THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
287 
I 
! July 14. 
^ growth of Turnips when the manure has been applied 
with the water drill. Many farmers are, no doubt, induced 
to use the ordinary drill because they happen to possess 
i it, rather than hire the liquid drill; but I think the latter 
is quietly making its way, in preference to the ordinary 
turnip and manure drill; nor is it all surprising, when 
I it is considered that in the generality of soils the only 
use of drilling ashes with other manures is to effect an 
equal distribution, for which, in labour, a much greater 
i expense is incurred than by the use of water. 
There is an advantage in using the liquid drill in a 
dry season—the seeds will vegetate quickly: whereas, 
using ashes in a dry state, mixed with manures, has the 
effect of retarding the vegetation of the seed. It is 
further useful in applying the manures in a soluble 
state, which divides the particles of manure more 
minutely, and therefore accelerates the growth of the 
young plant. 
The best manures for Turnips, to apply by the water- 
drill, is from two to three hundredweight of super¬ 
phosphate, and one hundredweight of Peruvian, or 
Bolivian guano per acre, mixed with from 300 to 400 
gallons of water per acre; the larger quantity will not 
be too much in .dry weather; indeed, more may be 
applied with advantage if it can be readily obtained. 
I am of opinion that considerable improvements are 
required in the drills hitherto in use; and I make no 
doubt, as their advantages become better appreciated, 
that the ingenuity of our implement makers, and the 
scientific research of our chemical manure manu¬ 
facturers, will soon supply the desirable improvements. 
I liave abstained from any remarks relating to the 
cultivation and management of stubble Turnips in this 
article, because I propose to make it the subject of a 
separate paper at a future time. 
Joseph Blundell. 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SILKWORMS. 
WITH COMMENTS AND ADDITIONS. 
By the Prior Jacopo Ricii. 
( Continued from page 260. ) 
Many writers have treated of the diseases of Silkworms, 
but have generally, especially the more ancient, attributed 
them to natural causes in the constitution of the worm, 
instead of to their real reason. Modern authors, amongst 
whom the most remarkable is Count Dan dole, wishing to 
reduce the treatment of Silkworms to a certain system, 
have demonstrated that these diseases proceed almost 
entirely from the carelessness of the owners, and may he 
prevented, and even cured, especially at the commencement. 
But to form a clear idea on this interesting subject, we must 
revert to what we said before, that the worm is created to 
live in the open air, but that the cocoon being valuable to 
man, he has made it a domestic animal, and on this circum¬ 
stance depends the diseases to which it is liable. 
If we examine the creature’s structure, we shall find it 
perfectly adapted to fulfil all the objects of its existence, 
and man should assist it in the execution of those functions, 
by an enlightened system, and not.destroy it through 
ignorance, avarice, and prejudice. Not choosing to act thus, 
the husbandman either gives up keeping the worms, or 
deriving small profit from them. 
Repeated experiments have shown, that from the time 
the eggs are laid diseases of various kinds may be intro¬ 
duced into the establishment. They may be occasioned by 
keeping the room in which are the eggs either too hot, or 
too cold, or too damp ; also by heaping the eggs upon each 
other too thickly. If the temperature be at 10° or 12° a. 
(05° or 59° f.), the eggs will not acquire the ashy hue na¬ 
tural to them when they have been laid three weeks, and 
which shows they are likely to be generally prolific. Worms 
hatched from such eggs contain the seed of diseases which 
sooner or later prove fatal. If, on the contrary, the tempe¬ 
rature be too high, there is equal danger of the eggs being 
injured, and the worms unhealthy. Again, if the room be 
damp, the embryo contracts disease, which develops itself 
with the growth of the worm. If the eggs are so heaped 
together that the air does not circulate freely around them, 
even in a dry room, they will ferment and spoil, both in a 
high and low temperature, and disease is certain to appear 
among the worms. 
But should the eggs be properly cared for, the worms will 
be liable to sickness, if proper precaution be not observed 
in hatching them. If too hot they will hatch prematurely, 
and the worm will be of a reddish colour. If too cold, and 
the hatching be retarded, the tender creatures will suffer 
more or less according to the time they are so treated. 
But the agriculturist must not stop here. 
Though the primary cause of disease may be found in 
want of care in the management of the eggs, he must take 
the greatest possible care of the worms during the first four 
stages, or they will suffer. We must take care they are not 
crowded ; that want of ventilation does not occasion a stag¬ 
nation of damp air; and that they are not fed with wet 
leaves. It will not be useless to repeat what has been 
previously said. 
If the worms he too close to each other they do not grow 
equally. Some are healthy and large, others small and 
stunted; consequently they do not become torpid at the same 
time. Those who eat most, sleep first, and are then exposed 
to suffocation from the leaves given to those still awake, 
and their health must suffer by being surrounded with 
damp leaves and other filth. 
Many become putrid and die; others cease to eat, and 
perish in a few days; others continue to eat languidly; while 
some recover, but are small and imperfect. If the venti¬ 
lation be neglected, as is too often the case, the air stagnates, 
fermentation is generated, and the necessary exhalations 
checked. The increase of heats, damp, and impure air, 
make the creatures weak and ill. Damp leaves increase the 
fermentation, and, unless the prescribed means be resorted 
to, the health of the worms is quickly affected. Again, 
leaves which have been frost-bitten or otherwise injured, 
may occasion diseases in the worm, especially during the 
four first stages. After the fourth stage, the insect is subject 
to various fatal diseases. These are principally the spot, 
the negrone, the calcinaccio, and the giallume. Many 
writers think these are merely modifications of the same 
disease. 
The Spot consists of black, brown, or red spots, which 
corrupt the skin. 
The Calcinaccio, or turning into lime, shows itself by the 
insect becoming hard, and on being opened is found full of 
an earthy substance. 
The worm is called Negrone when, in foi’ming the cocoon, 
the creature becomes black and wrinkled like a mummy: 
the French call this Les Dragees. 
The Giallume (called by the French Les baches, Le Gras, 
or La Sauna) is known by the worms becoming yellow; 
they lose their appetite, become transparent and swelled, or 
shrunk and flabby, and at last die. 
However, as these diseases are usually caused by care¬ 
lessness or ill-treatment of the worms, and as it is necessary 
that the most ignorant should understand that it is so, we 
will trace them to their origin. Many, perhaps, will not 
comprehend me, but if I set forth clearly the means whereby 
disease may be avoided, some even of the most stupid may 
derive advantage. We must remember that Silkworms, in 
consequence of their rapid growth, eat a quantity of green 
food, which, in comparison with that consumed by other 
animals, may be truly called enormous. This moist food 
contains many elements which do not nourish the worms, 
such as water, besides alkaline, acid, and earthy particles, 
which do not support life. Now, as the worm has no means 
of expelling extraneous matter, but a cutaneous exliudation 
