon or fragrant jonquil ( N. jonqidlla.) The latter 

 bas a variety with double flowers. 



The Hyacinth is a most dedirable plant for its beau- 

 ty and its fragrance. Its varieties spread into almost 

 every color, thuugh in neither red nor yellow, are the 

 raa'-king intense. Loudon quotes Miller as 8ayin» 

 that in his time the Haarlem florist had 2000 varieties; 

 and he adds, that tftough the passion for this flower 

 had greatly declined, they have still upwards of half 

 that number. 



The grape hyacinth and nutmeg hyacinth, both re- 

 markable for their fragrance, are now placed in the 

 genus Muscari. The former has email flowers of a 

 lieh blue-purple. 



The common Tulip is called " the king of florists' 

 flawers;" and certainly ranks among the most splen- 

 did. Red, yellow, white, are almost endlessly com- 

 pounded; while blue, purple, violet, are eschewed. 

 Loudon says a late London catalogue contains more 

 ♦k»n 6Je vari»li»B of (hit flower. 



Another species ( Tulipa turcica ? ) has bright yel- 

 low flowers, increases from seed, and makes a fine 

 display in the border. It is sufficiently distinct from 

 the common tulip to excite attention. 



The his is a genus that long continues to decorate 

 the garden. Soon after /. persica has faded, the pur- 

 ple /. pumila, another with light yellow flowers, and 

 a third (I. crisluta,) — come into bloom. The last is 

 the most of a dwarf, but nearly covers the ground as 

 it spreads, and is remarkable for the delicacy of its 

 tints — a light blue finely variegated with purple, white, 

 and yellow. 



The trailing species of the Phlox, also exhibits mas- 

 ses of bloom; and few spots on earth are finer than 

 those covered by P. subulata and P. setncea. P. ni- 

 valis appears to be a variety of the latter; and a bank 

 of snow may give some idea of the multitude and 

 whiteness of its blossoms. It requires some protec- 

 tion in winter. 



Pulmonaria tirgiitica, a native plant from the allu- 

 vial soil of our rivers, eighteen inches high, has large 

 delicate leaves and fine blue flowers suspended from 

 the top of the stem. A white variety is rare, though 

 we have seen it on islands in the Schuylkill, and on 

 the banks of the Tonnewanta. 



Magnolia abovato, a shrub from China, blooms 

 when only two or three feet high. It is almost hardy, 

 and quite so in mild winters. The flowers are large, 

 purple on the outside and white within. It is mag- 

 nificent, t 



fair chance, it multiplies with far gieater rapidity tha 

 wheat, and hence the constant tendency it has to tb 

 ascendancy. 



And those, who like our correspondent " R." hav 

 seen, or heard of, head-of chess growing out of whei 

 heads, or on wheat stalks, we would respecliully n 

 quest to forward them to this office, where they ca 

 be seen. It is a little singu'ar that such gri at curios 

 ties are never preserved; or if they have been in som 

 instances formerly, they have invariably on rigid ei 

 amination, proved impositions. If any of our correi 

 pondents, or any other person, will procure us such 

 speciiiien, which shall be pronounced by an experien 

 ced examiner of plants, such as Prof Dewey, as u 

 hoax, he shall have one hundred dollars for his trcublt 

 with our thanks. * 



Wheat turning to Chess. 



We had hoped lo have kept clear of this controver- 

 sy — wo hope 80 still. Several communiealions have 

 been received, favoring transmutation, but as they ap- 

 pear to us not only wholly inconclusive, but as not af- 

 fecting in the least degree the immutability of the law 

 of nature that plants or animals of one genua never 

 change to another, we beg leave to decline their publi- 

 cation, aa well as all others which do not amount to a 

 demonstration of such change. In the mean time, 

 we may state two tacts, cai)able of the clearest proot, 

 which may be furnished if necessary, either of which 

 we consider a demonstration thai wheat does not turn 

 to chess. 



1. i\o plant, nor animal, has ever been known, lo 

 change from one genus to another, aa a swan to an ea- 

 gle, a hen to a humming bird, an elm to a hemlock, 

 or a Triticunt to a liromus ; and to admit such changes 

 would be to throw the beautiful order of Creation into 

 inextricable confusion. 



2. There are farms, and regions of country, where 

 chess has been carefully excluded or eradicated, where 

 it does not return, and which il would of course do, if 

 a change occurred. 



To those who may be puzzled lo explain the fre- 

 quent app^earance of chess where wheat has been inju- 

 red or destroyed, except by the conclusion that such 

 injured wheat is transformed to chess, we will merely 

 instance a few, out of many facts, to assist them. 1. 

 Chess, like the seedsof many oihcr weeds, will remain 

 for years, without growing, in the soil. 2. It has 

 been seen, when overshadowed by wheat or graee, 

 with a single grain growing on a stem two inches high, 

 ripening and perpetuating its species on the soil, 

 wholly unobserved by a common eye; and when the 

 wheat has been destroyed, it has been seen to shoot up 

 from a single seed, four feet high, and bear thousands 

 of seeds. 3. Seeds of chess, generally escape the 

 tcelh of animals, and are scattered with their manure 

 wherever they may pass; and birds may scatter it pro- 

 fusely in the same way, unobserved. 4. Chess, from 

 its insignificant appearance, frequently escapes the eye 

 of the farmer, and is sown by him over hie fields, when 

 it might be detected by careful examination, as by 

 •preading it on a table or floor. 5. Wben allowed a 





Manufacture of Silk in State Prisons. 



It is well known that for several years past numet 

 ous memorials have been presented to the Legislatur 

 of this Stale complaining of the mechanical labor per 

 (ormed in the State Prison at Auburn. Gov. Sewar 

 has lately called the attention of the Legislatre lo ihi 

 subject, and recommended that the present system b 

 gradually abolished, and the culture and manufaclur 

 of silk adopted in its stead. Experiments already trie, 

 have shown the practicability of the enterprise, and a 

 it would entirely obviate the evils complained of b; 

 the mechanics, it appears to us lo be a very wi-e meas' 

 ure. The only difficulty in the way of its immediati 

 success is the want of materials, and this will doubt 

 less soon be obviated. Mr. Polhemus the Prisoi 

 Agent, has issued the following notice, which wi 

 cheerfully givea place in our columns: 



TO FARMERS AND OTHERS. 



State Prison, Auburn, iV. Y. ) 

 May 15th, 1841. J 



The subscriber as agent of said Prison, bavin; 

 commenced the manufacture of SEWING SILK, b; 

 convict labor, will pay three dollars per bushel for al 

 the Cocoons of a good quality that may be offiired a 

 this Prison, hereafter. Any communication upoi 

 this subject, addressed to the subscriber, ( post puiit, ^ 

 from any part of the United States, will receive imme 

 diaie attention. 



Having become thoroughly satisfied of the fact l ' 

 that the Morus Multicaulus Mulbeny will endure th( ' 

 frosts of winter in this latiiude, without care or atten 

 lion, nearly, if not quite as well as the common Apph 

 Tree, the subscriber has delfirmincd upon exiendinf 

 the bueincss of manufacturing Silk at this prison, ti 

 any amount that the procurenienl of the material wil 

 allow; and hopes ultimately .o make it the principa 

 employment of the convicts here confined. Uncle 

 this determination he will he prepared at ell limes li 

 purchase tor cash, at the above price, all the Cocooni 

 of a good quality that may be offered from any part o; 

 the Unit d States. 



The immense amount of foreign Silks annually im- 

 ported into the U. S. demonelraics the policy, if noi 

 the necessity of a combined etforl on the part of iht 

 citizens of ihis country, generally, for the pioduciior 

 ot American Silk, which when properly f..bricated, il 

 is believed far e.vcels in qual/iy that produced in any 

 other part of the world ; hence every individual in the 

 communily, from motives ofpafrioiism, ns well as in- 

 terest, should feel a deep solicitude for itscu.turc and 

 Euccess. 



It is believed ihat most farmers will, lo a certain ex- 

 lent, find il profitable, so far al least, as the neccssfiry 

 labor in feeding the wuins, eic, ca i be performed by 

 the juvenile members of their families . 



The tree may be planted by the fence side and in 

 othei unproduc'ive portions of their grounds, to an 

 extent sufficient, after a lew year's growth, to produce 

 alarge amount of Silk — nor is it neccfsary (as has 

 been supposed) lo incur any expense in pieparing 

 buildings or fitting up aportnienls for the feeding of 

 worms — a common birn, or out hoiiset of any de- 

 scripti in will answer all ihe purposes ; barns in par- 

 ticular may be used to great advantage during the ear- 

 ly part of the season, previous to the ingathering of 

 the crops. 



Being aware that very erroneous opinions are enter- 

 tained by many in regard to the process of producinji 



