564 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[Aug. 17, 



him at a former meeting, received from Mr. Jamei 

 Dixon, of White Moss farm, Cheshire. In that com- 

 munication Mr. Dixon stated that until he had adopted 

 the treatment of bleeding his cows immediately on thtir 

 being attacked with the prevailing disease (termed the 

 •' New Epidemic"), he lost several ; but none had died 

 since he had put that measure into operation. He 

 urges at the same time, in the most strenuous manner, 

 that particular care and caution are required to keep a 

 continual watch orer the animals, and apply tie remedy 

 at the very instant that the symptoms of the disorder 

 make their appearance ; as, on this promptness depends 

 all the value of the measure. As soon as the symptoms 

 are perceived, he recommends bleeding without delay. 

 —Professor Seweli informed the Council that this was 

 the practice he had been in the habit of recommending ; 

 and he believed that the losses which had been sustained 

 j the owners" of animals from this complaint, had 

 risen more from want' of close attention to their condi- 



10 the agriculturist, and affording employment to the 



industrious classes. , , • • ,„. flB 



* I was led to the undertaking by bearing, in Io*o, as 

 I was travelling in the north of Italy, of an English gen- 

 tleman, * who had doubled his capital in three years, and 

 who received 10 percent, on that laid out on a silk 

 establishment near Milan ;' and wonder was expressed 

 that the culture had not been tried in England. Agri- 

 cultural produce had been at a low ebb in England, and 

 it was difficult to find profitable work for the labourer. 

 I determined to try and introduce the cultivation of silk. 

 I saw the young Mulberry-treei in Lombardy blown 



d practice on cattle, sheep, and other domestic 

 ; in which branch of their profession he thought 



wise . .. 



tion, and to the first changes in them from health to 

 disease, than from any other cause ; and he accordingly 

 took that opportunity of earnestly recommending Mr. 

 Dixon's watchful care over his stock to all other farmers 

 in general. The" first principal step of bleeding having 

 been taken in due time, Professor Seweli would recom- 

 mend the administration of the usual laxative medicines, 

 and the application of external stimulants, to be left to 

 the judgment of the nearest practitioner. 



2. Diseases of Domestic Animals — Professor Seweli 

 then reported that the examination at the Royal Vete- 

 rinary College being concluded for the session, ninety- 

 three pupils had received diplomas ; several of whom 

 had also obtained certificates as having attended the lec- 

 tures and 



animals 



their services to the farmer would be better secured by 

 Agricultural Associations and Farmers' Clubs in the 

 country engaging them, at fixed moderate salaries, to 

 ■ettle in ioculities where they are. most likely to be re- 

 OA\ : .ed. This plan had been adopted with great success 

 on the Continent, but it was there effected as a Govern- 

 ment measure', and had become a long established law. 



3. Rabid Animals. — Professor Seweli informed the 

 Council, that keeping in view the object of the Society's 

 connexion with the Veterinary College, he had decided 

 on devoting the period of his professional recess during 

 the present autumn to a practical inquiry into the most 

 ■uccessful means by which the virus of rabid animals 

 may be counteracted, and the fearful results of hydro- 

 phobia obviated. He accordingly requested the co- 

 operation of the members in carrying out this inquiry, 

 and would himself willingly pay every expense connected 

 with the sending up to ihe college, from any part of the 

 country, of such sheep, lambs, or calves, as may unfor- 

 tunately have been bitten by rabid dogs during the late 

 hot weather, or should become liable to a similar in- 

 fliction at any future time. He mentioned small rumi- 

 nating animals only, as being more easily managed when 

 labouring under the worst or most violent symptoms of the 

 disease, than horses, cows, or bullocks, which under such 

 circumstances are not only almost unmanageable, but 

 highly dangerous ; and when such were intended to be sent 

 to him, he would Jeel favoured by a previous notice by 

 letter. The animals thus requested might be conveyed 

 in the ordinary railway trucks or C3rs, or sent by canal 

 boats. By the latter mode, Professor Seweli had re- 

 ceived a heifer from Worcester a few years ago : sheep 

 and lambs have been sent in covered carts ; but the most 

 rapid conveyance is preferable. A sheep or two might 

 be put into crates used for earthenware, and the expense 

 of engaging an entire car be thus obviated; while the 

 animals would be less annoying to the railway agents. 

 Should the disease commence on the journey, the animals 

 should be tied by the legs, and be well littered with 

 straw. Net muzzles might be worn, or sent along with 

 the animals in order to be in readiness. Professor 

 Seweli has, however, never had any fear of rabies being 

 produced by the bite of any animals but those of a car- 

 nivorous kind, including swine as such. Of all the 

 numerous cases of canine madness he had seen in horses 

 and other animals, he had not observed a single instance 

 in which they were unable or unwilling to drink water 

 freely. He had always found the disease commence 

 (with a single exception) from the third to the sixth 

 week after the bite had been inflicted. If, therefore, it 

 should not manifest itself in the stock sent to him by that 

 time, he would return the animals to their respective 

 owners free qf expense. ,In conclusion, the Professor 

 submitted. to the inspection of the Council a series of 

 mghly interesting coloured drawings, exhibiting the 

 morbid results on the brain, nerves, and other anato- 

 mical structures of the animals which had died from the 

 «I3ff 8 °\ h J dro Pootoa-; and he trusted that his request 

 ™f iou, n °t £ c ?«^«red an irregular one, as he was 

 memo,™ t0 fl ^ e f ct f 1 ^ imm ediate communication with the 



SroWert, fi k- ° Se aS little time as Possible in obtain- 

 ing objects for his intended research. 



English Silk.— -Mrs Whithw «r x- i i 

 Tvminfffon W— ».« mtby, of rsewlands, near 



Symington, Hampshire, presented to the Society at a 

 previous meet.ng of the Council, a specimen Tof the s Ik 

 grown and wound off at her relide^T" half 

 a dozen of the cocoons just formed s andZoured the 



opemhns w g intere8tin « narrali ™ of her 



" I have during several years past cultivated the Mul- 

 berry (mostly used in climates where silk is grown of the 

 best quality) and fed silkworms upon it with great success. 

 I have had an opinion on the quality of the silk pro- 

 duced from them, which encourages me to hope my 

 example will be followed by [others, as a means of ^profit 



aside by the force of the N.E. winds, as our forest-trees 

 are here by S. W. gales. At this period, a fog of 33 days' 

 duration had prevailed, and the ground round Milan was 

 covered with snow, and iron-bound with frost. I knew 

 that around Florence the nights were cold, and the wea- 

 ther uncertain, even as late in the spring as the 1st June. 

 Judging from all this that the climate of England 

 was equally favourable to the growth of the Mulberry, 1 

 ordered from a nursery- garden at Turin 100 standard 

 trees and 1000 dwarf Mulberry-plants of the sort called 

 — « Of the Philippine Islands' (Jlforus multicaulis). This 

 sort produces much larger leaves than the Italian 

 wild White Mulberry, or that which in England is culti- 

 vated for its fruit. Its growth is rapid, and it is easily 

 propagated by cuttings, which strike as readily as the 



Willow. 



* My plants did not arrive in England until April, 

 1836. I treated them according to the directions given 

 in Mons. Burden's book, and I did not lose one. 

 I even gathered leaves from them the same year. 

 1 bought half an ounce of silk-worms' eggs at Novi, 

 which is said to produce the best silk in Italy, and thus 

 laid the foundation of a small establishment, which, I 

 hope, will be the means of spreading the culture of raw 

 silk throughout England, and in the course of years 

 render her independent of foreign resources. I have had 

 no difficulty whatever in rearing the silk-worm. I possess 

 an old loft over an unused stable ; in the former I have 

 reared the worm ; in the latter I placed a silk reel 

 Although my cocoons were pronounced " good," and 

 would bear a comparison with the specimens 1 brought 

 from Italy — although they were exempt from the diseases 

 which I understand carry off at times whole colonies there 

 — although I imported a silk reel from Italy, and went 

 to a great expense in having a scientific apparatus laid 

 down to heat the water, I found insurmountable obstacles 

 iu winding off the silk,/?/ for the loom, I tried year after 

 year, in vain : it was bright and beautiful to look at : it 

 was pronounced by Mr. Bonorardis, of the firm of 

 Prevost and Co., 21 A, Cateaton-street, to be of "good 

 quality, and sufficient bone and brightness, but the wind- 

 ing was without the 3 necessary for the loom." This 

 opinion encouraged me to send to France for a person 

 acquainted with the process; the result you have in the 

 specimens I have sent you. The yellow silk is the growth 

 of this year, the white that of cocoons kept during my 

 many years of trial. I have several pounds already wound 

 off, equally good, and the French girl, aged 19, and 

 another (English) of 15, are now busy at work winding 

 more. ' All the expense I have incurred in the appa- 

 ratus above named, is so much money thrown away ; 

 the wheel I have imported this year with this young girl 

 from France, is cheap, simple, and effectual ; it is also so 

 easy of accomplishment that three of my household can 

 wind with facility, besides a cottager's wife who is em- 

 ployed at six pence a-day to attend upon the worms. 

 The eggs can always be retarded so as not to be hatched 

 before the Mulberry is ready to put forth sufficient 

 food. In France and Italy the hatching begins about 

 the 1st of May ; I find a month later preferable. All 

 the books I have read describe a temperature of 75° to 

 be essential. I have proved by eight years* experience 

 that the insects thrive better at one much lower. In 

 damp or cold weather, I have a very small Arnot's stove 

 lighted, which regulates the temperature to from 65° to 

 70°. Ventilation is more necessary than extreme heat. 



others may try in other parts of England. — P.S. The 

 worms of this year were reared partly from eggs saved b? 

 myself last year, and partly from insects I purchased 

 from Signor Anegoni, 16, Church-st., Soho." 



The best thanks of the Council were returned to Mrs 

 Whitby for the favour of this communication. 



Southampton Meeting. — -At a Special Council 

 held at Southampton, Mr. Miles, on the part of himself 

 and Mr. Shelley, as Stewards of the Implement Depart- 

 ment, reported the unanimous satisfaction of the Imple- 

 ment-makers with their arrangements ; when it was 

 moved by Col. Austen, and seconded by the Marquis of 

 Downshire, That the best thanks of the Council be pre- 

 sented to Mr. Miles and Mr. Shelley, for their exertions 

 as Stewards of the Implement Department, and for the 

 trouble they had taken on behalf of the Society in the 

 Implement show-yard, as well as on the trial ground. 

 This motion was carried unanimously. — On the represent- 

 ation of the Earl of Ducie, on behalf of the Implement- 

 makers, it was resolved, — That the exhibitors of imple- 

 ments be permitted to read the corrected proof of Mr. 

 Parkes's Report (prepared for publication in the Journal) 

 in the Society's Rooms, but not to make extracts from 

 it, or publish any part of it. 



On the motion of the Hon. Capt. Spencer, it was re- 

 solved, — That no castrated or spayed animals be allowed 

 to be exhibited at the Country Shows of the Society. 



It was decided, — That in future the business of the 

 Society be adjourned on the Saturday of the previous 

 week, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, from the office in 

 Hanover-square to the place of the Annual Country 

 Meeting. 



Resolutions were passed expressive of the high opi- 

 nion entertained by the Council of the conduct of the 

 police at the Southampton Meeting. 



Shrewsbury Meeting. — The following General 

 Shrewsbury Committee has been appointed by the Coun- 

 cil: — Earl Spencer, Chairman; Hon. R. H. Clive, 

 M.P., Vice- Chairman ; Duke of Richmond, Lord 

 Portman, Hon. Capt. Spencer, Col. Austen; D. Barclay, 

 Esq., M.P. ; Thos. Raymond Barker, Esq. ; Col. 

 Challoner; J. W. Childers, Esq., M.P. ; Sir Andrew 

 Corbet, Bt. ; John Cotes, Esq. ; Jas. Dean, Esq. ; C. 

 Emery, Esq. ; H. Gibbs, Esq. ; B. Gibbs, Esq. ; W. 

 Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P. ; W. G. Hayter, Esq., M.P.; 

 W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq. ; Sir John V. B. Johnstone, Bt, 

 M.P. ; .W. Miles, Esq., M.P.J Philip Pusey, Esq.,M.P.; 

 R. A. Slaney, Esq. ; W. Shaw, Esq. ; J. Villiers Shelley, 

 Esq.; H. S.Thompson, Esq. 



The following Special Show-yard Committee has also 

 been appointed : — Chairman, H. Gibbs, Esq. ; Stewards, 

 Earl Spencer, Hon. Capt. Spencer, S. Druce, Esq.; W. 

 Miles, Esq., M.P.; J. Villiers Shelley, Esq. Mr. Man- 

 ning, of 251 High Holborn, has been engaged as con- 

 tractor of the works for the Show-yard and Pavilion. 

 Notices of Motion for the Monthly Council in 



December. 



Mr. Fisher Hobbs to move :— 



I. That the Journal Committee be requested to prepare— 



1. A printed List of all Members of the Society, with their 

 addresses, for the general use of the Members. • 



2. A Catalogue of all Implements, Models, Src, that nave 

 been presented to the Society. 



3. The Charter and Bye-Laws. - ml. «^ 



II. That the Judges shall be appointed by the Council .horn > i list 

 of nominations made by the Members of the Society at lariat 

 a General Meeting, and on the report of a Committee to whom 

 such list shall have been referred. 



Hon. Capt. Spencer to move :— 



. That Governors and Members of t he Council shall have adrnw- 

 sion, under certain regulations, to inspect the Cattle on 



Wednesday, after the Judges have ^)'^^^l^^ 

 II. That the Council take into their consideration the details con 



nected with the appointment of the Judges. 



I 



the em 



The expense of this stove is trifling — as indeed is every 

 thing connected with the cultivation of silk. This has 

 been a dry season, and the leaves in consequence fewer 

 and smaller than usual, but the same difficulty has 

 occurred in France, and the father of my little winder 

 writes word, that he was obliged to throw away this year 

 40,000 worms for lack of food. Mine would have 

 suffered also had not my friends in the neighbourhood 

 assisted in supplying me with leaves of the Red Mulberry. 

 A scarcity of leaves happening occasionally is no proof 

 that it cannot succeed ; look around at our fields. Where 

 are the spring crops of Barley and Oats ? Where are the 

 Turnips which ought now to make them green ? Checks 

 from bad seasons will occasionally happen to every pro- 

 duce of the earth in all countries ; but in general the 

 Mulberry of the Philippine Islands grows luxuriantly 

 and multiplies freely in this part of England. The 

 expense of an establishment such as mine would be small : 

 that which I have incurred in my unassisted efforts to 

 succeed must not be considered as necessary by any one 

 willing to take advantage by my experience ; and I am 

 so desirous to see the culture of silk become general, 

 that it will give me much pleasure to answer any in- 

 quiries you may wish to make, or give any information 

 in my power. I almost fear I shall have tired you with 

 this recital ; but I knew not how to make it shorter, so 

 a3 to be clear and convincing. Be it remembered there 

 was the same |prejudice in France as now "exists in 

 England against this branch of agriculture*; it was 

 attempted to be overcome by Henry IV., but what he 



Mr. Barclay, M.P., to move :- th 



That at the future Country Meetings of the Society ^ tne 

 Cattle-Show shall be open to Governors « d Me ™ Der 

 the Council at 3 o'clock on the Wednesday «"™™?' i]a0M 



CoMMUNiCATioNS.-The following common e ations 

 have been received, with the thanks of the ! Councu . 



1 The Right Hon. Sir George Rose, Bt.-Kesmw 



ployment of the Hainault Scythe. Fertiliser. 



2 Capt. Watkins (Bombay Art.)-On S^^^proveraent. 



3 Mr. Mechi-Communications on Agricultural imp 



4 Mr. Towers— Results of Dibbling^ heat. 



5 Mr. Grant— On Fences. „„« 



6 Mr.Sheppard-ResultsintheUseof Guano. . obse r. 



7 Lord Bridport, Mr. Spooner, M.P., and Mr. ^uru 



vations on Insects attacking Green Crops. 



8 Mr. Saul— On a Wheat- grub. 



9 Mr. Grove— On Australian Barley. R i ac vburn-On Ap- 



10 Mr. Hayter, M.P., Mr. Stokes, and Mr. Blackour. 



paratus for Steaming Food for Cattle. 



11 Mr. Dean-On Parochial Allotments and Drama c 



12 Mr. Carson— On Guano. whPat.Hoe. 



13 Mr. Bowers-On the Vernon Harcourt\V heat- ho ber 



14 Col. Austen-Communication fromM . iJAr <i j d . 



of the French Chamb. Dep.)-On the object on ^ 



ance at the Southampton Meeting, , and tnanas 



shown to himself and the Baron Mallet. FoSter -lane) 



15 Dr. Ure-Present (on the part of Mr. Knignt, 



of one of his Lime-testers. . . DoaD le Re- 



16 Knight and Thompson-Present of one of tneiri/ 



volving Beehives. 



17 Mr. R. Smith-Present of Taper-tiles. York In- 

 fl Mr. Colman-Present of Transactions of the New 



{S?oftte Parker. Camden, and Sydenham Societ es- 

 o,_Duke of Richmond-Present of a Report on Border** 



-Mr! FiVher Hobbs-Communication from Dr. Baker, on the 

 Inoculation of Pastures. 



22 



21 Mr Briggs-Treatiseson the Growth of Wheat, Gypsaij; 

 24 Mr! Pnlman-The Western Agriculturist (Axm.nster) N° 

 - Mr Shaw— The Farmers' Magazine. 



26 Dr Daubeny-Lecture on the Education of Farmers. 



27 Herring, Burness.and Co.-On Guano Agency. 

 23 M. Chybnski-On Apiaries in Po^nd. steame rs. 



tried to enforce by edict became general as it became » K^^^^ ^ *"* 



better known. _AU I desire is, to make it known, that I Agricultural Society. %* 



