under her superintendence, consisted of thirty-three yards 
of brack figured dress silk, twelve yards lavender figur¬ 
ed dress silk, one and one quarter yards of green velvet, 
one and a quarter yards of black velvet, three yards 
plain black satin, twelve yards figured satin vestings, 
thirteen pieces fancy ribbons, (165 yards,) four pieces 
plain ribbons, and a raw silk handkerchief; all of the 
first rate quality, heavy and durable. But to the process of 
Miss Rapp: 
“Since we are killing our cocoons with camphor, we find 
them as easy to reel at any time after the regular season, as 
when freshly taken from the spinning shelves. We do it as 
follows: for 100 pounds of cocoons in the floss, we take a 
well made box, large enough to hold them; then we take 
about 3 ounces of camphor, which we moisten with as much 
alcohol as is necessary to rub it into a powder, a part of which 
we sprinkle on the bottom of the box, then we fill the box 
by making five or six layers of the cocoons, and spread a 
proportional part of the camphor between each of them; we 
then screw on the lid, and paste strips of paper on all the 
splits and joints, to make it air tight. After three or four days 
we take them out and dry them in the shade, till perfectly 
hght. They must be assorted before camphoring, or else the 
bad cocoons will destroy the good ones.” 
Miss Rapp thinks highly of the Multicaulis, but eadvi- 
ses silk growers not to neglect the cultivation of some 
other variety, such as the white mulberry, morus expansa, 
or Brussa, which are hardy, that a supply of early leaves 
may be secured. For this purpose, the expansa is prefer¬ 
red by her, as the leaves are “ large, heavy and glossy,” 
and can be gathered with much less labor than those of 
the Italian or white mulberry. 
Mr. Gill, of Mount-Pleasant, Ohio, has also exhibited 
at Washington, a large quantity of silk velvets, tippet 
plushes, and hat plushes, which the Native American says, 
would not suffer in a comparison with the best imported ar¬ 
ticles. Mr. Gill’s silks were made from trees produced 
from the first year’s planting; a vest was made for him¬ 
self in thirteen weeks from the time he planted his mul¬ 
ticaulis buds; and he finds by exact calculation, that eve¬ 
ry acre of multicaulis buds planted by him last year, has 
yielded him $350 nett, a handsome profit certainly. Such 
exhibitions as these, of Miss Rapp and Mr. Gill, with the 
statements of Mr. M’Lean, will convince the most scepti¬ 
cal that we can grow silk in this country abundantly, and 
that the multicaulis is not yet wholly worthless to the na¬ 
tion. 
MASSACHUSETTS PREMIUMS. 
The Agricultural S <iety of the Old Bay State does 
not grow weary in well doing, as the following abridged 
list of its premiums offered fo the year 1840, fully 
shows. They are certainly magnificent, and should in¬ 
duce extensive competition among the farmers of that 
state. We are pleased to learn that the condition of the 
society is prosperous; that its funds are ample, the list 
of premiums demonstrate. 
For the best farm, produce, cultivation, and appear¬ 
ance considered, four premiums of $200, $175, $150, and 
$75, for the first, second, third and fourth best. 
For the best specimen of rotation in crops, the premi¬ 
um to be claimed in 1840 or 1841, $75. 
For the greatest quantity of vegetables raised for 
stock, (grain, peas and beans excepted,) regard being 
had to the size of the farm, number of stock kept, value 
of the vegetables, and expense of cultivation, $30. 
For roots, the list of premiums is ample, and should 
induce the cultivators to whom it is addressed to make 
vigorous efforts at securing them ; not perhaps so much 
for the sake of the cash itself, as for the increased pro¬ 
fits, and enhanced fertility of the soil hereafter. The 
man who manages so as to secure a good crop of roots, 
may be very certain that the succeeding ones of grain 
and grass will not be inferior. For potatoes, not less 
than 500 bushels to the acre, $30; carrots, 30; mangel 
wurtzel, 30 ; sugar beet, 30; ruta baga, 30; English 
turnep, 20; onions, 20; and cabbages, 20; for half acres, 
half the above premiums. 
Wheat, to the acre not less than 25 bushels, $20; corn, 
not less than 80 bushels to the acre, and 75 lbs. in the 
ear to be considered a bushel, $20; barley, not less than 
45 bushels to the acre, $20 ; rye, not less than 30 bush¬ 
els, $20 ; peas and beans, $20 each. 
The following premiums are important, and we hope 
will receive attention, as the subjects are of general in¬ 
terest to the country. We infer that these premiums 
are open to all who choose to compete for them, whe¬ 
ther citizens of Massachusetts or otherwise. 
For an effectual mode for extirpating the locust bo¬ 
rer, $100; do. for the appletree borer, $50. We think 
that premiums directed to the effectual prevention of 
other insects, such as the canker worm, caterpillar, 
wheat fly and worm, together with such as prey on the 
turnep, cabbage, &c., would have been of service. 
For the best plow, regard being had to its strength, 
neatness of work, and cheapness, $100; raw silk, not 
less than ten lbs., $20; best experiment of turning in 
green crops as manure, $50; best mode of rearing, 
feeding and fattening cattle, $20; for a plow to lay 
the sod on edge obliquely, regard being had to its other 
qualities, $75 ; best plantation of white oak trees, $50; 
do. of locust, beach or white ash, $25; best live hedge, 
not less than 50 rods, $30 ; best communication on the 
mulberry in relation to silk culture, showing by experi¬ 
ment or otherwise what species is best suited to our 
climate, and how best managed, with the effect of the 
winter on the tree, $30. 
We learn from the N. E. Farmer with some surprise, 
that censure in some quarters has beeri cast on this no¬ 
ble society for having not done more or the promotion 
of agriculture. The censure is clearly undeserved ; for 
if all that could be wished has not been accomplished, 
all that could reasonably be expected from the well di¬ 
rected efforts of such a body, has been performed. Mas¬ 
sachusetts has been peculiarly fortunate in the indivi¬ 
duals selected to manage her agricultural affairs; and 
under their enlightened guidance and supervision, the 
most cheering results for the future may be safely an¬ 
ticipated. 
MR. COLMAN’S THIRD REPORT. 
We have had the pleasure of examining the report of 
the Agricultural Commissioner for the past year; and 
are happy to bear our testimony to the ability and zeal 
with which his arduous duties are performed, and the 
beneficial effects his labors are calculated to produce. 
Mr. Colman’s first report related to the agriculture of 
some of the eastern counties of Massachusetts ; the se¬ 
cond report was devoted to the survey of the county of 
Berkshire ; and the present is occupied with the great 
subjects of wheat and silk. 
The legislature of Massachusetts, in 1838, offered a 
bounty on the cultivation of wheat, and the present re¬ 
port illustrates the effect of that law, by showing the 
number of claimants, the acres sown, and the amount of 
wheat produced. The number of claimants for the boun¬ 
ty was 3,642; acres sown, nearly 7,000; bushels produ¬ 
ced. 108,570 : and the average not far from 15 bushels 
per acre. We acknowledge this result is rather unex¬ 
pected to us; having heard so much of the incapacity 
of the New-England states to grow wheat; for we 
much question whether the spring wheat crop of any 
considerable part of New-York will average more than 
the one stated. 
The returns from the several towns are very full, and 
embrace much valuable matter, which has been skilful¬ 
ly condensed in the report. From an examination of 
the returns, it appears that much injury was done by the 
grain insect or worm ; that there was much smut; some 
blight from causes unknown; and much suffering of the 
crop from drouth. “ It appears also from the returns, 
that there is scarcely an instance named in which lime 
or plaster has given any decisive and well authenticat¬ 
ed favorable results. Wood ashes have been frequent¬ 
ly used, and large crops have followed.” Ashes, how¬ 
ever, sometimes failed. 
Mr. Colman enters into an extended argument to 
show that Massachusetts would find her account in pro¬ 
ducing her bread from her own soil; and his reason¬ 
ings are in our opinion conclusive. No people can per¬ 
manently prosper, who depend on others for their bread. 
Every other kind of business must fluctuate; and while 
some individuals or states grow speedily rich from ma¬ 
nufactures or commerce, the tiller of the soil, he who 
grows his own bread, is alone independent. Mr. Col- 
man has most truly said, that “ Agriculture, in the view 
of every sound political economist, is the foundation of 
national wealth.” All other means are only accesso¬ 
ries. 
The report enters largely upon the cultivation of wheat; 
its diseases, varieties, methods of improvement, and the 
best mode of culture. The causes of failure he arranges 
under the head of rust, smut, mildew, and insects. On 
all these topics his observations are worthy of being 
studied by every wheat grower, as embracing much con¬ 
densed information, which will be every where useful. 
The grain worm is doubtless the most formidable ene¬ 
my the eastern wheat grower has to encounter, and on 
this subject Mr. Colinan recommends most strenu¬ 
ously the use of newly slaked lime, dusted tho¬ 
roughly over the grain just as it is coming into flow¬ 
er. A single application has proved successful, while 
in others repetition was necessary. Mr. C. announced 
this preventive, some years since, in the N. Y. Farmer, 
but the results of some experiments made by farmers in 
the Valley of the Hudson, did not seem to justify the 
opinions entertained of its efficacy; the difficulty might, 
however, lie in the lime, or the period of its application; 
and it is well worthy of trial wherever the worm makes 
its appearance in the -wheat crop. There are two 
kinds of worms which feed on wheat in the ear ; one, 
which has been known for a long time in western New- 
York, and has sometimes produced some injury, though 
little, when compared with the ravages of the other 
species in other parts of the country. The other 
is the worm of New-England and the Hudson valley, 
which, there is reason to hope, has passed the period of 
its greatest ravages, as it has been less numerous and 
destructive to the wheat crops for the last two years, 
than for several years previous. 
On the subject of plowing in clover for wheat, Mr. 
Colman has the following remarks: “ I have always 
been inclined to the belief, which generally prevails, 
and which Mr. Phinney maintains, that the higher the 
state of luxuriance in which vegetable matter was turn¬ 
ed in by the plow, the more the land will be enriched 
by it. But the experience of one of the best farmers in 
the state has satisfied me, especially as it has been con¬ 
firmed by another equaly intelligent farmer, and whol¬ 
ly unbiased by the judgment of any other person, that 
the land is more benefited by the turning in of the clo¬ 
ver crop after it is dried, than when it is in a state of 
greenness and full of sap. The opinion is, that if green, 
it creates an acidity in the soil, prejudical to the suc¬ 
ceeding crop.” 
In support of the opinion here expressed by Mr. Col¬ 
man, we may adduce that of one of the most successful 
wheat growers in the western counties, whose crop is 
usually from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels. He assured us se¬ 
veral years since, that he had done turning in clover 
when in full vigor for wheat, as from his experience, he 
knew that it “ soured the soil,” and that it would not re¬ 
cover from such a dressing, under three or four years. 
Still clover was the main stay of his wheat husbandry; 
but instead of turning it in, he fed or trampled it down 
upon the land, by cattle or sheep, he preferring tfip lat¬ 
ter, and keeping some three or four hundred for that 
purpose. His lands are broken up in the fore part of 
summer, before a great growth of clover is attained ; 
wheat is sown in the fall, and clover seed in the spring. 
The wheat is plastered, and also the clover in the next 
year; his course embracing four years. Large quanti¬ 
ties of clover decay on the ground, and this, mixed with 
the manure of the animals, and the mass of clover roots 
at the time of fallowing, gives a progressive improve¬ 
ment to his soil and his crops, which certainly speaks 
well in favor of the system. 
It appears from that part of the report relating to 
manures for wheat, that lime has been of little or no value 
when used, and that crops of wheat of about 30 bushels 
per acre, have been grown on soils in which not a trace 
of carbonate of lime existed. There was a small quan¬ 
tity of phosphate of lime, however, present, one and a half 
per cent, and this could not have been without its influ¬ 
ence. It is surprising to witness the discrepancy between 
the results from the use of lime in Mass., as given in the 
report, and those produced by the sanie article, in some 
of the middle states. The reason of this want of effi¬ 
ciency in the northern soils, does not appear to be satis¬ 
factorily ascertained; but the subject is one of such 
consequence, as to demand the most rigid investigation. 
We are inclined to the opinion, that where the other 
matters in the soil are right, a very small quantity of 
lime is sufficient for all the purposes of vegetation; but 
as lime appears to be an essential part of the wheat and 
clover plants, it seems clear, that more or less of it is in¬ 
dispensable to their growth, and the perfection of their 
seeds. The Berkshire marls have not produced the ef¬ 
fect expected from them by some; but, if made into 
compost in mixture with peat, vegetable mold, or ani¬ 
mal manures, we doubt not the value of all would be 
greatly enhanced. Mr. Colman’s remarks on cleanness 
of cultivation, and recent agricultural improvements, are 
very just; but we have room here only to refer to them, 
and must pass to the second part of the report; that 
which relates to silk. 
The report of Mr. Colman on this subject, one which 
we consider of vast importance to the nation, is without 
question, the most valuable document yet given to the 
American public on this topic, and should be in the 
hands of every one who proposes to enter on the produc¬ 
tion of silk. His opinions and facts are advanced with 
fearlessness and discrimination, and the amount of in¬ 
formation he has collected and condensed in the report, 
is truly great. On the subject of the mulberry, the kind 
of worm, the different methods of feeding, the cost of 
production, the demand, and the profits of production 
and manufacture, are all well treated, as well as many 
other incidental topics connected with these. The re¬ 
port is not intended as a manual for the producer or 
the manufacturer, but as a general guide to the inquirer; 
and in this respect, will be found unrivaled. 
In determining the question of the capability of this 
country to produce silk, Mr. Colman very justly distin¬ 
guishes between the mulberry speculation, and the 
growth of trees for silk only. To whatever cause we 
may attribute the mulberry fever of 1838 and 1839, 
whether, with Mr. C. to a conspiracy among a few indi- 
viduals to defraud the public in this way, or to an igno¬ 
rance of the results certain to ensue from excessive 
multiplication, or, whether we consider it as only one of 
the many modes in which the mania which infected the 
whole nation in those years, developed itself, it now 
matters not; the bubble has burst, and thousands of the 
mulberry speculators, as well as those in western lands, 
corner lots, and lithographic cities, have been rdined. 
The conclusion to which Mr. Colman arrives, after a 
survey of the whole ground, and we think it is a cor¬ 
rect one, is, that we can, and should, make our own 
silks. After discarding all the extravagant calculations 
that have been made, after rigorously making every ne¬ 
cessary deduction for the expenses of production, it 
appears that the silk culture offers as handsome a re¬ 
muneration for labor, as any of the agricultural pur¬ 
suits of this country, and in its prosecution embraces 
the labor of individuals, that could be of little service 
in other pursuits. The production of silk by compa¬ 
nies, has proved a failure in this country, so far ; and it 
appears very certain that the business, if it succeeds, 
must be prosecuted as a branch of domestic industry. 
The manufacture of the material when once produced, 
is another matter. The production of the raw materi¬ 
al, introduced as a collateral branch of industry, not as 
a principal one, must prove a source of eminent com¬ 
fort and wealth. There is clearly nothing mysterious 
in the business; all is simple, and easily understood and 
practiced, by any one that chooses to bring to it the ne¬ 
cessary attention and skill. We fully concur in the 
opinions expressed in the following extract from the 
report: 
“I take particular pleasure in recommending the culture of 
silk, to my respected friends, the Shakers. They have every 
element of success; intelligence, skill, exactness, perseve¬ 
rance, abundance of labor, land enough, and buildings al¬ 
ready prepared for their operations. They, if any among us, 
would be the fittest persons to undertake the artificial method 
of M. Beauvais. Their female aid is of the best description 
for this culture. They may pursue it to any desirable extent; 
and I cannot have a doubt, if they should undertake it with 
