THE CULTIVATOR. 
87 
such a course. If piled, and left without farther care, 
it is very apt to be damaged by excessive heat in the 
fermentation, and the consequent escape either in the 
form of gas, or that of a thick black liquor from the 
base of the heap, of these essential agents of fertility. 
Some farmers, aware of these disadvantages, have piled 
their manures, but in such a way as to prevent the loss 
or escape of any of these valuable constituents. With 
a little extra labor, added to that required for ordinary 
piling, they have converted the contents of their yards 
into a proper compost, greatly increasing the quantity, 
while all the valuable qualities are retained. This is 
effected by placing the fresh manures in alternate layers 
with such earths as we have noticed before, these earths 
becoming impregnated with the evolved gases, while 
they at the same time absorb and retain whatever liquid 
matter may escape from the dung during the process of 
fermentation. The height and breadth of these mounds 
must depend on the quantity of manure to be treated in 
this way, and the facilities for piling it at the command 
of the farmer. 
Perhaps the most satisfactory test of the relative va¬ 
lue of manures, may be found in the series of experi¬ 
ments instituted at the request of the Prussian govern¬ 
ment, by Professor Hembstadt of Berlin, and repeated 
with every kind of variation, by Professor Schubler, 
with the same results. The following table, prepared 
with great care from the record of those experiments, 
will show the value of the several manures named, on 
soil of the same quality or productiveness. 
“ If the soil without any manure yield a produce of 
three times the quantity of seed originally sown, then 
the same quantity ol land when manured or dressed 
with herbage, grass, leaves, &c., will yield 
5 times the seed sown. 
When manured with cow dung, 
7 
Cl 
cc 
With pigeon’s dung,.. 
9 
CC 
Cl 
With horse dung,. 
10 
CC 
u 
With human urine,. 
12 
.c 
cc 
With sheep dung,... 
With human manure or bullock’s 
12 
a 
V 
blood,. 
14 
cc 
Cl 
Thus if before manuring, an acre of land with two bush¬ 
els of seed, would give a produce of six bushels, the 
same acre manured with urine would give twenty-four 
bushels; and if with bullock’s blood, twenty-eight bush¬ 
els. Experience shows that with roots and grasses the 
difference will be about as great on soils of the same 
quality; and these facts evince more conclusively than 
any reasoning can, the value of such manures, and the 
necessity there is of the farmer’s making the best possi¬ 
ble use of them, if he would succeed in his occupation. 
SILK. 
At the present time, there are few branches of do¬ 
mestic industry, that promise so good a remuneration 
for the time and capital employed, as the production of 
silk. The mulberry fever is over ■ the best varieties of 
trees are now as much below their actual value, per¬ 
haps, as a year or two since they were above, and a 
man with the most limited means, can now put himself 
in possession of trees enough, to stock an acre, which 
would furnish foliage for as many worms as an ordina¬ 
ry family could attend. Ex 'erience has shown, that 
there is no more mystery in the production of silk in our 
country, than there is in growing potatoes; that no 
where in the world, is the climate better calculated to 
promote the health of the worms, the growth of the 
best foliage, and consequently the finest qualities of 
silk. This is evident, from the numerous statements 
that have appeared in the journals, of the results of the 
last year, in the weight of cocoons, length of fibre, and 
also in the strength and beauty of the silk produced. 
The experiments of Mr. Smith of Amherst, Mr. 
Clapp of Hartford, and Mr. McLean of Freehold, N 
Jersey, not to mention the names of many others equally 
successful, perhaps, show that there are few sources of 
profit so certain, requiring so little capital, so little hard 
labor, or so simple in practice, or requiring so little in¬ 
struction to prosecute successfully. 
One of the greatest hindrances to the silk business 
has been the difficulty attending the disposal of cocoons 
after their production. But this objection or obstacle is 
now removed, by the establishment of markets in all 
our principle cities and villages, where they are pur¬ 
chased with as much readiness as wheat, or wool. 
Perhaps, however, the best way of fitting silk for sale, 
is for the producer to reel, as well as grow it, and dis¬ 
pose of it in that shape to the manufacturer. Machines 
for reeling are to be had very cheap, and very little ex¬ 
perience seams to be required to perform this operation 
well. In the domestic production of silk, two advan¬ 
tages are thus secured, the transportation of the reeled 
silk to market is reduced to almost nothing; and the 
profit on so much additional labor is retained in the 
family. Almost any of the Manuals of silk culture, 
contain directions sufficient to enable any one to per- 
form this branch of production, after a few experiments, 
or a little practice. 
That there will always be a market for all the silk 
that we can produce, can scarcely be doubted. The in¬ 
crease of our importation of this article shows, that it 
is fast passing from an article of luxury to one of com¬ 
mon use, and that like cotton, were it plenty, as it may 
be, silks would be preferred to most other fabrics as 
summer clothing. The remarks made in Congress a 
short time since, on the petitions from the silk producers 
of Massachusetts, praying for a duty on manufactured 
silks, prove, that if it shall be found necessary, on 
the revision of the tariff, at the termination of what is 
called the compromise act, all needful protection will 
be cheerfully granted. On the whole we invite the at¬ 
tention of farmers and mechanics to the topic of silk 
culture, believing that in the present depressed state of 
things, there are few channels for industry, that pro¬ 
mise better remuneration, than the domestic produc¬ 
tion of silk. 
The Flour Market. 
By the kindness of a friend, “ C. C.” to whom we are 
already indebted for many favors, we have been put in 
possession of a circular, addressed by the house of Bar¬ 
ing & Co. to the bankers of Great Britain, on the grain 
crop of 1S39, the causes that led to its partial failure, 
and its probable effect on the commercial, and of course 
monetary matters of that kingdom. The source from 
whence this paper emanates, and the exposition it gives, 
not only of the crops themselves, but of many other 
things interesting to all who wish to become acquainted 
with the causes that influence agriculture generally, and 
particularly those now operating, or likely to operate on 
our own market, induce us to give a few extracts from 
it, and a summary of its conclusions. 
Many of our readers are already aware that while, in 
the U States, the last autumn was one of the finest on 
record, the season in G. Britain was as remarkably wet, 
and the grain crop suffered most severely in consequence. 
On this point the circular says : 
“ The most remarkable and distinguished feature of 
this time, however, is the almost unbroken series of 
wet days, from the middle of August, till the close of 
the year. There was only one period of seven succes¬ 
sive days without rain during the five months, which 
terminated with the month of January, and that was 
during the hard frost of January ; but that frost and 
the accompanying dryness, had only a limited range, 
for while the people of London, were skating on the 
ice, rain was pouring in Scotland and Ireland. With 
this exception, the most careful observer could not have 
noted three successive days, without rain during the 
aforesaid period.” 
As a consequence of this weather, it is computed that 
two-thirds of all the grain grown in England, was se¬ 
cured in a damaged condition, thus materially affecting 
the resources of that country for bread. The effect of 
the modern improved system of agriculture, in amelio¬ 
rating the condition and climate of a country is thus 
alluded to: “The people of Scotland say, and say truly, 
that the extensive system of draining adopted, has en¬ 
tirely altered their climate. It has given them the power 
to raise productions of the utmost national value and 
importance, which a century since were scarcely known 
in that country; and has rendered that country a fit 
abode for man in the highest state of civilization. Such 
a season as we have now in contemplation, occurring 
two or three centuries ago, would probable have carried 
off one-fifth of the inhabitants of this favored island, 
with disease, generated by continuous wet, and defec- 
fective food and clothing.” 
As illustrating the effect which draining and improv¬ 
ed culture, has on a climate and soil, and also some of 
the peucliar differences between their agriculture and 
ours, we give the substance of the circular on these to¬ 
pics, showing as it does why what is called spring wheal 
in Britain, invariably proves winter wheat here, if sown 
at the time we sow our spring wheats. 
In consequence of the improvement of soil and cli¬ 
mate from the causes mentioned, the British farmer 
sows wheat at his convenience, in every month, from 
September to March inclusive. “ On the 30th day of 
February,” says the circular, “we counted between 
Newcastle and Berwick, on one field of strong land, nine 
plows at work, on another eight, and in several four 
or five.” * * * “We are acquainted with very intelli¬ 
gent experimental farmers who have, in several succes¬ 
sive years, sowed the same kind of wheat from Septem¬ 
ber to March, and uniformly with the result, that that 
put into the ground in February, yielded the largest 
product. And this had established in their minds the 
conviction, that the first dawn of spring was the best 
possible time for wheat sowing.” 
After reviewing the state of the last crop, and the 
prospects of the coming one, the circular comes to the 
following conclusions, which we give in an abridged 
form, as, if just, they may be useful in forming conclu¬ 
sions respecting the probable demand for grain abroad, 
and the consequent prices at home At the present 
prices of flour in England and in this country, we shall 
probably export largely; whether they will be maintain¬ 
ed or varied by other circumstances, remains to be seen. 
That the U. States have a considerable surplus remain¬ 
ing of the crop of 1839, which they would be happy to 
dispose of at any prices approaching to remuneration, 
there is not a doubt; and should the harvest of the pre¬ 
sent year prove favorable, that surplus will be much 
increased, and add largely to our means for exportation. 
The conclusions, condensed, are as follows; 
1. That the unprecedented wet season of 1839, de¬ 
ranged and retarded the operations of the husbandman 
very materially, not only in the securing of the growing 
crop, but in putting in the seed for the harvest of 1840. 
2. That the quantity of wheat grown in G. Britain, in 
the hands of farmers at this time (March 1, 1840,) is 
greatly in excess as to quantity, over what they held at 
the same time in 1839. 
3. That the stock of wheat and flour in the hands of 
merchants, contractors, or middle men, is unusually 
1 small, particularly of fine or marketable qualities; and 
that there has not been for 20 years, so great a scarcity 
of good wheat at this time of the year, as there now 
generally is in all the northern and western parts of the 
Kingdom. 
4. That Ireland has abundance of grain, but put up 
in such a damp stale as to preclude its use, unless dried 
either by long continued fine weather, or the kiln. 
5. That with weather decidedly superior for the hus¬ 
bandman from this date till the next harvest, we should 
want no grain of foreign growth, except for the purpose 
of mixing with that of home production, and the quan¬ 
tity required for this would be under one million of quar¬ 
ters. 
6. That with weather in the next degree inferior to 
that just assumed, there would not be more than a mil¬ 
lion of quarters required, to meet the demand for mixing 
with our partially damaged grain, or compensate for 
any deficiency arising from a continuation of the unfa¬ 
vorable weather into the spring months. 
Last year 30 millions of bushels were demanded to 
supply, or rather prevent absolute starvation of millions 
in G. Britain ; the conclusion above is, that 8 millions 
of bushels the present year, will be sufficient, when 
mixed with their damaged grain, to produce a similar 
effect. How much of this demand we shall supply, will 
depend on the rate of prices here and there, and on the 
means furnished by the country to enable farmers to get 
their surplus grain to market. 
Setting Early Cucumbers. 
Most are aware, that in the families of the cucumis 
and cucurbita, what are called the male and female blos¬ 
soms are on the same plant, and that in ordinary cases 
when grown in the open air, there is rarely any diffi¬ 
culty arises from the non-fertilization of the female blos¬ 
soms, and the consequent formation of fruit. The wea- 
vils, bees, and other insects aid effectually in the fecun¬ 
dation operation, by transporting the pollen or impreg¬ 
nating dust, and in the open air artificial assistance is 
rarely necessary. There are many cases, however, in 
which those who attempt the culture of the cucumber in 
frames or hot beds, find their hopes frustrated by the 
perm ffure falling of the fruit blossoms, and in which ar¬ 
tificial impregnation may be successfully practiced. 
The fact that such fruiting was practicable, has long 
been known, and in some instances practiced in the 
east. The date palm is a kind of tree of which the fe¬ 
cundating, and the fruit bearing flowers, grow on dif¬ 
ferent trees. Where these are planted, or naturally 
grow r in clusters of both kinds, as they usually do, na¬ 
ture requires no other causes to act, than those she has 
provided to secure fruit; but when, as sometimes hap¬ 
pens one or more palms of the fruit bearing kind are 
found at a great distance from the male or fecundating 
palms, the natives to ensure a crop of dates, cut branches 
from those last, W'hile both are in blossom, and convey¬ 
ing them quickly and carefully to the spot where they 
are wanted, shake them over the female clusters of 
flowers, and in this way secure a supply of this grate¬ 
ful, and to an Arab of the desert, almost indispensa¬ 
ble fruit. 
The following extract from Abercrombie, on tbe cul¬ 
ture of garden vegetables, will show the importance of 
this process with the cucumber, and the manner of per¬ 
forming it. 
“ The cucumber bears male and female blossoms dis¬ 
tinctly on the same plant. The latter only produce the 
fruit, w'hich first appears in miniature, close under tha 
base, even before the flower expands. There is never 
any in the males; but these flowers are placed in the 
vicinity of the female ones, and are absolutely necessa¬ 
ry, by the dispersion of their farina, to impregnate the 
female blossom, the fruit of which will not otherwise 
swell to its full size, and the seeds will be abortive. 
The early plants, under glass, not having the full cur¬ 
rent of natural air, nor the assistance of bees and other 
winged insects to convey the farina, the artificial aid of 
the cultivator is necessary to effect the impregnation. 
At the time of fruiting, watch the plants daily; and as 
soon as the female flowers and some male blossoms are 
fully expanded, proceed to set the fruit the same day. 
or next morning at farthest. Take off' a male blossom, 
detaching it with part of a footstalk. Field this be¬ 
tween the finger and the thumb ; pull away the flower 
leaves, or petals, close to the stamens and anthers, or 
central part, which apply close to the pistil in bosom of 
the female flower, twirling it a little about, to discharge 
thereon some particles of the fertilizing powder. Pro¬ 
ceed then to set every fruit, as the flowers of both sorts 
open, while of a lively full expansion; and generally 
perform it in the early part cf the day, using a fresh 
male flower if possible for every impregnation, as the 
males are usually more abundant than the female 
blossoms. By this management, the young fruit will 
be soon observed to swell freely.” 
csouurs aiw uysemery m Sheep. 
The following directions for the cure of this disease 
are from a paper by S. W. Jewett, of Weybridge, Vt. in 
the Farmers’ Monthly Visitor. 
“ Looseness in Sheep or scours, is one of the most sudden 
and rapid disorders that attacks them , especially thin sheep 
and lambs. It is generally caused by eating raw, or early 
cnthay.. The best method to cure and prevent is, to give 
them daily a few messes of wheat in the sheaf, a regular 
quantity of salt at all times. 11 it occurs in the winter brine 
ripe lny in the seed, wheat chaff is good, as is a small quan- 
tity oF oats, and -i Few pin© or horn lock tops. K.©cp tlicixi a. 
few days on ripe hay or corn fodder,” 
