Phacelia parviflora, Pursh. We hope bee-keepers will pay attention to plants upon which bees feed, and send specimens to the Department, in order that a complete list of honey and pollen yielding plants may be obtained.

The following list comprises some of the plants from which bees gather honey and pollen during the feeding seasons:

Spring. Willow, alder, aspen or poplar, elm, maple, marsh-marigold, hepatica, anemone, dandelion, erythronium, (albidum,) service-berry, (Amelanchier Canadensis,) currant, gooseberry, strawberry, peach, cherry, apple, pear, China-tree, (Melia Azedarach,) black-gum, (Nyssa multiflora,) whortleberry, cottonwood, cornel or dogwood, narcissus, honeysuckle, oak, red-bud, (Cercis Canadensis,) hazle, yellow jasmine, Jasminum ordoratissimum,) sweet-myrtle, (Myrica gale,) magnolia, (glauca,) hawthorn, box-elder, (Negundo aceroides,) locust, azalea.

Summer.-Red clover, white clover, raspberry, blackberry, cockspur, thorn, whortleberry, black-haw, (Viburnum prunifolium,) self-heal, (Brunella,) azalea, sour-wood, (Oxydendrum arboreum,) cinquefoil, cucumber, narrow-leaved plantain, horse-chestnut, strawberry, pea, honey-dew, (on live oak,) chincapin, (Castanea pumila,) persimmon, inden, bee-balm, (Melissa officinalis,) maize, sorghum, heliotrope, ironweed, (Vernonia,) smart-weed, (Polygonum Persicaria,) butterfly-weed, (Asclepias tuberosa,) viper's bugloss, (Echium vulgare,) cotton plant, buckwheat, sumac, catnip, Spanish needles, (Bidens bipinnata,) beg gar's lice, (Cynoglossum Morisoni,) boneset, starwort, (Stellaria,) silkweed, (Asclepias cornuti,) thistle, sage, cardinal flower, balsam, mountain mint, Monarda didyma,) sweet marjoram, lavender, spearmint, peppermint, thyme, dandelion, chickweed, pennyroyal, sweet clover, speed well, (Veronica,) poppy, turnip, hollyhock, sunflower, dahlia, phlox. Autumn.-Aster, golden-rod, dandelion, white clover, red clover, cinquefoil, chickweed, pennyroyal, artichoke, phlox, chrysanthemum.

SILK CULTURE.

That the culture of silk can be profitably carried on in the United States is clearly established. The success of the experiments in California has far surpassed the most sanguine expectations of those engaged Mr. Prevost, the pioneer silk grower of that State, and formerly engaged in the same pursuit in France, maintains, after twelve years' experience, that California is "the best silk country in the world," and that the manufactured article, even in its best grades, can be produced cheaper than in Europe. At an early period silk was raised in Virginia. In 1718 experiments in Louisiana were successful, and a good article of silk was produced. For about forty years, silk of a superior quality was raised in Georgia, continuing to be the leading and most profitable product of the colony until it was prostrated by the revolutionary war. In most of the colonies, prior to the revolution, the culture of silk was more or less successful, in Georgia and South Carolina especially so. Cocoons of an excellent quality were produced in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1771 a silk establishment was started in Philadelphia for the manufacture of silk of native growth, which for a series of years received a large amount of cocoons. The culture and manufacture of this valuable commodity are still carried on in parts of New England, in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Philadelphia, Paterson, New Jersey, Hartford, Manchester, and Mansfield, Connecticut, are noted for their extensive silk manufactures. The manufactured silk product of the United States in 1840 was valued at $250,000. In 1844 it had increased to $1,500,000. In 1860 the product in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut was estimated at over $5,000,000; the leading article manufaotured being sewing silk. Since that date the manufacture of silk in those States has been making steady progress, embracing a wide range of articles, as ribbons, braids, trimmings, fringes, and different varieties of dress goods.

It is a source of great encouragement that the diseases which threaten the total destruction of the native species of silk-worms in Europe do not prevail in this country. Mr. Prevost asserts that while from twentyfive to seventy-five per cent. of silk-worms are destroyed by disease and the unpropitious climate of Europe, few ever perish in California. The article from a California correspondent, published herewith, fully sets out the advantages possessed by that State over the silk-growing countries of Europe.

THE SILK INTEREST AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION.

The report of Hon. Elliott C. Cowdin, one of the commissioners rep resenting the United States at the París Universal Exposition of 1867, and to whom was assigned the subject of silk and silk manufactures, contains much valuable information concerning the progress and present condition of silk husbandry and manufactures in foreign countries, and throws out many suggestions which cannot fail to be useful to those entering upon the culture or the transformation of silk in this country. The progressive development of silk industry is carefully noted.

1812 there were in seven of the principal towns of France 27,000 silk looms; in 1824 Lyons alone had nearly 25,000, and in 1839, 40,000. In the latter year there were 85,000 looms in the kingdom, employing about 170,000 workmen, and the production was estimated at $16,300,000. In 1850 the silk goods produced were estimated at $75,000,000; in 1855, at $106,500,000-the number of looms in the empire having increased to 225,000, and the number of workmen employed to half a million. In 1860 the product was estimated at $140,000,000. The United States purchased of French tissues alone, in 1859, $27,000,000; in 1860, $20,800,000; on account of the war of the rebellion, our purchases fell to $5,000,000 in 1861. The commissioner states, as the result of his observations, that though the rebellion has been suppressed, the fiscal measures resulting therefrom still have their effect upon the silk husbandry and manufacture of France, operating as they do at the same period with the scarcity of indigenous silk, and the prevalence of mysterious disease among the silk-worms.

The operations of England in silk are confined to manufactures of the raw material, her uncongenial climate not permitting the rearing of silkworms. In 1823 Great Britain exported of silk goods $702,000; in 1844, $3,682,000; in 1856, $14,800,000; in 1858, $11,950,000; in 1861, $11,560,900; in 1865, $10,886,000. A recent treaty with France has seriously interfered with some branches of the silk industry of Great Britain. In view of the fact that the manufacturers of England are wholly dependent upon foreign importations of raw silk, it is well observed that an instructive lesson is taught the citizens of our country, where everything combines to render the prosecution of this industry pre-eminently successful.

The following table is given to show, as near as can be ascertained, the value of raw silk produced annually in the nations of the earth:

Pontifical States...

Greece, Ionian islands.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, Mediterranean coast.

Basin of the Danube, Austria, Bavaria, Servia, Hungary

India.

America.

$81, 200, 000

17, 000, 000 5, 000, 000

5, 200, 000 1, 800, 000 400, 000 1,400, 000 100,000 25, 600, 000 39, 200, 000 7,000,000 3,200,000 1,300,000 840, 000 300,000 1, 280, 000 24, 000, 000 80,000

Total...

214, 900, 000

BRANCHES OF SILK MANUFACTURE.

In silk industry there are seven distinct branches, or specialties: 1st, the rearing of the silk-worms; 2d, the filature or reeling of the silk from the cocoons; 3d, the throwing or spinning of the silk thread; 4th, the

dyeing of the silk; 5th, the preparation of the silk threads for the looms; 6th, the wearing of silk goods; 7th, the spinning of waste silk. Commissioner Cowdin reports the condition of, and progress made in, the branches severally, as manifested at the Paris Exposition.

In regard to the first, for purposes of reproduction it is important to choose cocoons of the largest size, and those the most successfully reared and least affected with any malady during the course of their development. These cocoons are recognized by the regularity of their form, the roundness of their extremities, the fineness of grain on the surface, and the solidity and thickness of the layers or silky envelopes. The male cocoons differ from the female in shape and size; the former being smaller, and presenting a cavity upon their back; the latter present the figure of an olive or the egg of a small bird. After collecting, the cocoons should be of a golden yellow color, and exhibit no spot or stain of any kind. After having put a certain number of male cocoons on one side, and of females on the other, weigh both parts to find the average weight of each, and every time this average is exceeded there is a presumption that excellent cocoons are obtained for reproduction, all other things being equal. Cocoons of an exceptional bulk are generally the result of two grubs united under the same envelope. Their product is known as "doubles," and is always inferior, being valued at hardly one-third the price of the normal product. An Italian silk husbandman exhibited at the Exposition an apparatus designed to prevent these doubles in the breeding of worms. It is an arrangement of cells made of light wood, each one having only the bulk necessary for a single grub. Each insect, therefore, at the proper time, has its own case, and doubles are rendered impossible. The inventor also claims that his system affords facilities for the choice of the best reproducers, and prevents coupling between grubs of the same family, consanguinity being by many considered as one cause of the rapid deterioration of the breed. The coupling accomplished, the females are removed and made to lay, each in her own cell, in such a way as to admit of the eggs of each lay ing being separately weighed. For good chances of success each laying should weigh at least sixty or seventy grams (per kilogram of cocoons,) each gram to contain thirteen hundred and fifty to fifteen hundred eggs. The best known varieties of silk-worms are seven in number. The common silk-worm (Bombyx mori) is the species most in use, and produces the best silk; it feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree, and attains its full growth in about six weeks. The castor-oil plant silk-worm (Bombyx arrindia) is a native of Bengal and British India, and lives on the food indicated by its name. It has been successfully propagated in Europe, where its silk product is found to be supple and durable, but almost destitute of luster. The ailanthus silk-worm (Bombyx Cynthia) is indigenous to the temperate regions of China. It produces an elongated cocoon, of a reddish shade, from which a strong and durable tissue is made. This worm was introduced in France in 1858, and its silk is growing in importance and industrial value. The Tusseh silkworm (Bombyx mylitta) lives in a wild state in Bengal, and in the woods of the hot regions of India. Its food is the leaves of the jujube tree. Their cocoons produce a fine and brilliant silk. Every effort to reproduce this worm in France has failed. The wild silk-worm of Japan (Bombyx Yama Mai) has been successfully reared in France. The leaves of the oak and similar trees are its only food. It is easy to raise, and furnishes a cocoon of greenish yellow, and can be reeled into a beautiful silk. The Bombyx Cecropia is indigenous to the temperate regions of North America, and found principally in the Carolinas, Louisiana and

Virginia. Its food is the elm, the willow, and other trees. is of loose texture and coarse silk.

THE MANUFACTURE OF SILK.

The cocoon

To transfer cocoons into the raw silk of commerce a basin and reel only are used; the former containing warm water to soften the gum of the envelope, so that the silken layers of the cocoon may be set free. In reeling, a certain number of threads of the cocoons, in proportion to the standard of raw silk intended to be produced, are united by pressure and twisting. This union of raw threads is known as grége or raw silk. Great care must be taken to prevent the threads, issuing wet and gummy from the basin, from adhering together; a sufficient distance between the basin and the reel, to permit a partial drying must be allowed, and a guide-thread be so arranged as to secure a zigzag movement, which prevents the threads from crossing one another. The following sugges tions in regard to this branch of the work are given: The degree of previous preparation should vary with the durability of the silky couches, having regard to the age, breed, and origin of the cocoons. If prepared too much, the result would be that more silky matter would be yielded by the first layers than there should be. This superfluous matter would be only waste, and would possess a value much inferior to that of fine silk. If the cocoons are, on the contrary, insufficiently prepared, they present a resistance to the winding off, which causes the breaking of the thread, and leads to a new source of waste. The workmen ought to possess great skill in joining a new thread to thread in work. He should be competent to select the most opportune moment to assure the regularity of the product, so that the trace of these successive connections may be imperceptible to the eye, and thus avoid knots, coarseness, curls, or dots. Nor will rare skill in these particulars produce the effect desired unless the wheel revolves with a fixed and steady velocity of at least five hundred meters per minute. Without this, the thread, instead of being smooth and brilliant, would be rough and dull. A too slow movement would not dress the thread sufficiently, clasped as it is very tightly by its peculiar position, and fixed under the form of a figure 8 in the layers of the cocoon. A movement too slow causes those undulations which give the dull appearance; while the development of the thread in the straight line by the more rapid movement permits the reflection of the light in those perfect and determined conditions which give brilliancy to the finest silk.

At the Paris Exposition almost every European nation was represented by different mechanisms employed in the manufacture of silk. Mr. Cowdin is careful to name the uses, and particularly describe the best of these.

A very ingenious apparatus, invented by G. Honneger, of Switzerland, for the sorting of silk threads was exhibited. This machine receives on the one part a series of silk skeins, to each of which correspond a number of bobbins or reels, equal to that of the varied bulk, supposed to be contained in the skein. Each bobbin will receive the portion of the thread of the titre for which it shall have been designated. For this purpose, the thread which is rendered from the skein to the bobbins is guided automatically by a mechanism for gauging, extremely sensitive, and so arranged that the grége or raw silk in passing acts upon a lever which directs the silk upon the proper bobbin. The variation in the bulk of the product is the point of departure in the variation of the guide lever, which directs the thread to the reel proper to receive it.