The early and vigorous growth of the plants, as well as the product of the crop, will be greatly promoted by rolling the sets in gypsum, while the moisture arising from cutting them is fresh on the set. They should be spread out to dry, and great care taken not to handle them till planted, so that the gypsum be not rubbed off. when the small grain is sown. In this state they great, that they may be easily mistaken for each will perish and afford but little nutriment for plants. other, without a close inspection, and some knowBut when these substances are applied for such ledge of botany to assist it. It was before observfallow crops as may be gathered, without turning ed, that this variety (larger creeping bent or fiorin) up the soil, they may be ploughed under without appears to be confined to rich ancient pasture land any further decomposition than will render them as its natural place of growth, and the other varie sufficiently flexible to admit the application of ties to various soils and situations; and that when If lime can be readily procured, and the culti-enough of them. Some of these substances will be taken from these different soils, and cultivated tovator's capital will admit the use of it, the product sufficiently flexible to be turned under when soak-gether under the same circumstances, they retain of the potatoe, and also the grasses following it, ing wet; still a much greater quantity, even of these, the discriminating characters before mentioned. together with the improvement of the soil, will be can be applied after fermentation has introduced a "On damp clayey soils the second variety is the greatly promoted by spreading thirty bushels of it great heat, as this causes them to become much most common grass. To moors and bog soils the to the acre, and incorporating it with the surface more compact. A shaded situation, where rain bas third variety is chiefly, or (at least according to my of the soil, in the way recommended in my book access, is most favourable to a general and rapid observations,) altogether confined. To light sandy on Cultivation. If this be done, it is considered fermentation of them. The heaps ought to be soils, particularly when more or less shaded, the best not to thin the potatoe plants, except where formed so as to admit sufficient moisture and air to fourth variety is peculiar; and the fifth variety is more than two may happen to grow from each set; pass generally through them. To effect this, they seldom found but in the bottom of ditches, or by provided the soil be a good one, and a luxuriant should not be heaped up high, nor placed in hol- the sides of rivulets. The first variety being therecrop of grass has been ploughed under for ma-lows where the water will lodge in sufficient quanti-fore scarce, and the others very common, there is ty to retard or prevent fermentation. little room for surprise at the contradictory results Dried or green weeds which have perfected their of experiments that have been made on one or seed, are very improper manure for a potatoe crop. other of these inferior varieties, by gentlemen equalPloughing up, or otherwise gathering the product, ly eminent for agricultural knowledge, under the spreads the seeds of the weeds through the soil as conviction of their being one and the same grass if sown for a crop. This will greatly injure the | as recommended by Dr. Richardson, under the small grain and grasses following. name of fiorin; whereas, though they agree in the They may, however, be very safely and profita - | general habit of Dr. Richardson's variety, and inbly applied for such fallow crops as can be gather-deed in every respect except in the characters beed without turning up the manure. fore described, their inferiority in every agricultu nure. If stones, stumps, deficiency of proper instruments, or any other cause, prevent trench ploughing, the potatoe sets may be planted in the usual way, by turning the sod with a good crop of grass over them. In this case, the furrow slices should | be levelled with the roller, and well pulverized with the hoc-harrow or skim, with the tined-harrow fol lowing lengthwise of the furrows, as deep as it can be readily done, without disturbing the sets, or turning up the sod. If this be not done, and the ground is close bound by the roots of the grasses, many of the plants will spend much of their time and strength in growing under the sod before they can either penetrate it, or find their way out through the seams formed by the furrow slices, and the crop will be greatly curtailed. As the unavoidable evils introduced by ploughing ral merit is so great, as to justify the opprobrious out a potatoe crop, especially where many seeds of epithets that have been bestowed upon them by weeds are incorporated with the manure, form a those who, from the above causes, have differed very striking contrast between the usual cultivation, from Dr. Richardson's statements of the merits of and that recommended by me, I wish the reader the first variety, or fiorin, and prevented that jushere again deliberately to consider, that not only tice being done to the discovery which it may have the potatoe crop. but also every fallow crop culti- | deserved. As the potatoe sets cannot be covered by the vated in the usual way, subjects the farmer to great The above details will assist the farmer in decidplough in spots which obstacles render inaccessible loss in manure by turning it up during the cultiva- ing on the comparative merits of this grass, as a to it, and the extent of those spots will not be de- tion of the plants. The same also happens when constituent of a mixture of grasses for permanent termined, until after the rest of the field be plant- the soil is prepared for the small grain following that pasture; from which it will doubtless appear worthy ed, the pulverizing of the soil should be deferred, crop. The seeds of the weeds are likewise turned of attention, but its value not so great as has been until the vacancies be planted by covering the sets up and spread abroad to poison the small grain, and supposed, if its habits or manner of growth be imwith the sod turned over them with the hand-hoe. grasses following it. But this is not all; after expend-partially taken into the account, when compared Care should be taken to turn the sod well over ing much useless labour to effect this very injurious with the produce and nutritive powers of other them and around the obstacles, and at a proper purpose, and also to mangle the fallow plants, the grasses. depth. As this cannot be done without cutting the soil is not kept any thing like so open and mellow, sod into small pieces, the implements by which the for the ready admission of the roots of the plants, soil is pulverized, should be lifted over those spots as when this purpose is effected by fermentation in passing through the field, otherwise the short alone. A well directed fermentation is also the pieces of sod will be turned up. By the time the most powerful and least expensive agent, that can crop requires cultivation, the sod will be considera- be employed in the destruction of weeds. bly consolidated by rain, and the roots of the plants; consequently, if care be taken in passing through those places, many of them will not be turned up by the skim, if that instrument be sharp. ON GRASSES AND OTHER PLANTS. "This grass, when cultivated by itself, cannot be profitably depastured, on account, principally, of its peculiar manner of growth, which has been compared to that of strawberries. It sends out runners or stolones, which strike root at the joints; the feet of cattle mixing part of the soil with these, render the most valuable part of the plant unfit for food. In its combined state in ancient pastures this objection is lost, as the root-leaves and consolidated turf of the various grasses prevent completely such an effect from the feet of the cattle, which will be eviCorrespondent on a few moments' examination of a closeeaten turf of such pastures as now described In this state it is much less productive than when cultivated singly, as the fibrous roots of the stolones derive their only nourishment from the moisture secreted among the root-leaves of the other grasses. Extracts from G. Sinclair's Hortus Gramineus-with When the covering and roots of the grasses are insufficient to produce valuable crops of potatoes, with a crop of small grain and grasses after it, the circumscribed farmer may bring his cornstalks, (Continued from page 91.) straw, leaves and offal vegetable matter into valua- "AGROSTIS stolonifera, (var. 1. latifolia.) Largeble use. As, however, the fermentation and de-leaved Creeping Bent, Fiorin. composition of these dried substances progress "Specific character.-Panicle loose at the time of slowly when they are not saturated with the juices flowering, contracted afterwards; florets large, nu- "The chief advantage of this grass in permanent of the cattle yard, they, together with the scanty merous; calyx husks acuminate, outer serrulated pasture is its late growth. It remains in a degree growth of the grasses, may not be sufficient to ex- from the keel upwards; inner only slightly towards inactive till other grasses have attained to perfecpand and divide the covering among the sets, as it the top. tion, and when their productive powers become exought to be done for an advantageous growth of "The Rev. Dr. William Richardson has intro-hausted, those of fiorin and its varieties begin; and this root, if the crop be planted by trench plough- duced this variety of the Agrostis stolonifera to the it will be found, on inspection, that the latest mouthing. In that case, the cornstalks, &c. should be agricultural world, under the name of fiorin, and ful of herbage, and sometimes the earliest in those spread over the lay, and the sets covered in the has shewn its merits and properties, deduced from pastures, is principally afforded by this grass. usual way, by turning the sod with these substances his own experiments, in a variety of publications "There has been much prejudice existing against and the tops of grass, over them. The farmer, on the subject, to which the reader is referred. It the different species of Agrostis in general; but let however, should be careful to have them so far de is greatly superior, in point of produce and nutri- the proprietor of a rich ancient pasture divest a composed, before they are applied for the crop, as tive powers, to the other varieties of the Agrostis part of it of this grass entirely, and the value of will render them as useful to the grain and grasses stolonifera which have been enumerated; this will the plant will be demonstrated in the comparative following, as can be expected after the loss sustain- be manifest on referring to the details of experi-loss of late and early herbage. In these pastures, ed by ploughing them up, when the potatoes are ga- ments made upon them, as given under the head of late in the autumn, I have observed the stolones thered. If this be not done, the more solid remains grasses natural to moist soils. extend to a considerable length, and left untouched of these dried substances will be dragged up in "On comparing the specimens of these different by cattle: in the spring, however, they were geneheaps, or spread over the surface by the harrow, varieties, their resemblance to each other is so rally eaten, and the protection they had afforded i to the under grasses was evident in the superior affording great encouragement for the health of "Specific character.-Panicle spreading, with diearly growth of the herbage where the stolones had upright-growing plants-under this circumstance, varicated, capillary branches; calyx valves nearly most extended; after this the creeping bent was weeds. The numerous fibrous roots that issue from equal; stem erect; stipula abrupt, very short. Sm. hardly to be recognized till the other grasses had the joints of the trailing shoots or stolones, exhaust Engl. Fl. i. p. 91.” again exhausted themselves towards the end of the the surface of the soil in a considerable degree; This, and the following, were formerly cultivated autumn. The plant, in this state of combination, top-dressings with manure are, therefore, absolutely to some extent in Pennsylvania, and are generally takes but little from the soil. necessary to keep up the superior productive pow-naturalized. They were not considered valuable, ers of fiorin. Without these points being sufficient-on trial; and are now pretty much neglected. Their ly attended to in the cultivation of this grass, disap-chief utility consisted in rendering boggy grounds pointment will be the result. firm, by means of their numerous fibrous roots; "The merits of this variety of the creeping-bent but they are not esteemed, for stock-and are, for the purposes of permanent pasture, have alrea-moreover, very difficult to be eradicated, when once dy been mentioned, and that its productive powers, introduced. when in combination with other grasses, are much "AGROSTIS alba. White Bent grass. less than have been shewn in the above details; "Specific character-Panicle spreading, meagre,. from which it will appear to be a necessary consti- branches roughish; culms decumbent; root creeptuent of a mixture of grasses, to form, in all parti-ing. culars, the most valuable permanent pasture, though in a less proportion than most other species admitted to form such a mixture. "In comparing the produce and nutritive powers of different grasses, to arrive at a knowledge of their relative value, it is absolutely necessary, for the truth of comparison, that the produce of one whole season be taken, and not one crop singly, except in instances where the produce consists but of one crop only. Accordingly, the produce of fiorin may be compared with that of the cock's-foot grass (Dactylis glomerata,) meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis,) and the meadow foxtail, (Alopecurus pra tensis,) when it will appear inferior to the two former species, and superior to the latter. On refer ring to former details, it appears, that The Agrostis stolonifera, var. latifolia, lbs. per acre larger creeping bent— in one year. From the produce of one season, taken in December, affords of nutritive matter, 'The Dactylis glomerata, cock's-foot grassFrom the produce of early herbage in the spring, affords of nutritive matter, From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter, 1089 From the produce of latter math, affords of nutritive matter, The Festuca pratensis, meadow fescue— From the produce of early herbage in the spring, affords of nutritive matter, From the produce at the time of flow ering, affords of nutritive matter, From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter, The Alopecurus pratensis, meadow-fox tail 858 281 3821 957 From the produce of early herbage, fords of nutritive matter, 483 255/ 1435 "This grass is late, unproductive, and contains but little nutritive matter. Its creeping roots greatly exhaust the soil. In this variety they are smaller "It perfects a sufficiency of seed, which readily than in the other varieties, but equally difficult to vegetates; and the plants, when properly encourag- extirpate when once in possession of tenacious clays. ed by top-dressings, I have found invariably to ar- The next following species (Agrostis repens.) is more rive soon at perfection. When the runners or sto-troublesome as a weed, though less productive. lones are used instead of seed, the ground is much | Neither of these plants produces stolones, or runsooner clothed with the grass: when meant as a ners, like the varieties of the Agrostis stolonifera; crop by itself, the planting of the shoots or stolones sometimes, indeed, a few slender runners are found, appears to be the best mode; but when intended as but they seldom strike root at the joints. The part of a mixture of other grasses, the seed will be creeping roots abundantly supply this defect in the found by experience to be the most proper. plant for its propagation, as they creep under the "It flowers about the second and third weeks of surface, and send up at intervals numerous young 1728 July, and the seed is ripe about the second and third shoots. This property of the roots is the best chaweeks of August. racter of distinction for the purpose of the agriculThe grasses and other plants that have now turist, as it may be found at any season or stage of been submitted to the better judgment of the read-growth of the plant. er, comprehend all the grasses and plants which the "Flowers in the first week of August, and the author could ever find in the body of the richest seed is ripe about the beginning of September." natural pastures, examined every month of the This is generally confounded with the foregoing, year, and oftener; some other species, it is true, under the name of Herd's-grass, and is considered were sometimes found on particular spots, but could of no greater value. The culture of it is now gennot from their local situation, be considered as na-erally neglected at least in the best farmed parts turally belonging to such: they will be mentioned of Pennsylvania. hereafter. 1719 "The cock's-foot grass, under the circumstances described, is therefore superior to the larger variety of the creeping-bent, in the proportion, nearly, of 11 to 9. cock's-foot. a (To be continued.) "To those who may have perused and bestowed some consideration on the foregoing details, it may HESSIAN FLY-RARE-RIPE WHEAT. be unnecessary to observe, that the facts and ob- MR. SKINNER, June 1, 1827. servations there brought forward offer sufficient ering, affords of nutritive matter, 478 1216 proofs, that it is not from one or two, but from a va-the wheat crop this season by Hessian fly, and hearHaving witnessed a good deal of destruction in From the produce of latter-math, afriety of different species of grasses, that the agri-ing of much more in other places, I think it imporculturist can hope to form, in the shortest space of time, a sward equal if not superior to that of the tant to turn the attention of farmers to the Early, richest natural pastures. or Rare-ripe wheat; which is the only wheat that I have yet seen that can make a crop in spite of the "Hastiness in generalizing from a few facts only, fly. This is the third year in succession that I have in things pertaining to the properties and cultiva-tried it; and it has been regularly, each year, un"The meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis,) is also tion of plants, has often led to error; it seldom hurt by the fly, notwithstanding some of it was puny superior to fiorin, in nearly the like proportion as benefits the cause it meant to advance: every one in its early growth from defect in the seed wheat, is told this plant, or that mode of cultivation, will occasioned by weevil fly, and whilst other wheat, The meadow fox-tail grass (Alopecurus pratensis, best suit his purpose; most make trial, and from the along side of it, and in its neighbourhood, has been is inferior to fiorin, in the proportion nearly of 6 to 7. want of that caution which generalization in the "Though the quantity of nutritive matter afford-outset destroys, the majority fails: this leads to fined to the crops on richly manured lands; it is constantly destroyed. Nor is this difference coned by a grass in one whole season is the chief pro-difference of opinion on one side; and on the other, equally apparent upon thinner lands. perty by which its comparative value can be deter to a contempt of that which, when taken in its li mined, yet the particular season or seasons in which mited sense, would have produced every advantage to 1804, with good success; but at that time we had This wheat was generally grown here from 1800 it is produced, the nature of the soil on which it the object was capable of affording. can be cultivated to most advantage, and the supe "The hope of discovering a single grass or mode experienced, comparatively, but little injury from rior facilities its peculiar habits of growth afford of cultivation superior to every other for all the fined to wheat of a few of the first days' seeding, the Hessian fly; its ravages then were chiefly confor its propagation, as also for reaping its produce, purposes of the agriculturist, under every circum-and the damage was done in the fall. We knew are points which must necessarily be taken into the stance, would surely be as rational, and the disco nothing then of the spring fly. account by the agriculturist, according as they are very, when effected, as great, as those of the philo-comprehending the season of harvest in 1804, the For many weeks, influenced by local circumstances; such as the na-sopher's stone and the universal specific." ture of the soil, and situation of his farm. This grass attracted much attention, some years smooth wheat was exceedingly injured as it stood weather was unusually damp and rainy; all the "When cultivated separately for the purpose of ago, from the extraordinary accounts of its produce green food or hay,* fiorin requires to be kept per in Europe: but it is very little known in the United and maturing in the most rainy part of that unforin the field, and the rare-ripe wheat, being earlier fectly clear of weeds, its couchant habit of growth States-and its value has probably been much over-tunate season, was most injured of all the wheat. rated. It is supposed to be not specifically distinct The red chaff bearded wheat had just then made from A. alba, or herd's-grass. its appearance as a new wheat amongst us; and as AGROSTIS vulgaris. Common Bent-Fine Bent-bearded wheat always withstands wet better than The mode of converting fiorin into hay, during the winter months, is amply detailed in Dr. Richardson's publications on fiorin. Full information will there be likewise found on the productive powers, uses, modes of cultivation, &c. &c. of this grass, deduced from the Doctor's own experiments. grass.* * Commonly called Red-top, and sometimes Herd's grass in the United States. smooth wheat, the little damage it sustained caused it to be brought into favour that year to the total exclusion of the rare-ripe, which appeared to be every where discontinued because it suffered most from rain and wet. This was during the period of the agricultural prosperity of our country, when produce was very high and farmers were arrogant and impatient; nor could a stronger instance be adduced of the unreflecting and badly calculating manner in which they went on, than the sudden and irrational dismissal of the rare-ripe wheat from the classes of their crops. Queen-Ann's county, 5th June, 1827. "I am happy to say that our prospect for a wheat crop has greatly improved. The early, or 'rareripe,' will give a full crop. This is the first year I have grown it, and am so much pleased with it, that I shall sow largely of it the ensuing fall. Many farmers, and myself amongst others, will suffer severely from defective seed; still I am of the opinion that Queen Ann's and Talbot will give two-thirds of a crop. The oat crop promises to be abundant." earlier the better with all wheat, provided you can Extract from an intelligent correspondent, dated escape the fall fly. But the rare-ripe bears late seeding better than any other wheat that I have seen. The advantages of the rare-ripe wheat then, are these: it will bear as late seeding as any other wheat; its early and rapid spring growth puts it out of the way of the spring fly; it is always jointed by the 1st day of May, often before; it is never subject to rust; it produces as abundantly as other wheat; the grain is generally heavier than that of any other sort; it is as productive a wheat to the miller as most other kinds; it stands well throughout harvest, and is easily cut and saved. I have never known an instance of the spring fly destroying it. It has been supposed that the early harvest of this wheat will einbarrass the farmer in his corn crop. I do not find this to be the case. Knowing that your harvest will be a fortnight earlier, you make your exertions and arrangements to meet it, and that early and rapid cultivation is a great benefit to the corn crops. I expect to begin my harvest by the 12th of June. The rare-ripe is a beautiful white wheat, plump grain, and next to the old white wheat of good quality, perhaps the most productive in flour. It is a remarkably heavy wheat, never subject to rustof a shorter straw and head than any of the other kinds of wheat; yet its product to the acre, shock There was a good deal of this wheat seeded in or stack, is equal to that of any wheat. It does not Talbot last autumn, and if the farmers will keep it branch so much as some other kinds of wheat, and separate from their other wheat this season, a conis on that account generally seeded a little thicker.siderable quantity of seed wheat may be procured. An idea has prevailed that this wheat would not stand the winter. This is not my opinion. That the rare-ripe wheat will not succeed in low, wet grounds as well as the red chaff or flint wheat, I think is pretty certain; in such lands the winter's frost will be very apt to prove destructive to it. But no wheat is certain in such lands. In dry lands, and particularly if they are rather high, I am persuaded no wheat will pass the winter better than the rare-ripe. On my lands (which are flat, but dry,) I have never seen any difference in the effects of winter frosts and wet upon the rare-ripe or other wheat; and I have always had some of the common kinds of wheat growing whenever I grew the rareripe. My present crop of rare ripe wheat, both in good and thin land, is entirely unaffected by last winter's frost, on a field that is as level as a bowl ing green. Your obed't serv't, ROBT. H. GOLDSBOROUGH. HINTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. It has often been remarked, that the American sheep yield much less wool than the sheep of Britain, France and Spain. This is owing to the length of our winters and the quantity of snow on the ground, preventing their picking up as much nou rishment as the sheep in Europe. Hence they drop their wool from mere weakness, during the winter and spring. To prevent this, a farmer of long ex perience has found half a gill of Indian corn, given every day to each sheep, to be extremely useful. It strengthens the sheep, by which means the quantity of wool is increased, as well as retained, till the time of shearing, to the great emolument of the farmer. EXTRAORDINARY COW, Yielding twenty pounds and a half of butter per week. Several depositions have been exhibited to us authenticating the following facts. That an improved Durham short-horned cow, in the possession of John Hare Powel, Esq. yielded, between Thursday morning, the 24th of May, and Saturday evening following; that is, in three days, milk from which 8 pounds and 18 ounces of butter were obtained by the usual process-equal to 204 pounds per week; that she then yielded, and continues to yield, 26 quarts of milk, ascertained by actual measurement, within twenty-four hours; and that she had no other food than slop of Indian meal, and clover and orchard grass. Some of her cream was converted into butter, before the Philadelphia Agricultural Society, as an experiment. was effected in three seconds, according to the report of R. Haines, Esq. as appears upon their minutes. [Phila. paper. If we had no fly, I should prefer the old white wheat to all other kinds for lands that will produce white wheat; for it is idle to seed it in lands that will not produce it.—as it will, in a great portion of our lands, as certainly turn brown as the black sea island cotton seed, when planted here, will turn green and furzy. Harrassed as we have been for the last twenty years by the continued depredation of the Hessian fly, I reflected upon the character of the rare-ripe wheat when known to us many years ago, and thought its capacity to bear late seeding, and its extremely early and rapid spring growth, would enable it to escape the ravages of the fly. Under this conviction, I wrote to you, sir, several years ago, as you may remember, to engage your kind and efficient offices to procure me this wheat at any price; and notwithstanding your good exertions, you informed me that you could learn nothing of it. Most fortunately, however, a friend of mine accidentally heard of the rare-ripe wheat in Delaware, and luckily procured a bushel. This was in the autumn of 1823, and I obtained from him five bushels after the succeeding harvest. have seeded it every year since, and have found it my most productive wheat. It is getting again into favour; a good deal was seeded last fall, but the weevil fly injured that grain after it was cut, as it did the grain of every other wheat, and prevented a great deal of it from coming up. Wherever the seed wheat was good, the crop of rare-ripe wheat is good this year, and is wholly unaffected by the fly; although the adjacent fields of other kinds have been very much injured. I consider the rare ripe wheat so exempt from the ravages of the Hessian SIR, fly, that I believe if seeded after the 8th or 10th of October, and the seeding completed in the next four or five weeks, nine years out of ten; the crop will succeed It will do to be seeded later than this I have very fine rare-ripe wheat now growing, that was seeded the 18th and 19th of November last; indeed, I have seen good crops of it growing from December seeding. But the surest way is, to begin so late as to avoid the autumn fly, and then get your crop seeded in the shortest time after that; the It PROSPECT OF CROPS. Very respectfully, your obed't serv't, HORTICULTURE. (From the Philadelphia Album.) ON THE CULTIVATION OF SILK. By Doctor John T. Sharpless, of Philadelphia. 'Eye nature's walks'-behold with wondering ken, The egg, the worm, the spinning worm, and then The twined cocoon, the fly, the egg again. Thus throughout all creation's boundless span, How great is God-how impotent is man; Proofs upon proofs from nature's endless store, Teach him his duty-humbly to adore. Of all the innumerable animated beings that a beneficent Creator has thrown around man for his pleasure and his comfort, none stand, in comparison to its size, on so elevated a pedestal of usefulness, as the Silk Worm. Minute in its form; insignificant in its individual productions; its whole existence but a comparative moment; how astonishing is the effect of its collec tive industry. Producing, singly, a texture so minute that the eye can hardly scan its tenuity; when the labours of millions are associated, what a re suit! of delicate fibril, its multiplied productions become Yielding by its single exertions but a few grains immeasurable. Formed by the endless ingenuity of man into every variety of fabric, and wafted by the winds of Heaven to the uttermost corners of the earth, it has become a chain connecting nations.-The wealth, prosperity and happiness of mighty empires have been founded on a silken basis, and are still supported by a spinning worm. From the "purple robe" of the monarchs of the "Eternal city" to the garment of the humble peasant, its usefulness is unbounded. Thousands of human beings are nourished, beauty is adorned, and man revels in a luxury, of the lowly source of which he has little conception. All are familiar with the splendid texture, let us therefore "condescend" to study the architect whose labours though minute, how ingenious! though apparently contemptible and useless, how important and,invaluable! Every writer of repute has considered China the native country of the Silk Worm, and this opinion is strongly corroborated by the description of silken articles in the history of that country many hundred years before it became known in Europe. Silk was introduced into Rome through Persia, Syria, and Greece. It was then, however, so scarce and dear, from the immense distance it was brought, that even the wives of the early emperors were prohibited its use. Heliogabalus was the first monarch in Europe who wore a complete garment of silk, and from his time the "purple robe" became identified with royalty. The Roman writers who speak on this subject, considered it the down from a tree, or the entrails of a worm called ser, and hence the silk sericum. Its real origin remained involved in fable, till the reign of Justinian, of the eastern empire, in the sixth century, when some Persian christians, employed as travelling monks, concealing some of the eggs in the hollow of a cane, brought them from China and introduced the animal into Constantinople. It immediately received royal patronage; establishments were erected, seed dissemi out of the delicate orifice, receives a coat of gum from the membrane that lines the passage, and which fastens the two fibres together, of which a single filament is composed, and is the soluble substance that is softened and removed by boiling the cocoon. The Respiratory apparatus consists of the nine dark spots on each side of the body, which are called Stigmati. From these points, which are orifices, proceed tubes, terminating in a large air vessel on each side, called Tracha, running the whole length of the body, and from which innumerable system, carrying the air which passes through them to the fine extremities of the organs of nutrition and of the blood-vessels. nated, and soon its usefulness was extended from The motion of its mouth now forms the figure 8. the Byzantine towers to the Pillars of Hercules. In twenty-four hours, it can no longer be seen; a Sicily in particular became the great manufactory slight sound alone detecting its labours. In five or of silk, and in the reign of Henry IV. of France, not-six days the cocoon is finished, when the worm apwithstanding the opposition of the Duc de Sully, it pears, upon opening the ball, to be about an inch was introduced into that country as a staple article. in length, the skin dry, shrivelled and yellow, and it About the year 1660 England became familiar with can be shaken about without resistance, the sound its manufacture, and by 1670 the society of silk produced being that of a softish body. In about two throwsters employed 40,000 persons. The use of days after the cessation of the spinning, the skin the article had, however, been known before, for in again splits in the back, and slips off, leaving the 1308 we hear of it as a great curiosity; and so late as animal without feet, and with some appearance of King James of Scotland, in borrowing a pair of silk wings and feelers. It is now called a Nymph, Aure hose of the Earl of Mar, to appear before the Eng-lia, or Chrysalis, and upon shaking the cocoon, rat-rammifications pass in every direction over the whole lish ambassador, he made use of this expression: tles like a hard inanimate substance. In about fif "Ye would not sure that your king appear as a teen or twenty days from the commencement of the scrub before strangers." In the year 1770 Dr. spinning, the covering of the head of the Nymph Franklin introduced its cultivation to the attention opens, and a liquor is emitted, which dissolves the of the people of this country, and by great exertions gummy matter that glues the fibres of the cocoon assisted in establishing the "Filature of Philadel- together; and then with its feet, which now emerge phia." Premiums were offered for the silk raised, from their covering, it makes an opening in the end and in a short time large quantities were produced of the ball through which it passes out, a full grown and sent to England for manufacture. On the ap-white moth, of an inch in length; leaving its dry, proach of war the subject disappeared from public hard case behind. notice, and remained till within a few years in undisturbed repose. This animal belongs to the great division of Entomology, Lepidoptera; genus Phalana; sub-genus Bombyx, species Mori, from Morus the mulberry. It is associated by naturalists with the moths and butterflies, but differs from many of them by remaining in the egg during the winter, instead of the cocoon; and in its native state preferring the night for its flights. During the state of fly the silk worm never eats; whilst "The coquetting butterfly sips sweets from every flow er." That it does not actually destroy the thread in forming the hole, has been positively determined by Mr. Swayne, of England, the perforated balls hav ing been reeled by him without the interruption of a single end. who wish a more particular detail of the anatomy of the silk worm, can consult Reaumur Historie Naturelle, Malpigh de Bombyc, Lyonet Traité anatomique de la chenille, Cuvier, Anat. Comparée, &c. In the successful cultivation of this animal, it is of What these organs of Nutrition are, is not known; but they are supposed to be mere tubes, imbibing nourishment on the surface of the stomach, and depositing it in different parts of the body. There is also a contracting and dilating vessel on the back, which seems to circulate the blood, but how it is supplied, propelled, or conveyed round the system, is entirely unknown. There is also a vast collection of greenish fluid in the body of a worm, that answers some purpose, undoubtedly, but what remains also to be discovered. In the Imago, or fly, the circulatory and respiratory arrangement reThe sex of this little being, which in the state of mains nearly as in the Larva, but the digestive ora worm was not perceptible, can now be readily gans have dwindled to a line, and the space foridentified. The male is much smaller than the femerly occupied by them, is now filled with eggs male; is more active, fluttering about with violent and other requisites for continuing the race. Those motion; and is distinctly marked across the back and wings with brown spots, whilst the female is of a nearly pure white, and has a pendulous belly. In a few hours, the female commences the closing process of her existence, by depositing her eggs on any object that presents itself, generally laying from the first importance that eggs of the best quality be two to five hundred, and placing them in regular procured. There are three kinds or Casts of the rows, and often forming solid circles of the size of a worm. The first is the Common, and sheds its coat dollar. The lives of neither sex continue many days four times, as just described.-40,000 of its eggs, after perfect maturity, though I have seen them oc- weighing an ounce, and on an average 240 cocoons, casionally existing for fifteen days. The eggs thus a pound. Secondly, a large worm from Frioul, in deposited, remain in a dormant state till the follow- Italy, also of four casts or changes, but of which ing spring, when the same succession of process oc- 37,000 eggs weigh an ounce, and 100 balls a pound. curs as just described. The silk of this worm is coarser and stronger than the Common, and the time required for its different third variety sheds its skin but three times, and is stages is greater; the fly is also much larger. The found in Lombardy. It is much smaller in every stage of existence than any other, 42,000 eggs being required for an ounce, and 600 cocoons for a pound. It is four days less in its changes; the balls are firmer and better constructed, and the silk finer; 506 feet of a simple filament weighing a grain, whilst of the common 458 feet are required. This variety, therefore, if it could be introduced into our country, would perhaps answer better than the one we usually cultivated, which here produces a long, pointed, yellow or white cod, of inferior merit. Within the last year, a great number of the Frioul eggs have been imported by Messrs. Samuel Alexander, F. Duzar, and Dr. Mease, and produced a very large, round, firm, white or fawn coloured ball, and yielded silk of a very good quality. Passing the cold season in the egg, on the approach of warm weather it emerges therefrom, a small black animal strongly resembling an ant, and grows with a rapidity almost unparalleled. In eight days it has increased from the sixteenth to the fourth of an inch in length; then becomes motionless, ceases to eat, and assumes a hue rather more intense. In a few hours an opening appears in the back, and the skin gradually contracts towards the tail. The animal now seems in pain; writhing its The whole term of existence of the worm, in our body, and struggling to progress forward, and in a short time slips out of the old habiliment and ap-thirty-five from birth to the commencement of spincountry, is usually from fifty-five to sixty days: say, pears with a coat of a bright yellow colour. The ning, fifteen or twenty in the cocoon, and from covering to the head separates in a distinct piece. six to ten as a fly. If, however, means are taken, This change is generally completed in thirty-six by regulating the heat; frequent feeding with good hours after its commencement. Voracity now seems its only passion, and it grows with a rapidity equal to its hunger, so that in five days more it is half an inch in length, when it again goes through the process of unclothing it self. In another five days it is more than one inch long, and the skinning operation is repeat ed. In five days more its fourth moulting occurs, and in a short time it arrives at its full size of three inches. leaves, &c. it can be forced through the different There is also a difference in the colour of some of the Larvæ of every variety of the worm, some being, as I before mentioned, cream, and others of a brown tint This diversity of shade is not, I believe, accounted for, nor does it, so far as I can ascertain, affect the quality of the product. (To be continued.) As all are familiar with the external appearance of this animal, it would be useless to occupy time with a minute description: suffice it to say, that it resembles most of the smooth caterpillars, has sixteen feet, six of which are placed near the head, During these different changes of garment it ap- and are on the part assigned to the legs of the perpears sick, droops its head, and remaining fixed in fect fly. There are also eleven rings or circular deone spot, dislikes to be disturbed; whereas, on the pressions, and thirteen segments to the body, with approach of the spinning season, which takes place nine dark points on each side, which are the breathin a few days after the completion of its size, it is ing holes. Its colour, except immediately after a continually wandering about, carries an erect head, moulting, is a greenish or white dark brown accord and examines every thing within its reach, leaving ing to the species. The internal anatomy is more silky fibres wherever its mouth may touch. By complicated and curious. In the larva, there is a holding it to the light at this time, a semipellucid-straight hollow tube extending from the mouth to ness will be observed that is an important test of its the anus, which is the stomach and intestines; also maturity. It soon fixes on a spot where it can form a double vessel, much convoluted, about one foot in a hollow space for its habitation, stretching its its entire length, containing an orange coloured, thread, which proceeds from its mouth, from side transparent gum, which becomes the silk. This FRUIT TREES-PEA BUG. to side, irregularly, in all directions, till it encloses gum vessel extends to near the tail on each side of MR. SKINNER, Columbia, June 5th, 1827. a space about the size of a pigeon's egg, when the alimentary tube, and joining near the head, terthey become more condensed, the filaments being minates in one aperture, on a papilla on the lowering the insect that injures the smooth skinned stone Seeing so many contradictory opinions concernplaced in close contact, and shutting out the light lip, which is called the Spineret or Fusulus. This fruit and causes it to fall, in your very useful paper, silky substance is very tenacious, and in passing I cannot help offering my mite. It cannot be the and air. May-bug as we were told last year, for I have not seen a single one this season, though last year we had them in uncounted millions. I examine my trees very closely, both day and night, and the only insect that I have yet been able to detect wounding the fruit, is a small bug (perhaps the pea-bug,) about twice the size of a large pin's head, with a proboscis one-eighth of an inch in length, wherewith it makes an insertion somewhat in the shape of a horse-shoe, in which (I suppose) it lays its egg; soon after which the fruit appears poisoned, withers, and drops from the tree. I have not been able to discover any thing yet, likely to prevent their mischief, except perhaps paving around the tree to a considerable extent, but this is not answerable in every situation, and likewise too expensive in general. I am, your most obed't serv't, J. B. G. N. B. My plums are nearly all stung already, and it appears as if half a dozen insects were sufficient to sting all the fruit on a very large tree, for they commence as soon as the flower falls, and continue (I believe) while there is any fruit on the tree. J. B. G. ADDITIONS TO HORTICULTURE.-The collection of templated only the rare qualification of being able education of males, should not be held equally applito check the butcher's or the grocer's bills We cable to the softer sex. It surely cannot be pretendcertainly ought to be thankful that our eyes, in the ed that their intellectual natures are inferior to those present day, have never looked upon such bright of the other sex, and incapable of equal improvemodels of female perfection. ment. Such a position would stand rebuked not less Yet, although such glaring errors have been ex-by courtesy than by universal experience. A host of ploded, and a much more liberal standard introduc- splendid witnesses, the Mores, the De Staels, the ed, it must be acknowledged that too many of the Edgeworths, the Genlises, and the Wrights of the old-fashioned prejudices are still cherished, even by present day, would rise up to overwhelm the advothose who lay strong claims to liberality and refine cate of such an opinion with confusion; transcenment. It is true that, unlike our forefathers of a dant intellects, which have disenthralled themselves century back, when, beyond her Bible, the reading from the trammels and obstructions of the prevailof the best educated lady embraced only a few ing false system, and, through the clouds of error trashy romances, well bred circles can now listen, and prejudice which have enveloped them, have with something more than bare toleration, to a lady burst forth upon the world, to enlighten the underwho may venture an opinion on history, moral phi-standing by their philosophy; to captivate the imalosophy, or criticism! but let her beware, as she gination by their genius, and to pour the light of a would avoid the pains and penalties which await the splendid and successful vindication on the intellecMuch less will it be character of the blue stocking, of betraying the tual character of their sex. slightest acquaintance with any of the natural sci- pretended that woman is deficient in taste, as distinences, or with any language but her vernacular guished in popular language, from intellect. So far tongue, and last of all, with the obnoxious vocabula- from this, it will scarcely be denied, that in all these ry of ancient Greece or Rome. Sneers and sar- endowments, woman is decidedly superior to the casms await such a one in every company. She has other sex; nay, we would rather say, that it was the renounced the softness and the delicacy and the pe- peculiar gift of her sex. It is said of some celebratculiar charm of her sex! By showing that she knows ed painter, (Sir Joshua Reynolds, we think,) that seeds received by Dr. Mitchell from Commodore she has lost that attribute of helplessness and depen- the criticisms of children; regarding them as the something, and has a capacity to learn any thing, he was in the habit of subjecting his paintings to Hull, commander of the forty-four gun ship United dence on the "lords of creation" which invests the most unerring judges of nature, in the productions States, during her late cruise to the Pacific ocean, female character with so intense an interest. She of the pencil; and so we should be inclined to say, consists of highly useful species-such as beans, of has stepped from her appropriate sphere in the eco-woe to that aspirant in any department of taste, who five or six valuable varieties, three parcels of clover nomy of society; she has invaded the province of should not carry with him the suffrages of the softer seed, peas, chiches, lentils, watermelon seeds, onions, the hardier sex, and not content with the undisput sex. His condemnation we would consider sealed. parsley, caravances, and a variety of others, appa-ed sway of her sex over the minds of men in the That system of education, therefore, is highly unrently in fine preservation. They are chiefly the walks of domestic life, with a bold and masculine just and oppressive, which robs of their proper priproductions of Chili. It is intended by the present and encroaching spirit, she is grasping at the reins vileges those whom nature has endowed with such possessor, pursuant to the will of the gallant and of political power, seeking to be equal, nay, supe- large capacities for intellectual enjoyment, and patriotic donor, to present them, in his behalf, to rior to men, and to lord it over the universe. Such which consigns, to a place below the salt, those so the Horticultural Society for cultivation. Great are the anathemas of the prejudiced of both sexes, eminently qualified to occupy the highest seats at the praise is due to the individuals who thus bring home of the envious among the less enlightened of her great feast of reason, the valuable vegetables of other countries for the own, or of jealousy among the stupid part of the improvement of our own. [N. Y. pa. other, which are launched against the female who ventures to rise a few degrees above that low standard of intelligence which modern prejudice has assigned to the sex. Now, we wish not to do injus Intellectual cultivation imparts a charm to the tice to the present times: but what we complain of character of woman, in every relation in life in is, that modern improvement has, in this respect, which she can be contemplated. It fits the wife for shown itself inconsistent. Unlike itself in every other what she is designed to be, the great sweetener of work, where its watch-word is "forward" here it existence; and qualifies her, by the charms of intelIt is a matter of much astonishment and regret, seems to be comparatively stationary, and almost ligent conversation, the lively sallies of wit, and the that the interesting subject of female education satisfied, for the time, with its present attainments. delightful exhibitions of taste, to relieve the other should have felt so little of the influence of that spi- What would have been the picture of the modern sex from the weight of those cares, peculiarly inrit of improvement which so strongly characterizes arts and sciences, had they been pursued with equal cident to their pursuits. Who would be satisfied this age. Whilst, in the various departments of luke-warmness? In the science of government, the with a companion for life, who could entertain him physical and moral science, scarcely any thing has world would scarcely have made a single advance; with no other topics than those connected with the been left unattempted, which might contribute to and, so far from the bright and inspiring picture kitchen, the smoke house and the larder, the chilthe comfort or embellishment of human existence, now presented by our free political systems in hap-dren, the servants, and the poultry-yard? with one the cultivation of female intellect has been passed py and successful operation, a republic would have whom he could not summon to share with him, by by with comparative neglect. It is not denied at had scarcely any other existence than in the pages the winter-evening fireside, in the enchantments of much has been done towards the improvement of of the Utopia.-Chemistry would have progressed an author of genius; one who would contemplate modern female education; but it has by no means but a few degrees beyond the crude theory which the brightest displays of intellect with the vacant received a degree of attention commensurate with resolved all matter into the original constituents of stare of an idiot, and look with a malignant and jeaits importance, and much remains yet to be effect-fire, air, earth and water. In manufactures, the lous eye on his books, and newspapers, and pamphed before it is placed on a level, in that respect, tardy operations of human labour, unaided by malets, as objects which gave him a distaste for the with the other leading interests of society. It is chinery, could scarcely have supplied the rapidly homely topics of conversation. from which alone her true, the day is long past, when the perfection of fe- increasing demand of society with the productions mind could derive any satisfaction. male education consisted in learning to cut a gar of the loom. No steam-boats would have glided on ment, or to cook a mutton-chop; or, at most, in a the waters, and the proposer of such a vehicle would few miserable attainments in needle-work, the me- have been in peril of having his head shaved for a chanical drudgery of the embroidering frame, where visionary and dangerous madman. FLOWER GARDEN FOR JUNE. the greatest proficient must have yielded to the su- The reflection which most naturally occurs to the Ranunculuses.-When the foliage and flower stems perior skill of any bare-footed Scottish lassie, that mind of the inquirer on this subject, is the unreason-of the ranunculuses appear brown and dry, vegetasits pent up in a muslin factory to earn her sixpence ableness of the distinction so extremely disparaging tion has ceased, and it is the exact time to take up a day!-when a female's instruction in reading ex-to woman, which has been made, and is still main the roots, as they should not remain in the ground tended no farther than to enable her to spell the Bi-tained between the sexes. We confess we could during the ensuing rainy weather. The stems ble intelligibly;—when, in penmanship, it seldom never perceive either justice or good sense in this should then be cut off close, and placed in a shady exceeded the acquisition of a legible coarse hand; room to dry gradually. Nothing then remains to and when her loftiest aspirations in Arithmetic conbe done till the return of the planting season, except their being carefully preserved in boxes in a dry room. LADIES' DEPARTMENT. ON FEMALE EDUCATION. By A. G. Thomas, Esq. of Edgefield Court House, * At all hours of the day. unequal system, or why all the reasons drawn from "Sure he who made them with such large discourse; (To be continued.) |