308 National Silk Convention.—Wild Dees.—Ladies Department.—Cultivation of Corn. 
rent kinds of hemp and flax can ever become 
of as varied and universal use as cotton, but 
each may largely contribute their quota to 
our riches, and we should feel rejoiced if 
we could revive attention to the above pro¬ 
mising and useful plant. 
National Silk Convention. 
A National Silk Convention was held at 
Northampton, Mass., in September last, which 
was unusually important and interesting. 
We condense below a synopsis of its pro¬ 
ceedings. 
It was unanimously Resolved by the dele¬ 
gates, a highly intelligent body of men, 
from different parts of the country : 
That there are ample grounds for confi¬ 
dence in the silk business. 
That the causes of failure are transient, 
while those of success, diet, and climate, are 
permanent. 
That American silk in the date in which ihe 
worm leaves it , is first rate. 
That a climate and soil adapted to the suc¬ 
cessful growth of Indian corn, is every way 
suited to growing silk. 
That the natural growth of the mulberry 
in the United States and China, indicate the 
adaptation of this country to the silk culture. 
That there is every encouragement from 
past experience, for continued and increased 
attention to this subject. 
That the present tariff for the protection 
of this article, is satisfactory. 
That the state Legislatures are earnestly 
solicited to promote the culture of the raw 
material, by offering a bounty, till the coun¬ 
try is abundantly supplied for .the manufac¬ 
turers. 
And finally, “ that our manufacturers and 
other business men have now every reasona¬ 
ble encouragement to invest, in a wise and 
careful manner, their funds in this new form 
of domestic labor—growing and manufactur¬ 
ing silk.” 
Wild Bees. 
The peculiar instinct of this curious little 
insect which determines it in the choice of its 
home, has never been satisfactorily given. 
They sometimes obstinately refuse to occupy 
a hive, which apparently is perfectly suited 
to them, and push their way to a remote and 
uncomfortable place, every way illy suited 
to their comfort and convenience. What 
influences them in rejecting the one and 
seeking the other, and is this new home be¬ 
fore determined on % We hope some of our 
correspondents, more familiar with the sub¬ 
ject, will enlighten us. 
We once found a swarm of bees snugly 
sheltered under the combined foliage of a 
grape vine and the limbs of a small tree, to 
which it was clinging. No other protection 
was afforded than this, and the whole comb 
was exposed to the full force of the elements, 
yet the swarm appeared perfectly thrifty and 
healthy. 
^Department. 
For ,the American Agriculturist. 
TO MAKE SOUSE. 
Boil a pig’s head or feet four or five hours, or until 
very tender, take out all the bones, and lay the meat 
in a stone jar ; boil vinegar with cloves, pepper, and a 
little salt, mix with this so much of the jelly from the 
water, in which the meat was boiled, as will prevent 
too much acidity, and with this liquid cover the meat 
entirely. When wanted for use, cut it in slices, and 
after heating it in a frying-pan, pour off the liquid, and 
brown the meat, or dip the slices in batter, and fry in 
a pan just rubbed with butter or lard. 
A REMEDY AGAINST SCARLET AND TYPHUS FEVERS. 
A bath of weak lye and water, or simply bathing 
the feet in the same, is said to be very beneficial in 
Scarlet Fever. 
It is also stated that contagion from Typhus Fever 
may be prevented by producing nitrous acid gas. “ This 
may be done in the following way. Place a little pound¬ 
ed saltpetre in a saucer, and pour on as much oil of 
vitriol as will cover it; a. copious discharge will ensue, 
whose quality may be regulated by lessening or in¬ 
creasing the quantity of materials.” 
CURE FOR AN INVETERATE COUGH. 
Fifteen to twenty-five drops of laudanum, mixed with 
a teaspoon full of magnesia and a little water, taken 
every night before retiring. 
NUT-CAKES, OR DOUGH NUTS. 
While your lard is melting to boil your cakes, mix 
two cups of buttermilk and two of cream, with two or 
three eggs, one teaspoon full of saleratus, and plenty of 
fine cinnamon and flour enough to roll; made in this 
way, they are more tender and less liable to harden, 
than when raised with yeast. Ella 
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Prospect Hill , Ky ., Nov. 7, 1842. 
Gent. —In conformity with the request, 
contained in your letter of the 14th Sept., I 
proceed to give you such information as I 
have been able to obtain, respecting the large 
crops of corn, noticed in Agricultural Jour¬ 
nals, as having been raised in Kentucky, in 
the year 1840, which was a very favorable 
year for that crop. 
The crop raised by George W. Williams, 
Esq., of Bourbon county, in that year, on one 
acre and one eighth, was 178 bushels, and 
consequently the product, per acre , was 159| 
bushels. These facts appear from the certi¬ 
ficate of the gentlemen who measured the 
