On the Acclimating Priiiciple of Plants. 17 



delivered to the purchaser, would produce in the first case 



^•900, in the latter $450. 



According to the calculation of Dandolo, an Italian silk 

 cultivator, which appears to be exaggerated, 90,000lbs. of 

 leaves, at 21 lbs. of leaves for one pound of cocoons, would 

 produce at least 3700 lbs. of cocoons, which at 25 cts. a pound 

 (the moth not being stifled) would produce |950. After kil- 

 ling the chrysalides, the cocoons will produce a higher price, 

 say, 30, 40, or perhaps 50 cents a pound, according to 

 the quality and abundance, or scarcity of the articles, and the 

 profit will be proportionate. 



The said 3700 lbs. of cocoons, being good and well-reeled, 

 will produce, at eight pounds of cocoons for one pound of 

 silk, 420 lbs. ofthe raw article, which at. '^3 a pound, the price 

 which China silk sells for in our sea ports, will amount to 

 $12G0; and if perfectly well-reeled and suited to the European 

 market, will produce, at .^6 a pound, .$'2520, the amount of 

 the produce of one acre of land the sixth year after planting! 

 Now allowing one-third part of this sum for rearing the worms 

 and reeling the silk, the principal part of which may be per- 

 formed by women and children, a net profit of |,'I680 per 

 acre may be realized ; and after that time, as the trees grow 

 larger, a much greater amount. 



ON THE ACCLIMATING PRINCIPLE OF PLANTS. 



[From the American Journal of Geology.] 



It is nature's plan, that nothing should remain fixed and 

 stationary. She exists by motion, and manifests herself through 

 endless changes : even death and decomposition are her pion- 

 eers, to prepare the way for life and existence. The very rocks 

 and minerals, (unorganized matter,) are changed by the action 

 ofthe elements, form new affinities, and yield to the circum- 

 stances of nioisture and heat, with which they may be sur- 

 rounded. Animals exhibit still more changes; they possess 

 powers of development, and the means of continuation of kind. 

 Endowed with locomotion, they can change their climate and 

 habitation : with a natural pliancy of constitution, they can 

 accommodate themselves to the quality of their food, and char- 

 acter ofthe country upon which they maybe thrown, and ap- 

 pear beautiful or defoimed accordingly as they may be acted 

 on by circumstances. Many of them can bear the most vio- 

 3 



