486 
THE CULTIYA10R. 
are fed upon them to be unhealthy, and hence injure 
their silk. He thought this objection would operate 
more seriously at the south, where the seasons are longer 
and warmer. The heat would cause them to grow more 
rapidly, the leaves would be larger, and he thought, im¬ 
bibe more moisture. He regretted the universal adop¬ 
tion of this tree at the south, and feared that a failure 
caused by this fact, would retard the progress of the 
[silk] business ten years, by discouraging so many who 
would become losers.” 
We quote the above as affording hints that may be 
useful to those who are about embarking in the silk 
business; though we somewhat doubt if Mr. W. is 
correct in his objections to the leaves of the multi- 
caulis, and we think he is decidedly in error in sup¬ 
posing that this objection, if well founded, will be 
greater at the south than in the north—the greater 
heat at the south decreasing, instead of increasing, 
the succulence or watery properties of the foliage. 
These two gentlemen give a decided preference to 
what they term the Alpine, which Mr. W. says is 
“the kind universally used in Trance and Italy.” We 
do not mean to charge these gentlemen with wan¬ 
ton deception, for we have a high opinion of their 
good standing; yet there is something so mystical in 
these declarations—so contrary to received opinions 
—that we can not pass them as current truths, with¬ 
out asking for some further explanation. We have 
examined all the botanical and other works in our 
possession which treat of the mulberry, and they are 
neither few nor of doubtful authority—and yet we 
can not find in any one the term Alpine given to any 
species or variety of the mulberry. And as to the 
assertion that the Alpine is universally used in France 
and Italy, we have Gen. Tallmadge’s declaration, that 
in Finizio’s establishment, in Italy, which he visited, 
3,000 lbs. of sewing silk are made a week, mostly 
from the black mulberry (M . nigra;) that Finizio 
stated to him, that the worm fed on the black mul¬ 
berry made the strongest thread; that on the white 
mulberry finer and better fabrics; that on the Chi¬ 
nese ( M. multicaulis) still finer and more delicate 
fabrics. And we think, (for we have not the letter 
at hand,) that Gen. Tallmadge says the white mul¬ 
berry ( M . alba) is almost exclusively employed in 
France. Loudon says, “ the M. alba is commonly 
cultivated in France and other countries, for its 
leaves, to feed silk-worms, though in some parts of 
Spain and Persia they are said to prefer the black 
mulberry.”— Enc. Plants, 782. The Alpine, we pre¬ 
sume is a variety of the M. alba, and is probably the 
one alluded to by Loudon, where he says—“ the most 
valuable variety of the M. alba is one grown in Italy, 
and especially in Lombardy, with vigorous shoots, and 
much larger leaves than the other.” This may also 
be the Dandolo of Loudon, and the Italian of Sweet, 
and possibly the Brussa of Asia, from whence it may 
have been brought to Italy. 
Dr. Stebbins advertises the public, that the under¬ 
named (and many not named) descriptions of the 
mulberry, may be had of him in Northampton, viz. 
the Manilla multicaulis, the Canton, the Alpine, the 
Asiatic, the Smyrna, the Brussa and Dandolo. Now 
we protest against this fabrication of new names, 
for old things, whether it be from ignorance, for no¬ 
velty, or to subserve the interests of the trade. Those 
printed in Italics appear to us to be absolutely of 
new coinage. This unnecessary multiplication of 
names tends to mystify the business, to deceive the 
publie and to retard a useful branch of national indus¬ 
try. We believe that all which are named in the; 
Doctor’s advertisement are merely varieties of the 
white mulberry, differing somewhat in the size of 
their foliage, and in their hardihood, but very little in 
their properties for silk. 
We have no sort of objection that Doctor S. should 
puff his own wares, or his own kind of trees—but we 
do object to his doing it to the prejudice of others, 
and of truth—which he indirectly does when he re¬ 
marks—“ The Brussa and Dandolo appear to be se¬ 
lected white mulberry—leaf not large—tree hardy, 
and there are some other varieties, which may he used 
for change of food!” Now if the Doctor has seen the 
cocoons and silk produced exclusively from the Brussa, 
he must know that the insinuation here made, that 
it is unfit for the entire subsistence of the silk-worm, 
and the production of excellent silk, is neither ingenu¬ 
ous nor true ; and if he has not this personal know¬ 
ledge, he has no right, as an honorable man, to give 
the intimation imputed to him. 
The general impression is, that the M. multicaulis 
will produce few or no seeds. This is probably owing 
to its rapid and continued growth of wood—and the 
tree will probably fruit freely when it has attained to 
maturity of growth. We have yet none but young 
trees among us, comparatively; and it is particularly 
remarked of the mulberry, that young trees are shy 
in bearing, and that the quantity and size of the fruit 
increases as the tree advances to maturity. 
In the East Indies, according to Loudon, the plants 
are raised from cuttings, eight or ten of which are 
planted together in one pit, and the pit# are distribut¬ 
ed over the field at the distance of two or three feet 
every way. These cuttings being made firm at the 
lower ends, soon form stools about the size of a rasp¬ 
berry bush, and from these the leaves are gathered. 
The stools are cut over once a year to encourage the 
production of vigorous shoots from the roots. 
Spirit of Agricultural Improvement in England. 
The spirit of agricultural improvement seems to 
have been awakened in England in an eminent de¬ 
gree, and a zeal to pervade all classes, particularly 
those of the higher orders, to give to this primary 
branch of labor, every stimulus and encouragement 
to improvement, as the great business which consti¬ 
tutes the basis of national prosperity and greatness. 
Not only has a national society been organized during 
the last year, but several county societies have gone 
into operation, under the most flattering prospects of 
usefulness. We make some extracts below, from the 
proceedings of the Yorkshire society, at their first 
annual show, as well to show the spirit that prevails 
there, as that our readers may profit by the informa¬ 
tion and suggestions which they contain. After the 
exhibition had closed, which was remarkable for the 
great number of fine animals, and new and useful im¬ 
plements of husbandry, which were shown, twelve 
hundred persons sat down to dinner, which being 
finished, and the health of the royal family drank—the 
Chairman, Earl Spencer, rose to explain the objects 
of the society. 
“This being the first dinner of the Yorkshire Agri¬ 
cultural Society,” he remarked, “ I feel that it is my duty 
to call your attention to the objects we had in view in 
establishing this society. Those objects are, to promote 
agriculture in all its different branches—to render the 
cultivation of the soil, and the breeding of stock, as im¬ 
proved as the present knowledge of the country can 
make it—what I mean by improvement in agriculture 
and good farming is, to cause the greatest amount of 
produce at the least possible expense. It is not that we 
wish to encourage tarmers in extravagant expenses to 
make their farms like gardens, when that wifi not an¬ 
swer the purpose of their pockets—but to employ their 
capital judiciously, so as to improve the land, and ob¬ 
tain as large a return as they can for the money they 
lay out. On this, the first occasion of our meeting, we 
have had a good exhibition of stock, and now, I am hap¬ 
py to say, a full attendance of members. The exhibi¬ 
tion we have had to-day, I need not tell you, is admira¬ 
ble as to the quality of the animals shown, and the num¬ 
ber was very great indeed. But the object of this meet¬ 
ing is not merely the exhibition of stock; it is collecting 
together a body of the farmers of England, in order that 
they may, by communicating with one another, and by 
what they see and hear, improve themselves in the pro¬ 
fession in which they are engaged. When I address 
this large assembly, in this I also can say, that we have 
been successful. It is not necessary for me to tell you 
what the advantages are of improving the breed of cat¬ 
tle. I do not recommend to farmers of small capital to 
attempt to buy females of great value, and lay out large 
sums to produce male animals for the benefit of others; 
because nothing is more essential in farming than that 
a man should consider the capital he has, before he en¬ 
gages in any undertaking; but it is for persons of 
large capital to endeavor, by taking pains themselves, 
to produce male animals, fit to improve the different 
breeds of domestic cattle in this country. These exhi¬ 
bitions are of the greatest advantage, not merely to per¬ 
sons of the class I have described, but to all farmers 
whatever. Although I would not recommend any ex¬ 
travagant expenses, depend upon it, if you be careful 
in the selection of your male animals, you will, even 
with more moderate females, farm to greater profit. 
This society also seeks to improve the cultivation of 
land. I need not tell such a meeting as I am now ad¬ 
dressing, that the throwing away manure upon the 
growth of weeds is not a profitable way of farming; that 
leaving land undrained and growing rushes instead of 
grasses, is not good farming; that getting out the heart, 
by neglecting land, and not applying a proper degree of 
cultivation is unprofitable—because, depend upon it, 
that money laid out in improving is the money that will 
come the quickest back again into your own pockets. 
With this view, the society has given premiums for the 
best cultivated farms. By so doing, I am quite sure, we 
are not only giving those good farmers new information, 
but we are encouraging them in doing their best. Be¬ 
sides those, we have given prizes for publications on 
agricultural subjects. It is our intention that each 
member shall receive a copy of the prize essays gratis, 
on applying to the secretary. I have stated the objects 
of this society, and the modes by which we intend to 
promote it—our object is to produce the food of man in 
the cheapest manner in which food can be produced. I 
think the society deserves the support of not merely 
landlords and farmers, and those connected with agri¬ 
culture, and the value of land, but also of the commer¬ 
cial and manufacturing classes of the country; it is also 
good for the laborers of the country; in short, a society 
which has for its professed object, food at the cheapest 
rate, is good for every one who eats.” 
P. B. Thompson—“One of the first objects of these 
meetings, in addition to what had been so ably stated 
by his noble friend, was to keep up an open, unreserved 
communication, between gentlemen and farmers, which 
he trusted that meeting would promote to the utmost of 
their power. It was not by speeches, but by plain, ho¬ 
nest, unreserved conversation, that he thought these 
meetings ought to be sustained; and if any person 
knew any thing more than his neighbor, he was bound 
to state it. Well, then, yesterday morning, he received 
a parcel of wheat from Berkshire, which he thought 
likely to be serviceable if grown in this country. It was 
found three years ago, growing on the mountains of 
Switzerland; since then it had been grown in England, 
and the sample he produced was grown in Berkshire. 
It was sown on the first of February, called Royal 
Standard wheat, the crop had now (29th Aug.) been 
reaped a fortnight, and was supposed to be at least 
seven quarters [56 bushels] the acre. Another subject 
worthy their attention was the application and forma¬ 
tion of manure with the least possible waste; next year 
he hoped to be able to give them some useful informa¬ 
tion upon that point. He never enjoyed a greater plea¬ 
sure than in witnessing the cattle that day. He never 
looked over so good an exhibition of female stock as he 
had witnessed that day—indeed 200 guineas [$932] had 
been offered for one of the cows shown. That was a 
practical proof of his noble friend’s observation, that 
the money came back again to the farmer’s pocket.” 
J. W. Childers, Esq. M.'P.—“He believed thatan ex¬ 
hibition such as he had that day witnessed, had scarcely 
ever before been seen in England. But he thought that 
only a beginning, when he saw that within a month or 
two, the society had doubled the number of its sub¬ 
scribers, he felt that the society would go on increasing 
from year to year, until its extent was only equalled by 
the Highland Society, on the model of which it was 
formed. The Highland Society numbered 3,000 mem¬ 
bers, and seeing that they had reached 800, he had very 
little doubt but they would also reach 3,000.” Mr. Chil¬ 
ders said he was about to propose as a toast—“ the culti¬ 
vator of the best farm”—and proceeded to say—“ he trust¬ 
ed in time that every farm in Yorkshire would be raised 
to the state of this prize farm. He believed it was con¬ 
sidered almost a garden, being in such fine condition, 
and he saw no reason why the county should not teem 
with farms of this description. What was it that gave 
this farm such a superiority? its soil was naturally 
good, but so was the soil of a great deal more land in 
Yorkshire—it was science and capital, united, that gave 
those fertile and beneficial results.” 
“ W. R. C. Stansfield, Esq. M. P.— proposed the health 
of Mr. James Roberts, the tenant who, within the last 
five years, had drained, in the most effectual, judicious 
and economical manner, the largest quantity of land in 
proportion to his occupation. He had the greatest sa¬ 
tisfaction in calling their attention to what he conceived 
was one of the most important branches of the society’s 
operations—drainage he considered the foundation of 
every thing. Unless they had the means of preparing 
the soil for the manure and seed all was wasted. He 
feared this subject was but little considered, either in 
England or Scotland; if he took his own neighborhood 
as an example, a mountainous country, with a nume¬ 
rous and very industrious population, the means of im¬ 
provement by draining had scarcely begun. Without 
draining, land was unfit for turnips or seed husbandry—• 
it was unfit for human occupation.” 
Mr. Bates, a successful competitor, on his health 
being drank, made a handsome acknowledgment. 
He drew a contrast between the condition of the cat¬ 
tle now and fifty years ago; and proceeded to say, 
that 
“ The interests of agriculture he considered of perma¬ 
nent national importance; it was a science to which 
chemistry and all other branches of natural philosophy 
ought to give place. He alluded to the proposal for in¬ 
troducing a section of agriculture in the British Asso¬ 
ciation, and regretted that there was not a Professor of 
Agriculture in either of the universities.” 
E. S. Caley, Esq. M. P .—“ Thus it was, that as science 
advanced, agricultural operations were carried on with 
ten times more advantage than before, merely, because, 
instead of the observations of one man, or two men, they 
had now the result of the combined operations of all the 
world. That was the reason why he anticipated the 
greatest advantages from meetings like that. They 
were all brought together, not merely to look at the fat 
stock, as Earl Spencer had observed, but to join in har¬ 
mony, to impart the result of their own observations, 
and to receive information from the experience of 
others; and as it is well known that two heads are bet¬ 
ter than one, they were much more likely to draw 
true, faithful and profitable conclusions, as related to 
agricultural operations, by meeting there and comparing 
their different conclusions, than they would be if they 
were all to stay at home and say nothing. He did not 
say they could not learn anything by staying at home; 
but, at all events, they could not learn what their neigh¬ 
bors were doing. There was an old saying prevalent 
in the world, about an old country woman, who had 
never been from home in her life, but on the occasion 
of her young mistress being married, was prevailed on 
to go to the next village to see the festivities, and on 
getting to the top of the hill, she said—‘Lord hey massy 
on us! wheeaivver thowt t’world was hoaf see big as 
this!’ He mentioned this to illustrate the advantages 
of not staying at home, in order, not merely to learn 
from others, but to communicate to others what they 
knew themselves. He would say to them—‘ freely ye 
have received, freely give.’ It was not merely for the 
love of gain they were assembled together on that occa¬ 
sion, or that they cultivated the noble science to which 
they were addicted; it was not merely for the sake of 
