123 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
April. 
SILK CULTURE. 
We learn that at a late meeting of the American Ag¬ 
ricultural Association, Col. Clark read a valuable paper 
on the subject of the production of silk in the United 
States. He argued that the advantages of cultivating 
silk in Europe and this country are altogether in our 
favor. Here the hatching of eggs is done by the spring 
season—in Europe it was only accomplished bj T artifi¬ 
cial heat. The time of feeding in this country is 31 
days—in Europe 45. The expense of preparations, 
&c. is much less in this country than in Europe. There 
every thing has to be done under cover—here the worms 
succeed best with shelter just sufficient to protect them 
from the hot sun, and the rains. At the same meeting, 
Mr. Van Epps, who it is said, has lately become director 
to the largest silk establishment this side the Alleghanies, 
made some remarks showing that the progress of the 
silk-culture in the United States has been more rapid than 
is generally supposed. According to the Tribune , he 
stated in 1840 there were raised in Maine 211 lbs. of 
cocoons; 1844, 815; 
and in the following States 
1840. 
1844. 
New-Hampshire, .. 
1,100 
Vermont,. 
10,990 
Massachusetts,. 
37,690 
Rhode Island,. 
1,140 
Connecticut,. 
176,210 
New-York,. 
6,340 
5 200 
Pennsylvania,. 
33 ’110 
Delaware, .. 
458 
Maryland,.. 
8,530 
Virginia, ... 
. 3,191 
7,720 
North Carolina,.... 
8,050 
South Carolina,.... 
6,930 
Tennessee,.. .. 
............... 1,217 
25,090 
Kentucky,. 
5,810 
Illinois,. 
4,250 
Ohio,. 
31,500 
Total in 1844, 333,277 lbs. equal to 30,000 bushels of 
cocoons, which would employ 25 reels for six months. 
ORANGE CO. AG. SCHOOL- 
We learn that several farmers of the town of Mont¬ 
gomery, Orange county, N. Y., have formed an associa¬ 
tion for the purpose of establishing a school under the 
name of “ Orange County Scientific and Practical Insti¬ 
tute.” Mr. James Darrach has been engaged to 
furnish instruction by lectures and otherwise, in the 
natural sciences—particularly in vegetable and animal 
physiology, chemistry, &c.—showing their application 
to the purposes of the farmer. The different members 
constituting the association are each to receive a certain 
number of the pupils, whom they promise to instruct in 
ft all the practical branches of agriculture and the 
manual operations of the same; and also to watch over 
their morals and habits, in the same manner that they 
would their own children, for their permanent good.” 
The practical knowledge which will thus be imparted 
to the pupils, can hardly fail to be important—they 
will be able to see how far the suggestions of the labo¬ 
ratory will be borne out by actual experiment. We 
annex the following extract from a private letter, on 
the subject of this school, received from F. J. Betts, 
Esq., of Newburgh: 
(i Their system is in one respect, to me, quite new; 
and I should think would prove of great practical value. 
I refer to the provision for having the scholars board 
with the members of the institute, from whom they are 
to receive instruction in all of the practical duties of 
the art. Where, as in the case of this institute, the 
members are all intelligent practical farmers, who take 
such an interest in an improved state of agriculture as 
to enter into an association like this, and who stand 
pledged to carry out and test the accuracy and truth of 
the teachers’ suggestions by actual careful experiments, 
it seems to me that the student will be more thoroughly 
taught than he could be by experiments upon a “model 
farm;” and he will derive the still greater advantage 
of instruction in the mysteries of household economy. 
Success in agriculture must depend upon the economi¬ 
cal use of the farmer’s means, and the agricultural 
student who finds no place in his course of study , for 
economy as an essential part of his education, will find 
himself more of a theorist than a farmer, when his 
studies are concluded. In the practical farmer's family 
he will learn how to economise his time, his money, 
his manures, and in fine, all of his means.” 
We invite attention to the advertisement to be found 
in this number. 
“COWOLOG-Y.” 
We have received several inquiries in relation to a 
Treatise on Milch Cows published in France by M. 
Francis Guenon, and a translation of which, by N. P. 
Trist, has appeared in the Farmer’s Library. 
It is claimed that this treatise “discloses infallible 
signs for determining the milking properties of Neat 
Cattle.” By the aid of the knowledge imparted in this 
work, it is declared that “one may without fail disco¬ 
ver, even in a calf of a few months old, whether it will 
make a good milker, and is, therefore, worthy of being 
reserved for the dairy.” 
The “infallible signs” alluded to, are certain curls 
Cor “quirls”) of the hair called “ escutcheons.” By a 
strict observance of the position and extent of these 
“natural marks,” it is asserted that “the quality and 
quantity of milk which any cow will give, the length 
of time she will continue to give milk, &c., &c., may 
be accurately determined.” 
The treatise is accompanied by numerous diagrams 
illustrative of the “ escutcheons,” which, in the opinion 
of the author, indicate the precise qualities and value 
of the different classes of cows. The variation of the 
curls or escutcheons, have been made the basis of an 
arrangement by which all cows are embraced in eight 
several classes, each class having two sub-divisions. 
M. Guenon assumes to give the exact number of “litres” 
of milk which are yielded by cows of all these classes 
and divisions. 
It is impossible to furnish such a description of the 
“ escutcheons” as would afford the reader a definite idea 
of them, without the diagrams; and to copy these, 
might be deemed an infringement on the copy-right of 
the American publishers. Those therefore who wish 
to obtain a more particular knowledge of the work, are 
referred to the Farmer’s Library. (See advertisement.) 
We have but a word to say in reference to M. 
Guenon’s “ Discovery.” It is known to every man of 
observation, that the quantity of milk or butter that may 
be aflorded by any cow in a given time, depends so 
much on contingent circumstances, that “ accuracy ” in 
foretelling the qualities of cows must be out of the 
question. We have had no opportunity of ascertaining 
how far the application of M. Guenon's rules would 
show them entitled to consideration; but so long as the 
“ quantity and quality of milk, and the length of time a 
cow will continue to give milk,” are dependent on the 
nature and quantity of food, the temperature in which 
the animal is kept, her quietude, and the management, 
in all respects, to which she is subjected, we know that 
“natural signs” can be only general , not particular and 
“ infallible” guides. 
CHEESE DAIRYING- IN WINTER. 
Col. T. S. Meacham, of Pulaski, N. Y., called on us 
one day in February last, and informed us that he was 
then using the milk of 95 cows for making cheese. 
The making of cheese at this season of the year is an 
experiment not before tried, to Col. M’s knowledge; 
but with his complete rooms and apparatus for warming 
and drying, he feels pretty confident of success. The 
milk, he thinks, is richer at this season than in summer, 
and will, he supposes, produce cheese of better quality. 
He is now, he informs us, erecting a spacious hall for 
curing his cheese, which when finished, will be 150 feet 
long and 18 feet in width. Col. M’s farm consists of 
