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VOLUME II. NO. 35. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.—THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1851. 
WHOLE NO. 87. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO 
Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanic Arts and Sci¬ 
ence, Education, P.ural and Domestic Economy, 
General Intelligence, the Markets, &c., &c. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
ASSISTED BY 
J. H. BIXBY, L. WETHER ELL, and II. C. WHITE. 
Contributors and Correspondents: 
[,. B. Canoworthy, 
William Garrett. 
S. P. Chapman, 
David Ely, 
Myron Adams, 
H. P. Norton, 
T. C. Peters, 
F. W. Lay, 
T. E. Wetmore, 
R. B. Warren, 
Archibald Stone, 
Chester Dewey, li,. d., 
.1. Clement, 
D. W. Ballou, Jr., 
R. G. Pardee, 
I. Hildreth, 
Jas. II. Watts, 
W. K. Wyckokf, 
W. II. Bristol, 
Wm. Perry Food, 
S. Luther, 
L. D. Wiiitino. 
And numerous others—practical, scientific, and literary 
writers—whose names are necessarily omitted. 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to he unique and 
beautiful in appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
and Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical 
Subjects connected with the business of those whose inter¬ 
ests it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Horti¬ 
cultural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter 
—interspersed with many appropriate and handsome en¬ 
gravings—than any other paper published in this Country. 
STF” Fob Terms, &c.. see last page. 
PUOBKESS AND I.UPItOVMJI F.NT. 
“BALDWIN THEORY OF MANURES.” 
IN TWO NUMBERS. — NO. II. 
“ 8th. That the excrement of animals is not ma¬ 
nure. Like the bodies of animals, it never be¬ 
comes the food of plants until subject to putre¬ 
faction.” 
Prof. Johnston deems the term manure 
to mean any substance which contributes 
to the growth of plants, either by actually 
entering into their composition, or by pre¬ 
paring food for them. Now will it be deni¬ 
ed that “the excrement of animals” and 
“ the bodies of animals ” contain substan¬ 
ces on which plants feed, and from which 
they form their own substance? And if 
these articles do thus contribute to the 
growth of plants, why are they not raa- 
inivps 9 
‘‘9th. That the value of manure materially do- 
pends upon tho perfection of the putrefaciive pro¬ 
cess; that is, the strength or fertilizing qualities 
of the manure, may always ho estimated by the 
density and duration of the shade to which it has 
been subject.” 
If it is true that “ the strength of ma¬ 
nure may always be estimated by the den¬ 
sity and duration of the shade to which it 
has been subject,” then it would follow 
that manure which had laid in a close cellar 
for one hundred years, would be better than 
when it was put there. IIow this could be 
so is as “ clear as mud.” 
“ lOtili. That the surface of the eartli itself will 
readily undergo the putrefactive process, if favor¬ 
ably located, that is, densely shaded, which of 
necessity implies a cold, dark, close, and damp lo¬ 
cation.” 
How much is there of the body of the 
earth that does not lie in the shade? It 
certainly takes but the merest crust to 
shade all that lies under it; and if shade is 
all that is necessary for “ the earth itself to 
undergo the putrefactive process,” why has 
not its principal portion been long ago a 
mass of rottenness? But who ever heard 
before that the “earth itself,” that is pure 
earthy matter, was capable of putrefaj- 
tion ? 
“11th. That the fertility imparted to the earth 
by shade, that is, manure made of the earth it¬ 
self, is more durable, and therefore more valua¬ 
ble, than that made of any other substance what¬ 
soever. 
“ 12th. It is not true that the impoverished con¬ 
dition ol any soil proceeds from a deficiency in 
one or more of its mineral constituents, because 
all soils, alike, may he made exceedingly fertile by 
shade alone.” 
The last proposition contains the gist of 
the whole theory. The idea of the sterili¬ 
ty of soils being caused by the exhaustion 
of their mineral, and other ingredients 
which arc taken up by plants, is here pro¬ 
nounced false; and we are gravely told 
that “all soils, alike ”—no matter of what 
they consist—“ may be made exceedingly 
fertile by shade alone.” Why will not Dr. 
Baldwin give the public the benefit of a 
few examples by way of demonstrating the 
correctness of this assertion? Let him 
make up a soil of, pure flint, and when he 
has shaded it to his satisfaction, show its 
productiveness. 
Such is the “ Baldwin Theory of Ma¬ 
nures.” The deductions made from it, are 
such as the most natural construction of 
the language would justify. It will be no¬ 
ticed, however, that the “ Theory ” is, in 
many instances, given in ambiguous terms 
—the idea lies somew’hat in the “ shade,” 
and from this obscurity may not, perhaps, 
be clearly seen. But really it must be ac¬ 
knowledged that the manner in which the 
subject is presented in these twelve propo¬ 
sitions, from the vagueness of the language 
and the unreasonableness of the ideas, 
would have rendered it entirely unworthy 
of notice, had it not appeared in a respect¬ 
able journal, from which it has been exten¬ 
sively copied. 
From what has been said it must not be 
supposed that I deny, altogether, that shade 
may be the means of increasing the fertil¬ 
ity of the soil; but its advantages are 
greatly exaggerated, and carried to an un¬ 
warrantable f-xtreme, in this “ Baldwin 
Theory ” —to say nothing of the absurd po¬ 
sitions by which it is attempted to estab¬ 
lish the “ Theory.” 
The operation of shade on the soil, may 
favor the growth of plants in several ways 
1st. If a covering be applied to land occu¬ 
pied by grass, the grass may be killed, af¬ 
ter a lapse of time, so far as the covering 
extends, and the grass-roots, by their decay, 
will increase the amount of soluble organ¬ 
ic matter in the soil; the fertility of the 
soil is improved—and if the spot is again 
sown with grass seed, the plants will flour¬ 
ish, for a while, with more vigor than the 
surrounding sward. 
2d. Covering the soil with any dead 
matter preserves its moisture. I say dead 
matter because living vegetation draws 
away the moisture of the soil. If a part 
of a field should be covered with boards in 
winter or spring, and allowed to remain du¬ 
ring the summer, the soil would be kept in 
a moist state, whatever might be the char¬ 
acter of the season. If the whole field 
should be plowed and sowed to wheat in 
autumn, the part which had been covered, 
would be likely to be in much the best 
condition for a crop —especially if a drought 
had prevailed—in which case the soil which 
had not the benefit of the covering, would 
have become closely compacted and baked 
by the sun; it would break up by the plow 
in large, hard lumps; there would be so 
little loose mould, and the whole soil would 
be so dry, that the seed would but poorly 
germinate; the plants would make but a 
feeble growth before winter, and in conse¬ 
quence of all these adverse circumstances 
the crop would probably be light. On the 
other hand, the soil which had been cover¬ 
ed, would break up mellow, and would at 
once come into the best possible condition 
for the seed, and for the support of the 
crop. The crop would immediately com¬ 
mence a vigorous growth, ■would be pre¬ 
pared to resist the frosts of winter, and 
would probably yield a better return at 
harvest, than that from the ground which 
had not been shaded. 
This example is designed to show, simp¬ 
ly, the effects of shade in preserving the 
moisture of the soil. If litter or straw 
were used instead of boards, the expeii- 
ment would not be so fair because, the mat¬ 
ter would decompose, more or less, and its 
soluble portion would soak into and enrich 
the soil., 
3d. The shading of the earth may facil¬ 
itate the deposition of nitric salts. The 
causes most favorable to the formation of 
these salts in the soil, are not, probably, 
fully understood. The constant moisture 
produced by covering, and the soil being 
at the same time protected against the 
soaking and washing of rains, may favor 
the ascent of soluble mineral salts, as pot¬ 
ash and soda, by capillary attraction; and 
by being brought near the surface and 
within the action of the atmosphere, the 
nitrogen may unite with them, forming ni¬ 
trates with these basesv Although these 
substances, thus formed, will hardly be 
recognised as the “ residue of putrefaction,” 
their value as constituting the “aliment of 
plants,” and as assisting In the preparation 
of that “ aliment,” will be readily admit¬ 
ted. A. d. w. 
Troy, N. Y., 1851. 
LETTERS 0 N 
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE, ETC. 
BY M. M. RODGERS, M. D. 
FUANCE. 
CORN CULTURE-SUGGESTIONS. 
Many persons have observed this year, 
that in many instances, though the stalks 
of corn have attained a large and thrifty 
growth, the ears are few or but imper¬ 
fectly formed, and that the prospect for a 
good crop of sound, well ripened grain is 
quite unpromising, This unfruitfulnes may 
have its cause, in part, in tiie coldness of the 
season, while the frequent rains have for¬ 
warded the growth of the stalk—and of the 
weeds, also—drawing a large portion of nu¬ 
triment from the soil, so that now, at earing 
time, there is not that supply which the 
healthy formation of the grain demands, 
and hence it is imperfect or wholly wanting. 
The question arises, for a remedy or pre¬ 
ventive of this. If to land not in high or¬ 
der when planted, decomposed manure was 
applied in the hill, the rapid growth of the 
early part of the season has exhausted the 
supply, and now at this critical time, as the 
roots extend they do not gather the need¬ 
ed nourishment, and cannot fill the ears.— 
This, in the best of seasons, is an objection 
to exclusive manuring in the hill. Corn is 
a great feeder, its roots extend largely, and 
it needs a constant and unfailing supply 
throughout its growth, though there is un¬ 
doubted benefit in giving it a prompt and 
vigorous start in its early stages. 
Experiments in applying special manures 
during itspresentstage of growth, would be 
of much value to settle the question whether 
anything can be done to cause all the eais 
which begin to form upon the stalk—often 
from three to five in number—to fill with 
The Pittsfield Gazette suggests 
OO 
that “ the application of a handful of ashes to 
each hill, a spoonful of plaster, a little of 
some concentrated manure, as guano or 
poudrette, or any strong compost, would be 
of advantage,” and assist in producing this 
result. It appears reasonable that “ if the 
the plant were fed with a full supply of 
proper food for making grain, the several 
ears would be full of corn.” But the 
thought will be suggested,—how can the 
application of manures to the hill be of 
much value, when ihe roots have extended 
widely and deeply from that ceiitre? It 
cannot be of as great benefit as though the 
whole surface were manured, yet so nu¬ 
merous are the roots that it would undoubt 
edly be taken up by the plants, and prove 
an assistant in its perfection. It appears 
to us worthy of a trial, though the best 
plan, every one must concede, would be to 
supply the stimulus in the beginning—keep 
the soil open and light as long as the growth 
of the corn continues, and allow no weeds 
to rob it of the nutriment suppied. 
SILK AND SILKWORMS. 
Silk, is one of the great staple products 
of France: no branch of labor of such hum¬ 
ble origin, can compare with the production 
and manufacture of this article in extent 
and importance. This, like most kinds of 
business in old countries, is minutely sub¬ 
divided, and each part made a speciality, 
—one person grows the mulberry trees, an¬ 
other hatches the eggs and feeds the worms; 
a third, called the filiator, winds the silk from 
the cocoons and prepares the raw material 
for the manufacturer; then it passes thro’ 
the hands of the spinner, the weaver, the 
dyer, and so on to the wholesale and retail 
draper,—by whom it is distributed through 
all classes of society, throughout the civil¬ 
ized world. 
The production and manufacture of silk 
is said to be of Chinese origin; however 
this may be, it is carried to the greatestper- 
fection and extent in France of any coun¬ 
try, at the present time. A large propor¬ 
tion of the work of silk culture is perform¬ 
ed by children: its production is said to be 
the most easy, and the quality the most per¬ 
fect, in temperate climates; although the 
mulberry tree will grow in cold climates, 
and worms may be hatched and reared in 
an atmosphere artificially warmed; but the 
silk is inferior, and its cost greater. The 
mulberry is easily cultivated, and is the best, 
if not the only proper food of the silk worm; 
it grows best on a good sandy soil, and re¬ 
quires the greatest possible amount of light 
and air. The trees should not in general be 
stripped of their leaves for feeding the worms 
but once in a year; and all trees should be 
at least three years old before being defoli¬ 
ated at all: they maybe propagated by 
sowing the seed, by grafting or by layers; 
grafting is supposed to produce the best 
trees. 
Four varieties are cultivated principally, 
though some others also, to some extent.— 
These four are, the Murier Rose, or Rose 
leaved; the Mureir Multicaule,or Multicau- 
lis;—the Murier Muretti, and the Mureer 
Sauvageon, or Wild Mulberry. Of these, 
the Rose is considered superior to all others, 
and the Multicaulis the least valuable. 
Worms are divided into those which pro¬ 
duce a white and those which produce a 
yelldw cocoon. The principal races are the 
Sina, the Cora, the Turin and the Loudon: 
there are several others of inferior quality; 
the most valuable, and the finest silk is from 
the cocoon of the Sina. The usual timooo- 
cupied in feeding healthy worms is 28 to 
30 days: different races require different 
periods of time; some are fed as long as 
50 days, but this is in cases in which they 
are unhealthy or bady managed. The 
hatching of the eggs is generally a little 
hastened by artificial heat in order that 
they may be all hatched as nearly at one 
time as possible. 
Some silk growers recommend that the 
leaves should be cut finely for feeding 
young worms. Over feeding and fasting 
are both injurious; regularity and cleanli¬ 
ness are indispensable to success. When 
the worms are ready to wind the cocoon, 
small twigs are spread about among them, 
for them to fasten upon: when the cocoons 
is finished, the worm is killed by .steam, 
which is considered the best mode. The co¬ 
coon is now ready fur winding off. Silk 
worms are liable to be affected by several 
diseases: these may be induced by noxious 
gases and odors; bad leaves, and neglect; 
I filth, cold, wet, electricity in the air, thunder 
! storms, dec. A contagious disease called 
i Muscardine sometimes produces great mor- 
j tality among these insects: no cause or 
remedy is known for this malady. In gen¬ 
eral only one crop of worms can be reared 
in one season—attempts to get two, have 
been unsuccessful. 
The fact that silk growing is little at¬ 
tended to at present in America, is my 
apology for giving a mere outline of the 
subject: although to a few', details might 
be interesting, as this business has been but 
little understood in this country. The 
“ Morus Multicaulis fever,” like all other ex¬ 
citements, has been followed by a reaction; 
—and when silk growing is again taken up, 
it will be carried on in a more rational man¬ 
ner, and probably become a permanent and 
lucrative branch of industry. 
TROY WHEAT. 
The stalks were large and the heads long. 
Messrs. Editors: —I received a small 
paper of Troy wheat from the Patent office 
at Washington, accompanying which were 
the following recommendations: —This 
wheat was received at the Patent office 
from J. E. Coad, of St. Mary’s county, Md. 
It was originally brought from near the ru¬ 
ins of ancient Troy by an officer of the 
Navy. Mr. Coad says, “the stems of tins 
wheat are unusually large, bright and of 
great length, some measuring 6 feet,.flin¬ 
ches, while some of the heads were eleven 
inches in length and contained over 100 
grains; as a general thing the heads are 
much shorter, but well filled with large, 
plump wheat.” 
The Sample received was not all sound, 
good wheat, and after assorting carefully 
I might have had 100 kernels. These I 
sowed the 27th of September last, on a 
strong clay soil well suited for the growth 
of wheat. The land was spaded and pul¬ 
verised and the seed put in with much care 
about eight inches apart each way—thus 
occupying a space of about 20 feet square. 
I sowed upon it a half bushel of soot and 
ashes and a small quantity of pulverised 
yard manure. This wheat came up and 
looked thrifty during autumn, but in the 
spring appeared to be badly winter killed 
and promised but a meagre crop. It how¬ 
ever rallied very much during the months 
of May and June and produced a pretty 
fair crop. Ii seemed a great while in com¬ 
ing to maturity and was not fully ripe the 
12th of August, at which time it was cut. 
It appears to be a mixture of bearded and 
bald wheat. 
The berry is very large, and perhaps 
would have been plump had it stood a few 
days longer. From one year’s cultivation, 
I am not favorably impressed with this 
wheat, as suited to our climate. Inordina¬ 
ry seasons it would have been spoiled by 
rust, ripening so late. 
I shall have a quart or more which I 
intend sowing early, and shall pursue ex¬ 
periments to test its value, of which you 
may hear hereafter. 
Yours, dsc., Myron Adams. 
East Bloomfield, N. Y., August, 1851. 
Getting out Mock. —The present is the 
best time in the year for adding this sub¬ 
stance to the manure heap. The Maine Far¬ 
mer says, and we would endorse it:—“If 
you have any chance to obtain muck at a 
reasonable distance from you, it will be 
money well expended to employ a man and 
team a few days, or a week, or longer, ex¬ 
clusively in the business of hauling it to 
your barn-yard or any other place where 
you can cod vert it into manure by mixing 
it with cattle manure, or by mingling it with 
ashes, or by adding potash water to it” ' 
