V^ViRJVi. 
(gntoraolffDital, 
AILANTHUS  SILK-WORM  MOTH. 
(Attacus  Cynthia.— OiitTRY.) 
The  oft-repoatcd  attempts  to  rear  the  gcinnine 
silk-worm  (Bombj/z  mori)  with  profit,  together 
with  the  inglorious  faiinro  of  those  engaged  in 
the  enterprise,  are  probably  well  known  to  the 
readers  of  the  Rural  New-Yorker.  Perhaps 
we  might,  for  the  sake  of  “  keeping  peace  in  the 
family,"  qualify  the  above  by  saying  all  attimiplfi 
in  former  years,  isjcauso  in  Kansas  and  Califor¬ 
nia  there  are  at  tho  present  time  parties  engaged 
in  sericulture  who  claim  to  be  meeting  with  fair, 
if  not  great  success.  But  there  has  always  been 
so  much  of  tlie  “  siwjculative "  element  intro¬ 
duced  with  every  attempt  at  prodtieing  silk  in 
this  country,  accomj)anicd  by  oxaggoi-ated  state- 
monts  of  prospective  profits,  that  close -calcu¬ 
lating,  practical  men,  who,  of  all  others,  are 
most  likely  to  succeed  in  any  new  enterprise, 
became  distrustful  and  would  have  nothing  to 
do  with  it. 
The  principal  difficulty,  however,  in  the  way 
of  making  sericulture  a  success  in  this  country, 
even  where  the  worms  thrived  and  food  could  bo 
raised  in  abundance,  was  tho  high  price  and 
scarcity  of  labor,  and  these  barriers,  in  a  great 
moasiU’o,  stUl  remain,  and  another  has  of  late 
appeared  in  tho  form  of  a  disease  among  the 
\vonnH,  which,  from  present  indications,  will 
become  quite  formidable.  Scriculturists,  how¬ 
ever,  having  had  such  poor  success  in  their 
attempts  to  roar  with  profit  the  small  and  rather 
delicate  B,  mori,  or  true  silk-wonu,  it  was  hut 
natural  that  they  should  endeavor  to  find  larger 
and  more  robust  si^ecios.  Snob  were  known  to 
be  quite  numerous  in  China  and  Jajmn,  and  it 
was  quite  an  easy  matter  to  import  a  few  eggs  of 
tJie  most  promising  and  give  Ujchj  a  trial,  TJio 
first  to  be  introduced  into  tho  Eastern  .States 
was  the  AUanthus  silk-worm  (Attacus  aynthia). 
Although  this  insect  was  known  to  the  missiona¬ 
ries  in  the  East  for  a  centmy, 
besides  being  described  by  Drury 
in  1773,  its  habits  were  luiknown 
to  the  scientific  world  until  1857. 
In  1861  it  was  introduced  into 
Philadelphia  by  Dr.  Tnos.  Stew-  ’v 
AEDsos,  who  found  no  difficulty 
in  reanng  it  in  confinement  or 
upon  the  Ailantlius  trees  growing 
in  the  sti’oets  of  that  city.  It  soon 
became  disseminated  in  nearly  all 
of  our  Eastern  cities  and  in  some 
of  the  Western,  for  wherever  the 
Ailanthus  tree  thrived  this  insect 
seemed  to  be  at  home.  Two 
broods  could  readily  be  roared  in  f  A 
a  season  in  the  Mldffie  States,  and  [ 
there  was  for  a  while  every  ap- 
pcarance  of  success  in  this  new  illllWnw//. 
enterprise.  But  when  the  cocoons  ■  'j  jf 
had  been  produced,  it  was  found 
that  there  was  one  serious  ob- 
stacle  in  the  way  of  utilizing 
them.  The  silk  of  which  they 
were  composed  was  not  oiJy  in¬ 
ferior  to  that  of  the  old  Mulberry 
worm,  but  the  tlircads  were  at¬ 
tached  together  with  such  a  tena¬ 
cious  gluten  that  they  could  not  jA 
be  successfully  unwound. 
A  few  experiments  sufliced  to  £SBa 
show  that  the  Ailanthus  sllk-wonn 
was  a  failure  in  so  far  as  being  of 
RUy  practical  utility.  It  increased, 
however,  very  rapidly,  and  soon 
was  looked  upon  as  a  nuisance, 
for  the  great,  green,  spine-cov- 
covered  worms  stripped  the  leaves 
from  the  Ailanthus  trees  planted 
along  the  streets  for  shade,  and 
many  of  them  falling  to  the  sidewalks,  were 
crushed  by  the  passer-by.  In  tho  fall  and  win¬ 
ter  the  bare  twigs  of  the  treos  were  ornamented 
by  thousands  of  the  long,  silken  cocoons,  from 
which  there  issued  tho  following  spring  a  large 
and  handsome  buff-colored  moth,  omamentod 
wilh  white  malkins.  as  sho^vn  In  tlio  accompany¬ 
ing  illustration.  The  rapiility  with  which  this 
insect  multiplied  for  the  first  few  years  after  its 
introduction  was  equalled  only  by  its  almost 
total  dlsappoai’ance  from  those  cities  whore  it 
had  been  tho  most  al>uudaut.  This  was  espe¬ 
cially  tlio  case  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  whore  it  al¬ 
most  totally  destroyed  tho  Ailanthus  trees  one 
season,  and  llio  next  it  could  scarcely  bo  IViund. 
The  dostructiou  of  this  moth  was  attrihntoil  to 
tho  presence  of  the  English  sparrow,  and  while 
wo  are  willing  to  eoncedo  that  they  holpod  In  the 
matter,  we  are  <iuite  satisfied  that  some  parasitic 
enemy  played  the  most  successful  part  in  re¬ 
ducing  the  number.  We  are  more  inolined  to 
believe  it  was  a  parasite  that  destroyed  tho 
Ailanthus  worms  a  few  years  since,  from  the  fact 
that  tho  worms  arc  again  becoming  numerous  in 
localities  where  tlio  sparrows  are  very  abundant. 
Since  the  introduction  of  the  .iUlanthua,  other 
large  species  of  silk-worms  liave  boon  obtained 
from  Japan,  amoug  tho  moat  noted  of  which  we 
may  name  the  Yama-mai  {Aitaons  yama-^nai) 
and  Pomyi  (^Aitaaus  J'et'ni).  These  are  both 
oak-feeding  species.  Tho  silk  they  produce  is 
coarser,  but  sti'onger  and  more  valuable,  than 
that  of  tho  Ailanthus  worm.  There  have  been 
several  importations  of  tho  eggs  of  those  spe¬ 
cies,  but  few  succeeded  in  obtaining  any  co¬ 
coons,  as  tho  wonuH  were  attacked  by  some  dis¬ 
ease  before  reaching  inaturity. 
Tho  late  rise  in  tho  pricos  of  silk,  caused  by 
the  spread  of  disease  among  the  silk-worms  in 
nearly  all  silk-producing  countiios,  not  excepting 
China,  will  doubtless  lead  to  further  experiments 
with  tho  larger  species  wo  have  named  aLovo, 
and  {>erhap8  with  some  of  our  native  kinds,  for 
we  have  several  which  produce  a  strong  thread, 
although  difficult  to  unwind  ;  but  Yankee  iii- 
t  genuity  may  yet  devise  some  means  to  unravel 
their  tangled  cocoons,  or  at  least  to  make  a  good 
article  of  corded  sillc  therefrom,  Ono  of  the 
most  common,  as  well  as  largest,  of  oiu'  native 
silk-worms  is  tho  Cecropia  silk-worm  {Altacus 
Cecropia).  The  moth  is  of  imnionse  size,  the 
wings  spreading  nearly  or  quite  sw  inches.  Tlie 
pi  incipal  or  ground  color  Is  a  dusky  brown,  with 
hind  margins  clay-yellow,  and  near  the  middle  of 
each  wing  there  is  an  opaque,  kidney-shaped 
white  spot,  as  shown  in  Fig.  2  on  page  181.  Tho 
cocoons  of  this  moth  are  generally  found  at¬ 
tached  to  some  twig  of  currant  bush  or  other 
sliriib,  whore  they  remain  all  winter.  The  usual 
size  and  form  is  shown  in  Pig.  .3,  on  same  page. 
The  silk  of  which  tliese  cocoons  are  formed  is 
oxcoeiUngly  tough,  and,  as  we  have  said,  camiot 
be  miwoutKl  by  ordinary  processes,  but  it  can  bo 
corded  and  utilized  hi  this  way.  There  is  no  tell¬ 
ing  what  may  be  done  with  this  and  other  native 
species  of  siJk-worms  in  the  future  ;  but  wo  can 
experiment,  watch  and  wait  fer  further  develop¬ 
ments. 
THE  NEWER  CONIFERJE. 
BY  J08IAH  HOOI’ES. 
Believing  that  there  is  a  grooving  demand  for 
the  newer  and  rarer  species  of  Evergreens  be¬ 
longing  to  the  great  natural  order  Coniform,  tho 
following  has  been  prepared  for  tho  pm-pose  of 
assisting  those  whoso  individual  experience  has 
been  limited.  It  is  not  intended  to  embrace  all 
the  most  beautiful  kinds  known  to  botanists,  nor 
yet  the  many  elegant  forms  of  our  older  species, 
that  have  boon  recently  introduced  to  notice. 
Tbo  idea  of  the  writer,  in  short,  is  to  introduce 
a  few  leading  species  of  trees  that  have  proven 
hardy,  reliable  and  attiactivo  for  the  past  few 
years,  under  all  the  vicissitudes  of  climate  to  be 
tound  in  the  Middle  States.  It  is  the  result  of 
his  own  personal  experience,  and  may  possibly 
differ  from  that  of  other  equally  as  observing 
gruwors. 
I  Commencing  with  tho  true  Spruces,  wo  must 
give  the  preference  so  far  to  Abies  orlenlalis — a 
species  which  every  lover  of  tho  beautiful  must 
admire  for  its  many  points  of  excellence.  It 
grows  quite  rapidly  after  once  becoming  estab¬ 
lished  i  forms  a  perfect,  conical  outline ;  is  very 
douse  m  structuro,  being  supplied  with  numer¬ 
ous  small  branchlots ;  in  color,  a  bright,  glossy 
green  ;  has  never  boou  injm’od  in  this  locality,  to 
niy  knowledge,  within  tho  past  twenty  years,  and 
tho  stock  of  trees  now  in  the  country  enables  our 
nurserymen  to  dispose  of  them  at  reasonable 
pricos.  This  valuable  species  comes  to  us  from 
tho  coast  of  tho  Black  Sea,  where  it  gi-ows  to  a 
large  size  and  fiuriishes  an  excellent  quality  of 
timber.  It  is  closely  allied  to,  and  may  possibly 
prove  Idontioal,  Itotaiiicaliy,  with,  the  A.  obo- 
vata,  although  tho  two  trees  cun  be  distinguished, 
when  young,  In  tho  nursery  rows. 
One  of  the  most  distinct,  and  at  the  same  time 
one  of  tho  raiost  species  in  our  collections  at 
present,  is  the  A .  poHla  of  Biuuoli).  Di  groivth 
it  is  Humowliat  in  the  way  of  tho  common  Nor¬ 
way  spruce,  but  botanioally  it  is  closely  related 
to  tho  A.  morinda,  from  which,  however,  it  is 
readily  distinguished.  The  foliage  in  our  cli¬ 
mate  changes  during  summer  to  a  pale,  yellow¬ 
ish  green,  although  m  Japan,  whence  it  comes, 
the  color  is  said  to  be  of  a  pale,  glaucous  green. 
It  is  of  moderately  -  rapid  growth,  forming  a 
pleasing  outline,  and  so  far  has  stood  the  test  of 
our  trying  winters  with  unvarying  suceess. 
The  best  specimen  of  this  tree  to  be  found  in 
cultivation,  outside  of  Its  native  country,  is,  per¬ 
haps,  in  the  fine  collection  of  Japaueso  novelties 
bolonging  to  the  Messrs.  Vritcii  of  London,  En 
gland,  tho  result  gf  one  of  the  expeditions  of  tho 
lamented  collector,  John  Ooui.o  Veitcu.  Fine 
young  plants,  however,  may  now  bo  soon  in  sev¬ 
eral  places  in  this  country,  and  rarely  in  a  few  of 
our  more  expensive  nurseries. 
Another  attractive  species  from 
Japan,  and  equally  as  valuable  as 
any  heretofore  tested,  is  the  very 
rare  A.  alcoquiana.  It  foms  a 
tree  of  Die  largest  size  on  the  Isl¬ 
and  of  Nippon,  where  it  is  found, 
with  the  foliage  deep  green  above 
and  silvery  glaucous  below.  This 
is  another  of  tho  introductions  of 
J.  G.  Veitcu  which  have  proven 
valuable  iu  thU  country.  After 
an  impartial  trial  of  five  or  six 
yeai’s,  I  have  no  hesitancy  in  pro¬ 
nouncing  it  hardy,  even  in  a  young 
state  and  without  protection  of 
. — - any  kind.  It  liears  a  strong  re¬ 
semblance  to  our  own  Western 
Menzios  spruce,  uot  only  in  the 
nimierouH  glaucous  leaves,  but  in 
^  :  the  shape  and  chara<!tor  of  the 
"  Cones  as  well,  thus  forming  au- 
chain  that  binds 
together  tho  trees  of  tho  old  and 
now  worlds. 
y  The  other  Japanese  spruce, 
known  as  .4.  microsperma,  is, 
perhaps,  untested  la  this  country 
to  any  extent.  The  short  time, 
however,  that  it  has  been  in  the 
posBubsion  of  our  cultivators,  as 
well  as  the  general  appearance  of 
the  trees,  leads  us  to  believe  it 
will  form  another  hardy  conifer 
for  our  lawns.  It  is  a  medium- 
sized  tree  in  tbo  way  of  A.  alcoc- 
quiana,  and  very  beautiful  In  its 
growth  and  outline. 
Taking  all  the  recommendable 
characters  of  a  first-class  conifer 
into  consideration,  I  do  not  know 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  SEPT,  16,  1876, 
J^Bntered  acoordins  to  Act  of  CongresB,  In  the  year  1876.  by  the  Rural  PiiblishinK  Company,  In  the  oflice  of  the  Librarian  of  ConKress  at  WashlnKton.j 
PRICE  SX3C:  CENTS 
*a.30  PER  YEAR. 
VOL.  XXXIV.  No.  Vi.  I 
WIIOI.E  No.  1390.  f 
