those vaults, would be soon repaid by the advantage of the best kind of manure, which at present is universally suffered to flow away in waste. Even to offices already built, an exterior cistern might be added; but it is essential that it should be secure from the admission of rain, or any other water. The collection made in the winter months would be a great source of fertility; but if once connected with a regular soiling system, the increase would embrace an infinitely wide ex tent. creased by ships, and from the large size of its leaves we will admit with M. Bonafous, that five thousand slips of this mulberry would be equal to one hundred thousand plants of the common white mulberry. Since these mulberry trees have been planted, there has not been weather sufficiently cold to assure us that they could stand it: but the experiments of M. Bonafous leave no doubt in this respect. The good quality of the leaves cannot be disputed, after the confidence which one ought to grant to the author, and after the experiments we have made, an account of which we are going to give you. By an extensive cultivation of rape, and by the general establishment of these cisterns; to what In the same situation, and in the same temperapitch of improvement and produce might not the ture, five hundred silk worms have been raised on light lands of Great Britain and Ireland be speedi- the common white mulberry, and five hundred on ly advanced? If it be a practical fact, that upon the mulberry of the Philippines. The time of the the farm of Vollandre, the urine of 44 head of raising was of the same duration; 15 pounds of cattle, with the aid of 12000 rape cakes of two the leaves of the white mulberry, and 15 pounds pounds each, is sufficient to manure in the best of the mulberry of the Philippines were sufficient manner twenty-one English acres, the proprietor for both. The labor of the silk worms being over, of a rape mill, who could house double that num- the cocoons were weighed: 384 cocoons of the ber of cattle, might venture on the improvement worms fed on the mulberry of the Philippines of an extensive tract, with every prospect of suc-weighed one pound, while it took 420 of the others But the addition of the rape cake is only for the same weight: both gave two ounces of for those who have the material in possession, or very fine silk from a pound of cocoons. The only are able to purchase it; even without it, the liquid difference that has been remarked, was, that in manure is highly efficacious, but will not spread winding the cocoons furnished by the worms fed so far, or be so permanent; the cost, however, is on the mulberry of the Philippine, no threads only that of providing a suitable cistern; and if were broken, which was not the case with the the mention now made of this practice, shall here- others. This is a proof of the superior quality of after appear to have been the means of introducing the silk of the first. it into our countries, it may have eventually rendered the cause of agriculture no inconsiderable service, cess. REPORT ON THE MULBERRY OF THE PHILIP- It is then clearly proved that this mulberry has a real advantage over the other species. They give a larger quantity of leaves, cocoons heavier, and richer in silk of the best quality. If M. Perrottet has rendered a great service to this branch of industry by the introduction of this species of mulberry, M. Bonafous has made that Made to the Academy of Dijon, by one of its mem-service effectual by his care to multiply the plant, 'bers, Mr. TILLOY, of the Medical Jury of the de- to spread it, and to make all its advantages known. partment of Coté d'Or, (August 1834.) Translated for the Farmers' Register, from the Annules de l'Ag riculture Francuise. PROPAGATION OF THE CHINESE MULBERRY. ances, &c. of January 7, 1835. In 1831, I had the honor of making a report to Translated for the Farmers' Register from the Somnaire des sethe Academy on a memoir which had been addressed to it by M. Bonafous. The culture of M. Valmorin reads an extract of a letter from mulberries on meadows, and the introduction of a M. Maupoil, a Frenchman settled at Dolo, in new species of mulberry, were the subject of this Lombardy, relating to the rearing of silk worms memoir. At that time I only gave an account of in 1834, by means of the mulberry of the Philipthe work, not having the means to repeat the ex-pines. It appears from this letter, that in 1834 periments which were relative to it. Since, the the rearing of silk worms on these leaves has sucAcademy has owed to the extreme kindness of M. ceeded as well as in 1833, or as well as it was posBonafous the sending of a score of mulberry trees sible to desire. It also is there stated, that M. from the Philippines. These are they which have Maupoil, who propagates the mulberry of the Phiassisted my attempts to make plain the advantages lippines in every mode, has observed that the which they present over the other species of mul- plants raised from seeds, tended to approach [in berry. he is led to conclude, it may not be but a variety of character] the common white mulberry; whence this mulberry, and that to preserve the former, with the qualities which recommend it, it must be propagated by slips, and by grafting.* As the author of the memoir had mentioned, the shoots of this mulberry increase from six to seven feet in one year, the leaves are rapidly developed, many of them being from ten to twelve inches in length, and from eight to ten in breadth. Besides, it has the great advantage of being in *The plant described above, under a different name, (both common and botanical) is that known in this country as the Chinese Mulberry, (morus multicaulis.) Ed. Farm. Reg. *This additional testimony of the unfitness of the seeds of the Chinese Mulberry to continue its kind has reached us (in the Annales, &c. for January 1835) since the note on this subject at page 736, was printed. -Ed. Farm. Reg. QUERIES ON ORCHARD GRASS. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register.! Intending this spring to sow some of the orchard grass for the purpose of making hay, can I get the favor of you as soon as convenient, to forward me your views-1. Of the time when the seed should be sown. 2. The quantity to the acre. 3. The manner of preparing the land for its reception. 4. The proper time for cutting when used as hayand lastly, whether or not the article will grow advantageously on high land. R. P. R. [Before the foregoing queries could be answered properly, the season for which they were designed had passed. It is hoped that before the next seed time, some reader who is practically acquainted with orchard grass will give the information desired, together with such other statements on the subject as may be useful to those commencing the culture.] THE VALUE OF LIME AS MEDICINE FOR To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. cy of the article, and I can confidently recommend it as an invaluable remedial agent in not only preventing, but also in the expulsion of every kind of worm from the intestinal canal of the horse. ROBERT P. RICHARDSON. For the Farmers' Register. QUERIES ON SALT MARSHES AND MEADOWS. It would be conferring a favor on a brother farmer, and perhaps on many, if any gentleman, who possesses the information, would answer the above questions, and give any other information on the subject of meadows exposed to inundations of the salt tide water. From Insect Transformations. EARTH WORMS. Williamsburg, Va., March 27, 1835. The common earth worm (Lumbricus terresBelieving that any communication which has for its object the health of that useful animal, the tris) is instinctively afraid of moles; and no soonhorse, will be acceptable to very many of your er does it hear any subterranean noise, or feel any readers, I have thought proper to forward the fol-shaking of the ground, similar to those indicative lowing remarks, which, if it suits your pleasure, may be inserted in the next number of your valuable journal. it makes a speedy escape to the surface. Every of the approaching movements of its enemy, than boy knows how to take advantage of this to procure fish baits, by thrusting a spade or a stake into the ground, and moving it backwards and forwards, to imitate the advance of a mole burrowits instinct to discriminate between its subterranean ing in search of prey. The worm, unable from enemy and the spade, darts into daylight, and is instantly captured for the boy's bait-bag. The by Dr. Anderson in his 'Bee,' is aware of this inlapwing (Vanellus cristatus, MEYER,) it is stated concussions or noises; and when it cannot find stinctive fear in the earth worm of subterranean sufficiency of slugs, &c. above ground, it pats with its feet, till the earth worms, mistaking it for an advancing mole, come forth to be feasted upon. IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY SMALL AND POOR FARMERS. It is probable that more horses are lost from the effects of the grub worm, than from any other assignable cause. Knowing so well therefore, the imminent danger from an attack of grubs properly speaking, it is a matter of the first moment, if possible, by some means to prevent their generation. With this object in view, I have for several years been in the habit of giving my horses a portion of slaked lime in their food. Its effects are1. To correct any excess of acid in the alimentary canal, and otherwise preserve the healthy condition of the digestive organs. 2. It keeps up a healthy action on the skin, as is evidenced by the sleek coat of hair which the horse will have whilst under its use. 3. It will cause the grubs to be evacuated, either entire or mutilated. My plan is, during the spring and fall months (suspending its use occasionally for two weeks) to give a dessert The extracts from the British Farmer's Magazine in spoonful twice a day in some kind of chopped this No. (page 724) were copied from another print, food, with meal or bran. It is necessary in order to remove the coarser parts of the lime that it should our January number of that work not having then arbe passed through a fine sieve. For this remedy, rived. Since its reception, we find that the most inI am indebted to the late Maj. John Pryor, of the teresting facts connected with the statements there city of Richmond, who was proverbial for his given, were omitted, and which we will now supply. knowledge in veterinary science. It appears The meeting was at a public dinner given by the Earl that in travelling to the mountains during a season of Gosford, to his deserving tenants, with many other of excessive drought, of a great number of wag- invited guests, and the object was to distribute prizes gons on the road, he found the horses of but for, and to celebrate the valuable labors and improveone to look well. They presenting so fine and healthy an appearance, and their general condi- ments of the preceding year. It was these labors that tion being so widely different from all others met were stimulated and brought to such important ends, with during his travel, his curiosity prompted by the instruction and encouragement of Mr. Blacker, him to inquire of the driver of the team alluded to, how it was that his horses were so fat. He replied, that he gave them lime. After a long experience, he became entirely satisfied of the effica "Nourriture;-insectes, araignées, vers, et petits limaçons." TEMMINCK, Manuel d'Ornithologie, p. 552, 2d edit. of whose operations some account was given in our last number: and the fruits, presented in the products of these small farmers, certainly place Mr. Blacker's services in a much higher position than would have appeared from the previous account alone, highly as we then thought and spoke of them. THE SEASON THROUGH APRIL. The spring to this time, (April 28th,) has been as remarkably cold, for the time of year, as the winter had been below the temperature of our usual cold season. The corn planting has been made very late, by wet, as well as by cold weather: and those farmers who, on warm and dry soils, had been enabled to plant earlier, have had the leaves of all the young plants which had come up, cut down by severe frost. There will be very little if any early fruit. The wheat crops generally through the country show almost unprecedented injury from the severe cold of winter. On the rich low grounds of the upper James River, usually sown entirely in May wheat, the destruction is greater than is known elsewhere. From a private letter (of March 31) from the owner of a body of this very fertile and valuable kind of land, in Goochland, we take the following statement. "Our May wheat, on the stiffest James River low grounds above the falls, is so entirely destroyed by the severity of the winter, that some have already decided to sow the land in oats—and all are hesitating whether it is not advisable, and only waiting the latest hour that it will answer to sow oats, to decide to see what change may possibly take place in that time. At present, the prospect appears utterly hopeless. Other wheats are much injured-but this is the worst." In our own neighborhood, the wheat on marled land, having been in a measure protected by the peculiar warming power of that manure, shows a superiority to wheat on other lands, much greater than in proportion to the mere difference of fertility-and it may be anticipated that the benefit of marl on wheat this year, will be double as much as is generally seen after fa vorable winters. TERMS OF PUBLICATION FOR FARMERS' REGISTER. 1. The Farmers' Register is published in monthly numbers, of 64 large octavo pages each, and neatly covered, at $5 a year-payable in advance. 6. The mutual obligations of the publisher and subscriber, for the year, are fully incurred as soon as the first number of the volume is issued: and after that time, no discontinuance of a subscription will be permitted. Nor will a subscription be discontinued for any earlier notice, while any thing thereon remains due, unless at the option of the editor. For the Farmers' Register. MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. The business of the present month has been at advanced prices on every article of domestic produce-and foreign commodities generally have also brought higher rates. been current for several years past. General sales Tobacco is sold at prices beyond what have $5 50 to $11-extreme prices $5 to $14. Supplies begin to arrive freely, but of the extent of the crop no correct estimate can yet be made. Cotton has also advanced to unusual rates. It is now 14 cents per pound higher than last month: sales to some extent having been made in Petersburg at 17 to 18 cents. Supplies which were to appear, but only in moderate quantities, and kept back by the inclemency of the winter begin nearly the whole that remains in the country will probably be at market during the ensuing month. It will require a considerable advance in foreign markets to pay the prices given here for both cotWhether there is any good ton and tobacco. grounds for expecting such an advance, it is difficult to say. The increased consumption of cotton is doubtless calculated on—but this does not apply to tobacco. A small improvement has taken place in the price of flour, which may be ascribed to the apprehension of a short crop of wheat. It is said that the fields in Virginia never presented a more barthe present century. ren aspect-the effect of the severest winter of A Money continues to be plentiful, particularly in the large cities, which have generally received an accession of banking capital. The rate of exchange on England has been from 8 to 9 per cent. premium, and some shipments of specie were consequently made. Stocks of all kinds keep up; and among those which are getting into favor, it is pleasing to enumerate those of the rail road companies both at Richmond and Petersburg. new work of this description is about to be undertaken by the enterprising citizens of the latter place -to wit, a branch from their present rail road, to Wilkins' Ferry on the Roanoke River, at a point above the principal obstructions to the navigation, and but little affected by freshets or low waterpossessing also the advantage of a landing immediately at the road, and avoiding some of the expenses at present incurred. This new rail road 3. The risk of loss of payments for subscriptions, will offer a great facility to the growers of towhich have been properly committed to the mail, or tobacco and wheat on the Roanoke, as well as to a the hands of a postmaster, is assumed by the editor. 2. Or five new subscribers by sending their names and $20 at one time, will receive their copies for one year, for that sum, or at $4 for each. Purchasers of any 5 volumes (except Vol. I.) at one time in like manner, shall have them for $20. 4. For all copies not received by mail, duplicates will be furnished to those subscribers who have complied with their own obligations. 5. If a subscription is not directed to be discontinued before the first number of the next volume has been published, it will be taken as a continuance for another year. portion of the cotton country. The work will be Richmond and Potomac road are continued with commenced forthwith. The operations on the great spirit-those on the great James River and Kanawha work are about to be commenced. April 27, 1835. X. |