THE CULTIVATOR. 
167 
last summer. Fruits thus preserved, should be mature and perfectly dry, 
and if grapes, the unripe and defective berries should be carefuliy pluck¬ 
ed off. They are placed in layers, and alternated with clean cotton, bat¬ 
ting, in a stone jar or tight box, the mouth of the vessel covered so as 
to exclude the air, and the jar or box placed in a dry place, secure from 
frost, till fruit is wanted for use. 
The Magazine of Horticulture. —The first number of vol. 3 of this 
work has just come to hand, and deserves high commendation. It is 
devoted to our sister art, Horticulture. This number is wholly origi¬ 
nal, and is interesting and instructing to the practical gardener, as well 
as to the amateur pomologist and florist. Among other interesting 
subjects, of which it treats, we see commenced a description of one 
hundred and twenty-six varieties of the pear, by R. Manning, Esq. of 
Salem, worth itself, when completed, a year’s subscription. This is a 
subject on which Mr. Manning is eminently qualified to give instruction, 
having all the varieties he describes in his own grounds, and haviug de¬ 
voted years to the study of this fruit. The list will embrace most of 
the new foreign varieties. 
The Magazine of Horticulture is a monthly 8vo of 40 pages, neatly 
printed, at three dollars a year—published by Hovey & Co. Boston. 
Ploughing. —It has been ascertained, that a team, walking at the rate 
of one and a half and two miles an hour, will plough the following 
quantity of a medium soil, to the depth of five inches, in nine hours:— 
Inches. A. R. P. 
Breadth of furrow 8 at 1 k mile per hour, 10 0 
9 “ “ 1 0 20 
8 at 2 “ 11 10 
9 “ “ 1 2 00 
The difference in the quantity ploughed in these instances clearly de¬ 
monstrates the value of action in horses; but it must at the same time 
be observed, that the distance travelled at the slow pace is only twelve, 
while at the quicker rate it is sixteen miles. 
THE NATIVE MULBERRY. 
Will not the indigenous mulberry of our country (morus rubra,) ulti¬ 
mately supersede foreign varieties, for the fabrication of silk,—in the 
northern sections of our country? We publish to-day a communication 
from Mr. Fay on this subject. The sample of silk which accompanied 
it, is a beautiful specimen. The reputation of Italian sewing silk stands 
pre-eminently high, and this we are told by Gen. Tallmadge, is neither 
produced from the white mulberry, nor the multicaulis, but from the 
indigenous mulberry of the country, the black mulberry (m. nigra). If 
we are permitted to reason from analogy, is there not good reason to 
believe, that every species of the mulberry will produce better silk, in 
the climate to which it is indigenous, than it will in a different one to 
which it may be transferred? We have both fabrics and raw silk from 
our native mulberry, and although they do not excel in softness and 
beauty, they appear equal to any in strength and durability. Neither 
the black nor the multicaulis, can withstand the severity of our north¬ 
ern winters; nor does the white often escape being seriously scathed. 
We write for the latitude of 42°, and we speak from personal know¬ 
ledge. The red abounds in our forests, is as hardy as our pines, and 
we presume may be as readily multiplied, and in the same way, as the 
exotic species are. The subject is at least worthy of particular inves¬ 
tigation. 
To Cure Chopped Hands, in winter, rub a little cream or vinegar upon 
them, after using soap. The chopping proceeds from the caustic ef¬ 
fects of the alkali in the soap, and these neutralize it. The natural 
sweat performs this office in summer. 
NOTICE OF CORRESPONDENTS. 
Amos David, who writes to us from Tennessee, for a few seeds of 
the morus multicaulis, is informed that this seed is not to be had in the 
American market, that we are advised of. 
Plaster combined with manure. —We have received a communication 
from Austin Johnson, Rupert, Vt. showing the great efficacy of gypsum 
in bringing into operation the fertilizing properties of dung. A piece 
of meadow ground upon a steep slope, and upon which grass would not 
grow, was selected for the site of hay stacks, and the hay was fed to 
stock upon the ground, whose droppings rendered it rich with dung, 
with the view of bringing in a turf. But this proved inefficacious, un¬ 
til he sowed plaster, upon it, in two successive years, at the rate of a 
bushel to the acre, as upon the rest of the meadow. In consequence, 
he presumes, of sowing the plaster, the clover sprung up luxuriantly, 
and he cut a heavy burthen, at least two tons to the acre, when before 
he had not got enough to pay for the labor of cutting it; and it proved 
far the best part of the meadow. This indicates, in our opinion, that 
plaster is a specific food for clover—that clover will not grow well in 
soils which do not contain it, although they be made rich with dung— 
and that therefore it is a valuable application upon all dry soils, upon 
which clover does not seem to thrive naturally. 
J. N. Smith, of Coffee Creek, Pa. requests us to publish directions 
for making and preserving cheese, for the benefit of himself and neigh¬ 
bors. We have the same request from others. We have had the pro¬ 
mise of such an article from an esteemed friend in one of the best cheese 
district of our country, and we trust this note will prompt him to re¬ 
deem his promise. 
QUERIES BY JUDGE GOLDSBOROUGH, CAMBRIDGE, MD. 
“My farm,” he says, “lays contiguous to an immense deposite of 
oyster sl£ells, the deposite made by the Indians before the settlement of 
the province of Maryland, and the shells more or less in a state of mi¬ 
nute separation, covered in part with vegetable black mould and sand. 
These beds are very numerous on the banks of the Choptank, a large 
river emptying into the Chesapeake bay. As the shells can be procur¬ 
ed at a cent a bushel, would it not be advisable to pay the expense of 
hauling them one and a half miles ? And would it be advisable to mix 
them with salt marsh and vegetable mould from the woods forming 
compost beds ? 
“ The most of the tillage land has been successfully in wheat and 
corn, without grasses, and the soil generally of a whitish stiff clay, flat, 
but near enough to a creek of the above river to drain it by superficial 
drains or ditches. As this land has received no aid from the tenants, 
except from barn yard manure, I am apprehensive of the consequences 
of my inexperience in the use of lime, or other manures, which have 
not been heretofore tried on the farm.” 
ANWSERS. 
As far as we can judge of the constituents of Judge Goldsborough’s 
soil, from the preceding description, we are persuaded the decayed oys¬ 
ter shells, sand and vegetable mould, are the best materials to improve 
its texture, and to induce fertility. It seems to want, in its composition, 
more sand and carbonate of lime, which thfese materials afford ; while 
the vegetable mould, and probably some animal matter, commingled 
with them, will prove a certain source of fertility. The cost and ex¬ 
pense of hauling are trifling, compared with the promised advantages. 
The salt marsh will confer fertility, like all vegetable matters, if the 
soil, by its application, does not become too highly charged with saline 
matter, of which, however, we do not apprehend danger. The vege¬ 
table mould from the woods is an unfailing means of fertility, and re¬ 
quires no preparation. Thus the materials promise to be all benefi¬ 
cial; but the only portion of them likely to be improved by mixing in 
compost, is the salt marsh, and this we are of an opinion, will be readi¬ 
ly converted into the food of plants if spread and ploughed in. 
We doubt whether a flat surface of stiff clay can be sufficiently drain¬ 
ed, for good husbandry, by superficial drains. The drains must be 
deep to secure healthy vegetation in a wet season—not only the sur¬ 
face, but the entire stratum penetrated by the roots of crops, should be 
exempt from an excess of moisture ; and if open drains are construct¬ 
ed, they will cause a waste of ground, require annual and expensive 
repairs, and interfere seriously with the farming operations. We 
would recommend, therefore, that with the exception, at most, of a 
main conductor, the drains be all well constructed and coyer-ed; with¬ 
out regard to the difference in the outlay, as the latter, in the end will 
be found far the cheapest. Good draining tile, we are informed, are 
now made in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, and sold at 10 to $15. 
the thousand feet, and the water communication with.Maryland will 
afford easy facilities for transportation. The cxperimentgwvh i c h are 
proposed will enable the proprietor to modify his practicqj^o suit cir¬ 
cumstances ; and indeed experience is the best teacher in these matters. 
We shall bear in mind Judge G’s promise, and look with interest for 
its fulfilment. 
QUESTIONS BY MORRIS COPE, OF DOE RUN, PA. 
Mr. Cope, after stating the bad prospect from the young wheat crop, 
from late sowing, to avoid the fly, and the early cold autumn, is desi¬ 
rous of trying spring wheat, as a substitute, and has asked for answers 
to the following queries; 
1. Does spring wheat make merchantable flour—and is there any 
within thy knowledge superior to that spoken of by Mr. Hathaway? 
2. Will it be likely to succeed in our latitude of about 40 degrees 
north ? 
3. It is belter adapted to a high situation, with a strong [rich ?] light 
soil, or on low ground with a clay subsoil? 
4. What time ought it to be sown, and how much to the acre? 
5. How can seed be obtained, and at what price ? " 
ANSWERS. 
1. Spring wheat will make merchantable flour. Though, not so 
white or so abundant, the flour of spring wheat makes more nutritious 
bread, from the superior quantity of gluten which it contains, than the 
flour of winter wheat. We cannot speak of the relative value of differ¬ 
ent varieties from personal knowledge, as the grain worm will not per¬ 
mit us to grow wheat of any kind. The Florence wheat, spoken of by 
Mr. Hathaway, we, however, think a superior kind. 
2. We have little doubt but spring wheat will succeed well in lat. 40. 
