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1831.] Proceedings of Societies. 149 
cylinder, drives out the water through the expulsion valves on the one side ; while 
that on the other is driven in by its own weight, and this, reversed immediately 
by the oscillating motion, produces the same effect on the other side, which thus 
gives a considerable stream of water. 
Mr. Maingy states that the Natives about Moulmien prize extremely the Virginia 
Tobacco, which yields much larger and finer leaves than the Tobacco of that 
country. 
Dr. Anderson, in his memorandum, thus describes the mode followed by Mr. 
Maingy in cultivating the Virginia Tobacco. 
“ The seeds were sown in a bed, and when their leaves were about three inches 
long they were transplanted ; the ground being prepared by hoeing deep ; manure 
was laid down in small heaps, and the soil was drawn up to cover it, forming small 
hillocks, at the distance of from four or five feet fro n each other. One young 
Tobacco plant was planted on the top of each of these hillocks, watered and shaded, 
until it took root. The lower leaves were removed from time to time, being small 
and worm eaten. When the plant was about a cubit high, the top was pinched off, 
learing six or seven leaves on each plant.. Shoots which struck out from the axilla* 
of the leaves were pinched off, and the plants were mulsed every eight or ten days 
with the drainings of a stable. When the leaves began to change colour and assume 
a yellow marbled appearance, they were considered ripe, and at this time shoots left, 
had thrown out blossoms. The leaves when cut were heaped together for three days 
in a house, when they became yellow. They were then spread in the shade to dry 
for eight days, after which they were tied together in bundles of three, aud hung 
upon the rafters of a shed to dry thoroughly. 
On the specimens of Rice sent by Mr. Swinton, Mr. Hurry reports that he is at a 
loss how to value them, as they are of kinds totally unsaleable either here or in 
England. Two that he had marked with red ink, would answer for the Isle of 
France or Eastern markets, if better cleaned. That when Major Burney was 
here, he (Mr. H.) had caused a quantity to be prepared in the Bengal mauner, in 
Major Burney’s presence, that he might initiate the Arracan and Tavoy people. 
That the black kind is much valued by the Malays, and that the red is used here 
by our boatmen on account of its clieapuess, being the common produce of Bal- 
lasore and Cuttack, and brought here daily in boats, at prices which he thinks 
would effectually prevent the Arracan Rice finding its way so far. 
The improved Hungarian Water-raising Machine, described in Mr. Watson’s letter, 
which is accompanied by a sketch, is only so far claimed by him as he has invented 
the method of making it work, without being dependant on a spring of water from 
a hill, which is a great advantage in this country. 
At a late Meeting of the Agricultural Committee, Sir Edward Ryan had presented, 
in the name of the Lord Bishop, two specimens of Silk, the first fruits of the labour 
and attention lately applied to this production in Bombay. One specimen was 
from Poona, and had been raised by an Italian lately settled there, through the 
influence and encouragement of the Collector, Mr. Gisborne. The other specimen 
was from the Estate of Framjee Cowasjee, in Salsette, who has lately brought some 
worms, and two skilful managers, from China. Mr. W. Prinsep, to whom these 
specimens were submitted, and whose great skill in such matters is well known, 
made the following report upon them. 
“ No. 1. The Poonah Skein. Letter A. No. 1, of four to six cocoons, would 
be the denomination here of a thread of this size ; harsh and dull, has very much 
the appearance of China Silk; the thread is very uneven, fleecy and endy ; 
these terms apply to the want of equal compactness in the thread ; the fault 
arising, most probably, from some detect in bringiug the different cocoon threads 
together : it is obviated here by a wheel, which crosses the two threads as they rise 
wet from the basin, and serves to bind them firmly before they run inte the skein 
on the reel. It would be a defect seriously felt by manufacturers of Silk of this size.” 
“ No. 2. The Salsette Skein — rather finer, but 'would be ranked under the same 
class of A. No. 1, four to six cocoons. It is bright, soft and mellow, the colour not 
quite so pure as the Poonah Silk, hut quality generally superior, and the reeling 
decidedly so; this thread is round, even, and strong, but it should be less endy in 
the skein ; it is difficult to judge of this defect unless the skein has escaped handling 
by others; this silk is superior to any that is exported from Beugal, although 
single skeins are occasionally seen of equal value. 
“In both the above Factories, the reeling might be much improved, by adopting 
the Bengal size of skein, instead of imitating that which comes from China; it is 
wore easily handled in the making and putting up here, as well as beiug more convo- 
mentlj applied to general purposes in the Silk M ills of England.” 
I 
